HomeAuthor Catherine Sas, K.C.

The start of a new year is always a good time to ponder what lies in store in the coming months. In immigration terms, there can be no better indicator than to look at a new Minister of Immigration’s engagement letter from his boss. In assigning the role of Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to MP Marco Mendicino, Prime Minister Trudeau set out his expectations and gave some strong clues of what Canadians and prospective immigrants can anticipate in the coming year.

This past November the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) opening a path for permanent residence for applicants willing to settle permanently in smaller, northern communities across Canada. Following upon the success of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot program, IRCC solicited communities to participate and at the time of introduction of the program, 11 communities across western Canada and Ontario had registered.

We are more and more frequently being consulted by individuals seeking advice as to how to remedy their situations in Canada where they have received improper or even illegal advice from immigration professionals. Frequently, the circumstances facing the individuals coming to see us are due to unreasonable expectations about how to remain in Canada or obtain status that is not generally permitted.

Life in Canada can be challenging for temporary residents who are suffering abuse at the hands of their Canadian employers or loved ones. Many vulnerable individuals in these situations are afraid to speak out about the abuse they are suffering because they do not want to compromise their own immigration status in Canada. Fortunately, the Canadian government announced new initiatives in May 2019 for foreign workers and accompanying spouses to escape from abusive situations while legally maintaining their immigration status.

There are numerous documented examples of aspiring applicants for Canadian immigration falling prey to unscrupulous immigration consultants and advisors. These advisors, many of whome are based around the world, can end up sabotage their client’s chances of settling down in Canada, either temporarily or permanently.

In January 2013, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) first introduced an identification and security measure known as biometrics with a view of strengthening Canada’s immigration programs through identity theft prevention and effective screening for previous criminal or immigration history.

With the elimination of Canada’s federal Investor and Entrepreneur programs in 2014, prospective business immigrants have had to turn to the Provincial Nominee Programs (“PNPs”) as a means of obtaining Canadian Permanent Residence. Most business immigrants tend to establish their businesses in larger urban centers.

It may seem odd that in certain circumstances a grandson or granddaughter can sponsor a grandparent but a father or mother can’t sponsor their child. However, the immigration law surrounding sponsorship is not as straightforward as it seems, and more often than not, the reverse is true: it is harder to sponsor a grandparent than a daughter or son.