Weekly Digest | June 21, 2026

Key Highlights:

Work Permit – Verma v. Canada, 2026 FC 798
C11 Work Permit – Ashrafi v. Canada, 2026 FC 800
Spousal Sponsorship – Williams v. Canada, 2026 FC 803
Temporary Resident Visa – Rehman v. Canada, 2026 FC 805
Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class – Wu v. Canada, 2026 FC 808
Temporary Resident Visa – Kaur v. Canada, 2026 FC 811
LMIA-Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2026 FC 815
Open Work Permit – Otugo v. Canada, 2026 FC 826
Electronic Travel Authorization – Misrepresentation – Righetti v. Canada, 2026 FC 830
SINP Entrepreneur Work Permit – Parikh v. Canada, 2026 FC 837
Asylum Process Regulations
Pre-Removal Risk Assessment – Uganda
Refugee Claims – Minors and Vulnerable Persons
Study Permits – Assessing Conditions
International Experience Canada – Police Certificates
Private Sponsorship of Refugees – Intake Pause
Immigration Levels Plan Consultations – Extended to June 30, 2026
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
Quebec Family Reunification Undertakings
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
Canada Gazette: Asylum System Reform Regulations
Canada Gazette: Refugee Protection Division Rules
Canada Gazette: Electronic Travel Authorization – St. Pierre and Miquelon
Updated Forms and Checklists: CIT 0014
Latest Draws
Important Upcoming Dates

Recent Case Law

Work Permit – Verma v. Canada, 2026 FC 798: Work permit and restoration refused for an applicant seeking to work as a food service supervisor under NOC 62020. Applicant provided only a previous work permit and prospective employment contract, with no evidence of food service administration education or several years of related experience. Record showed one year as assistant manager with the same employer. Officer reasonably treated the NOC’s “required” experience or education language as mandatory and found insufficient evidence he could perform the work. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

C11 Work Permit – Ashrafi v. Canada, 2026 FC 800: C11 entrepreneur work permit refused for an Iranian applicant seeking to establish a hair and beauty salon in Canmore, Alberta; spouse’s C41 open work permit also refused. Officer found significant family ties in Canada, limited ties outside Canada, temporary purpose concerns, and insufficient R205(a) significant benefit. Court found the officer failed to meaningfully engage with the business plan, which identified an underserved market segment, market differentiation, and economic, social, and cultural benefits, and did not justify the family ties findings. Judicial review granted. Read more

Spousal Sponsorship – Williams v. Canada, 2026 FC 803: Inland spousal sponsorship refused for a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and Choctaw Nation member found criminally inadmissible for U.S. convictions for controlled substance possession and driving under the influence. Officer accepted the marriage was genuine but refused H&C relief, finding the convictions outweighed the humanitarian factors. Court found the officer failed to separately assess the best interests of the children, did not grapple with the applicant’s Indigenous identity, foster care history, family substance abuse, intergenerational trauma, recovery evidence, and reconciliation submissions, and turned positive recovery evidence against her. Judicial review granted, with redetermination ordered within 60 days. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Rehman v. Canada, 2026 FC 805: TRV refused for a Pakistani applicant working in Saudi Arabia who sought a one-week visit to Canada to write the in-person Sprinkler Fitter certification exam required for his Federal Skilled Trades pathway. Officer relied on weak family ties outside Canada, modest salary, limited travel history, and employment situation. Court found the officer failed to assess the short-term exam purpose in the context of the applicant’s longer-term PR plan and dual intent, and failed to consider family ties outside Canada, including return trips to Pakistan to see his wife and children and their visitor visas to Saudi Arabia. Judicial review granted. Read more

Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class – Wu v. Canada, 2026 FC 808: Spousal PR refused for a Chinese applicant whose 2013 TRV application, filed through a consultant, falsely listed her marital status, children, mother, and education. Applicant learned in 2014 the TRV information was false but did not correct it or proactively notify IRCC before filing a spousal PR application with different information. Officer reasonably found she had not answered truthfully under subsection 16(1), despite consultant involvement, because applicants remain responsible for complete and truthful information and the duty of candour is ongoing. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Temporary Resident Visa – Kaur v. Canada, 2026 FC 811: TRVs refused for an Indian nurse and her two minor daughters seeking to visit the principal applicant’s father and brother in Canada. Officer relied on significant family ties in Canada and a proposed six-month stay inconsistent with temporary purpose. Court found the officer failed to assess pull factors, including the applicant’s husband and the children’s father remaining in India, the applicant’s ongoing nursing employment and leave letter, and evidence that the intended visit may have been one month rather than six. Judicial review granted. Read more

LMIA-Work Permit – Singh v. Canada, 2026 FC 815: LMIA-supported work permit refused for an applicant seeking to work as a drywall installer and finisher for a Montréal construction company. Officer relied on limited family ties outside Canada and insufficient evidence he could perform the work. Court found the officer failed to explain why evidence of about three years as a drop ceiling installer was insufficient, including an employer letter, sworn affidavits, work photos, pay slips, and income tax returns. Officer also raised his hotel management diploma without explaining its relevance or giving notice if this was a credibility concern. Judicial review granted. Read more

Open Work Permit – Otugo v. Canada, 2026 FC 826: Spousal open work permit refused for an applicant seeking to join her husband, a student in Canada. Officer found insufficient, unstable funds where the only financial evidence was one bank document showing a 20,000,000 Nigerian Naira lump-sum deposit after a zero balance, plus a statement that her spouse transferred the funds. Court refused to consider new financial evidence filed on judicial review and found no procedural fairness breach because the issue was sufficiency of evidence, not credibility. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

Electronic Travel Authorization – Misrepresentation – Righetti v. Canada, 2026 FC 830: eTA refused with misrepresentation finding for an Italian applicant living in Singapore who answered “No” to prior visa, permit, entry, or removal history despite three Canadian work permit refusals at ports of entry in 2017. Applicant later sought to withdraw after a prior refusal was set aside for redetermination. Officer reasonably refused withdrawal because an active misrepresentation concern had already been identified, and reasonably found the undisclosed refusals material to immigration history, eligibility, and admissibility. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

SINP Entrepreneur Work Permit – Parikh v. Canada, 2026 FC 837: Work permit refused for an Indian citizen and UAE resident who owned jewellery businesses in India, Hong Kong, and Dubai and applied after receiving a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter and Temporary Work Permit Support Letter. Officer was not satisfied she would leave Canada, citing UAE temporary status, purpose of visit, limited ties outside Canada, multiple prior work permit refusals, and failure to truthfully disclose those refusals. Court found dual intent did not remove the need to satisfy paragraph 200(1)(b), the SINP support letter was not a nomination certificate, and no procedural fairness letter was required for weaknesses arising from the applicant’s own materials. Judicial review dismissed. Read more

IRCC News Updates

Asylum Process Regulations – June 19, 2026: IRCC published proposed regulations to implement asylum reforms under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, with a 30-day consultation period and implementation expected later in 2026. The changes would clarify asylum application requirements, set timelines for government review, address reinstatement of withdrawn or non-abandoned claims, support vulnerable claimants, help eligible claimants access work permits sooner, and create exceptions to new ineligibility rules. Read more Backgrounder: Read more

Pre-Removal Risk Assessment – Uganda – June 19, 2026: IRCC temporarily lifted the usual 12-month PRRA bar for certain Ugandan nationals and former residents of Uganda due to evolving security and political conditions, including serious human rights concerns. Eligible individuals may apply if they received a final negative asylum, PRRA, or related Federal Court decision between June 20, 2025, and June 19, 2026. Eligibility does not guarantee approval, and persons with serious inadmissibility or prior exclusion from refugee protection may only qualify for a restricted PRRA. Read more PDU: Read more

Refugee Claims – Minors and Vulnerable Persons – June 19, 2026: IRCC updated program instructions for processing in-Canada refugee protection claims involving minors and vulnerable persons, including updated guidance on minors signing the Refugee Protection Identity Document and related language updates. Read more

Study Permits – Assessing Conditions – June 18, 2026: IRCC updated program instructions on assessing study permit conditions, including enrolment at a DLI, changing DLIs or programs, actively pursuing studies, progress toward completion, leave from studies, and working during a leave from studies. Read more

International Experience Canada – Police Certificates – June 17, 2026: IRCC updated program delivery instructions for IEC participation eligibility and recognized organizations for foreign youth to clarify police certificate requirements for IEC applications under the International Mobility Program. Read more

Private Sponsorship of Refugees – Intake Pause – June 16, 2026: IRCC issued new program delivery instructions on processing applications from Groups of Five and Community Sponsors under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program during the temporary intake pause. Read more

Immigration Levels Plan Consultations – Extended to June 30, 2026: IRCC extended public consultations on the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan to June 30, 2026. Read more

Provincial Government News

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – June 17, 2026: Alberta launched the Eligibility Explorer, a new online tool that helps users identify AAIP streams that may match their situation by answering questions before starting an Expression of Interest profile. Read more

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – June 15, 2026: BC PNP opened registration for the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative. Up to 250 candidates will be nominated, with the first invitations expected in the coming weeks. Registration closes on August 31, 2026, and applications will be assessed under the criteria and policies in place when submitted. Read more

Quebec Family Reunification Undertakings – June 18, 2026: Quebec announced a new reception period from July 2, 2026, to June 30, 2028, with a cap of 15,700 applications: 13,300 for spouses, common-law or conjugal partners, and 2,400 for parents, grandparents, and certain other relatives. Applications will follow a reception calendar based on the date of IRCC’s sponsorship eligibility letter or confirmation of receipt. Exemptions include dependent children, certain minor children, and applications to add a family member to an existing undertaking. Read more

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – June 15, 2026: Manitoba reminded users that the MPNP’s only official websites are immigratemanitoba.com and immigratemanitoba.com/fr, and warned applicants to verify website addresses before submitting personal information. Read more

Canada Gazette Updates

Asylum System Reform Regulations – June 20, 2026: Proposed amendments to the IRPR to operationalize asylum reforms under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, with comments open until July 20, 2026. The amendments would introduce a single online application, require required documents within 60 days with a one-time 30-day extension, set a 365-day limit for Minister’s Due Diligence before IRB referral, formalize designated representative rules, allow eligible claimants earlier work permit access, create exceptions to new ineligibility rules for unaccompanied minors and certain timely claimants, clarify Safe Third Country Agreement timing, transfer hearing scheduling to the IRB, repeal outdated timelines, and remove the Designated Country of Origin regime. Read more

Refugee Protection Division Rules – June 20, 2026: Proposed amendments to the RPD Rules, with comments open until July 20, 2026, to align RPD procedures with asylum reforms under the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act. The changes would replace the separate Basis of Claim Form with basis of claim information in a single online application, require personal documents within 30 days after referral, permit basis of claim changes no later than five days after a notice to appear, create procedures for abandonment before referral, remove officers’ initial hearing scheduling role, eliminate fax as a communication method with the RPD, and update disclosure, abandonment, counsel, and transitional rules. Read more

Electronic Travel Authorization – St. Pierre and Miquelon – June 17, 2026: Final IRPR amendments requiring visa-exempt foreign nationals to obtain an eTA before entering Canada by vessel directly from St. Pierre and Miquelon, effective June 5, 2026, unless exempt. Existing eTA exemptions continue, including for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, French citizens residing in St. Pierre and Miquelon entering Canada directly, and certain re-entries from St. Pierre and Miquelon within authorized stay. Cruise ships with overnight accommodations for at least 100 persons and vessel crew members are also exempt. Read more

Updated Forms and Checklists

CIT 0014: Document Checklist: Application for a Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship): Read more

Latest Draws

Important Upcoming Dates

June 22, 2026: Deadline to submit an Expression of Interest profile for consideration in the next Northwest Territories Nominee Program Employer-Driven Stream draw. Read more

June 25, 2026: Northwest Territories is scheduled to hold an Employer-Driven Stream EOI draw. Read more

June 25, 2026: Quebec’s current intake cap period for certain Family Sponsorship undertaking applications remains in effect until this date. Read more

June 30, 2026: The end of IRCC’s Start-Up Visa intake at the Centralized Intake Office, while existing applications continue to be processed and no new Federal Self-Employed Persons Class applications are accepted. Read more

July 2, 2026: Quebec temporarily reopens the Quebec Experience Program for both Quebec graduates and temporary foreign workers, with no intake cap. Read more

July 6, 2026: Opening of Yukon Nominee Program’s second 2026 Expression of Interest intake period under its points-based system, with priority for health care professionals, rural employers, and candidates with Yukon ties. Read more and Read more

July 15, 2026: Effective date of new regulations strengthening oversight of immigration and citizenship consultants, including expanded complaints and discipline tools, increased penalties, enhanced reporting requirements, and clarified misconduct investigation rules. Read more Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 9: Read more

July 20, 2026: End of IRCC’s FIFA 2026 public policy exempting certain FIFA-invited TRV applicants from the biometrics requirement. Read more

July 31, 2026: End of Canada’s FIFA 2026 work authorization exemption allowing select FIFA-invited foreign nationals to perform time-limited work in Canada without a work permit. Read more

July 31, 2026: Expiry of IRCC’s temporary public policy for certain Palestinian nationals in Canada, which allows eligible applicants to apply for fee-exempt temporary status extensions, open work permits, or study permits. Read more

July 31, 2026: Expiry of IRCC’s in-Canada temporary special measures for foreign nationals affected by the crisis in the State of Palestine. Read more