It’s only mid-August 2025 but many Canadian citizens and permanent residents are already looking ahead to 2026 to see if they’ll be fortunate enough to be invited by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to sponsor their parents or grandparents (PGP) for Canadian permanent residence. The 2025 sponsorship intake process has just concluded following a two-week period during which IRCC sent invitations to eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their loved ones. IRCC began sending invitations out on July 28, 2025 and, unfortunately, those who did not receive one this year will have to try their luck next year or consider alternative immigration options to achieve their goals of reuniting in Canada. In this blog, I will provide a brief history of the PGP sponsorship program and explain what the alternative options are.
As immigration lawyers we are frequently consulted by people who are frustrated by their inability to travel internationally due to a lack of a valid travel document. Whether it is a person who can’t obtain a passport or has an expired PR card, there are many individuals who come to consult with us about how they can travel internationally while their passport, PR card application or citizenship applications are sorted out. Often there is nothing we can do to facilitate or expedite the issuance of this identification or status. However, there is a lot that we can recommend in Canada to satisfy the travelling wanderlust of our clientele.
BlogThe Summer of Immigration Discontent: Troubling times for aspiring Canadian immigrants
15 July 2025
It’s no secret that Canada’s immigration program has experienced considerable upheaval in the past couple of years. Indeed the vast majority of our blogs in 2024 were all discussing some aspect of change to virtually all of Canadian immigration whether temporary, permanent or to obtain citizenship. Last week my partner Victor examined the statistical data demonstrating the actual outcomes of these changes on the immigrant population in Canada and how the changes are not yet having the desired effect on our immigration levels that the government intended. When implemented changes don’t provide the desired results, the impact on Canada’s immigration community can be harsh. Let’s review some of the current realities facing prospective immigrants to Canada.
2024 was an unprecedented year, to state it mildly, for immigration changes in Canada. In the span of a single calendar year, numerous foundational immigration programs were cut or capped, with the explicit objective of reducing the number of newcomers to Canada. These efforts were branded as a course correction in response to growing sentiments that Canada did not have sufficient infrastructure to accommodate so many newcomers after years of unsustainable immigration-fueled growth. This ultimately led to another first for the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when it boisterously announced in the Fall of 2024 that it would begin setting specific targets for the number of temporary residents living in Canada in any given year. However, let’s see what the numbers show! Recently released data shows that IRCC’s plans are going awry.
On March 22, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC ) introduced the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) to help smaller communities attract and retain skilled workers. As a first step, individual communities needed to determine priority sectors to support immigration pathways for workers in their regions. These sectors have now been determined for most communities and it is up to employers to seek participation in the pilot program. As initially announced, employers will play a central role in the RCIP program.
BlogTimes-Up! My post graduation work permit is about to expire: what are my options for Canadian permanent residence?
27 May 2025
For many international students in Canada the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is their perceived route to Canadian permanent residence (PR). The PGWP was first introduced in 2005 and allows graduates from eligible Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) the opportunity to obtain an open work permit, and to gain Canadian work experience. Historically, international students have obtained PGWPs to gain Canadian work experience and then transition from temporary status to PR. However, currently many international students in Canada find themselves in a position where they do not qualify for permanent residence by the time their PGWP expires.
Following US elections there is always a spike in interest about the opportunities for immigration to Canada by our southern neighbours in the US. However, the current Canadian immigration lay-of-the-land does not provide a lot of opportunities for such standard categories of applicants as skilled workers or business applicants. Recently imposed reductions in immigration levels have made it challenging for prospective immigrants to qualify to come to Canada. Even temporary workers and international students are facing restrictions. One sector of opportunity for aspiring US immigrants to Canada is for family sponsorship and citizenship by descent to bring family members to Canada. Let’s review these potential opportunities.
Since last year in 2024, permanent resident hopefuls have been bombarded with bad news that immigration targets and programs alike are being reduced or cut and wondering how this will affect their chances at qualifying for permanent residence. It’s now mid-May and this year’s Express Entry statistics show that things are not business as usual with the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Let’s take a quick glance at the Express Entry statistics available so far this year and compare them to the same period in 2024 to see what’s changed in terms of the number and types of invitations to apply (ITA) that have been issued.
BlogCommunicating With Your Immigration Representative – Why Language Matters and the Value of Second Opinions
22 April 2025
It is a natural tendency for people to communicate in the language that is most familiar to them. This natural tendency does not jive with Canada’s immigration program where there is a significant emphasis, if not the most significant emphasis, on language proficiency in English and/or French. Communicating in your native tongue, while comfortable, does not lend itself to garnering points in our immigration scoring systems for language proficiency. It is also tempting for prospective applicants to search out an immigration representative who can communicate with them in their native language. There are sound reasons to resist this temptation. Let’s review some real-life situations where failure to communicate in English or French can be problematic.
BlogInterim Measures: The First-Generation limit on Canadian Citizenship – What you need to know!
7 April 2025
Over the past several months, I have been consulting with clients eager to obtain their Canadian citizenship. Through my conversations with these individuals and their families, it has become evident that Canadian citizenship holds significant value, not only for those who currently reside in Canada, but also for individuals and families with ancestral ties to the country.
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