Victor Ing, Author at Immigration Lawyer Vancouver, Canada

BlogExpectation Overload: Employers now subject to more scrutiny when hiring foreign workers under Labour Market Impact Assessments

14 October 2025

In September 2025, Service Canada introduced a new rule applicable to employers who wish to hire foreign workers through Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) stream. The rule requires employers to use the “Direct Apply” feature on the Canadian Job Bank – a previously optional feature that allows job seekers to digitally submit their resumes to a hiring employer on the Canadian Job Bank platform, rather than only through traditional methods such as email or mail. Employers who do not use the Direct Apply feature can expect to receive a negative LMIA result, so read on to find out more about this new requirement.

BlogBeware of Ghost Consultants and the Promise of Quick Fixes in the Immigration Sphere

16 September 2025

Throughout the past year my partner, Catherine, and I have been warning prospective immigrants about how difficult it has become to qualify for temporary and permanent resident visas in Canada due to our government’s concerted efforts to drive immigration levels down from previous highs that we saw during the pandemic. According to a recent Globe and Mail poll, most Canadians are in favour of these policies to reduce both temporary and permanent immigration. With public sentiment on their side, it is unlikely that the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will ease current immigration restrictions soon. Against this backdrop when immigration options are limited, and entering or remaining in Canada seems a remote possibility, prospective immigrants need to be alert to potential bad actors on the immigration scene promising unrealistic results and quick fixes to all their immigration woes. The problem of “ghost consultants” is a longstanding one in the immigration field and you should be on the lookout for them.

BlogBaby it’s cold out there….and it’s going to get colder! Why the Humanitarian and Compassionate application is not always the answer.

26 August 2025

The Canadian immigration world is not that welcoming these days and it hasn’t been for the past couple of years as our many blogs have discussed. Express Entry (EE) scores are higher than most applicants can meet, draws for EE applicants focus only on in Canada applicants, the business immigration programs have been either shut down (until the end of 2026 for self-employed (SE) applicants) or significantly reduced for Start Up Visa (SUV) applicants, and the TFW program and international students have had caps introduced. Overall there is a tightening of the belt in terms of immigration processing and prospective applicants are feeling the pinch. When people can’t get what they want, they turn to other options and the most obvious choice is the Humanitarian and Compassionate (H and C) application. Spoiler Alert: Here’s more bad news - the H and C application is not meant to solve everyone’s problems.

BlogAlternative Options to the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program

13 August 2025

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.

BlogImmigration Levels Review: When Policy Meets Reality

8 July 2025

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.

BlogImmigration Prospects by the Numbers: Express Entry Trends You Need to Know

14 May 2025

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.

BlogEnd of an era: IRCC eliminates job offer points from Express Entry scoring

31 March 2025

On March 25, 2025, the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that foreign nationals with Canadian job offers will no longer receive bonus points towards receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence under Canada’s Express Entry (EE) System. This substantial change took effect immediately and applies to all EE candidates who have not already received an ITA. Given the current uncertain immigration environment, permanent resident hopefuls must now re-evaluate their chances of receiving an ITA and proactively plan their next steps. Here is what you need to know.

Blog Canadian Immigration Programs How do I immigrate to Canada?Permanent Residence ProgramsParlez-Vous Francais? The new approach to achieving Canadian permanent residency

4 November 2024

As immigration lawyers practicing with nearly 50 years of collective experience, we have been asked many times by prospective immigrants whether they should pursue studies in both official Canadian languages: English and French, with a view to enhancing their chances for qualifying for permanent residence in Canada. As we live and practice in British Columbia, most of these requests are from persons who have proficiency in English, having either studied or worked in Canada utilizing their English language skills. Since the dawn of Canada’s Express Entry selection system on January 1, 2015, our answer has typically been that the reward is not worth the effort. With both of us personally having studied several languages in addition to English, we can tell you that pursuing language studies takes a considerable investment of time and effort. (You can cram for a history or geography exam but not for a language exam!). However, the new Canadian immigration world order is a very different place and Canada is placing a premium on French language proficiency (outside of Quebec) such that this skill set provides an opportunity to acquire not only an education in Canada but also work experience and permanent residence! Let’s take a look at the options for a francophone applicant to achieve Canadian immigration status.

Blog How do I get a work visa for Canada?Work Permits Working in CanadaMore Changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Government Takes Aim at Employer’s Pocketbooks to Reduce Reliance on Foreign Workers

22 October 2024

Effective November 8, 2024 it will cost Canadian employers 20% more to hire foreign workers under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s (TFWP) High-Wage Stream. The latest announcement made on October 21, 2024 by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, is intended to further drive down overall temporary immigration levels in Canada.

BlogBarrage of Immigration Changes Continue Unabated

24 September 2024

On September 18, 2024, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Marc Miller, announced further aggressive policies designed to reduce the overall number of temporary residents admitted to Canada each year. This latest announcement continues the yearlong trend of implementing drastic immigration changes with little to no notice. From reinstating visitor visa requirements for Mexican nationals to reducing the number of foreign workers Canadian employers can hire under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, virtually no area in Canadian immigration law has been left untouched this year, and it is only September! In this blog, we will review upcoming changes to Canada’s temporary resident program and let you know what to look out for as we approach the end of 2024.

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HomeAuthorVictor Ing, Author at Immigration Lawyer Vancouver, Canada | Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre

BlogExpectation Overload: Employers now subject to more scrutiny when hiring foreign workers under Labour Market Impact Assessments

BlogBeware of Ghost Consultants and the Promise of Quick Fixes in the Immigration Sphere

BlogBaby it’s cold out there….and it’s going to get colder! Why the Humanitarian and Compassionate application is not always the answer.

BlogAlternative Options to the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program

BlogImmigration Levels Review: When Policy Meets Reality

BlogImmigration Prospects by the Numbers: Express Entry Trends You Need to Know

BlogEnd of an era: IRCC eliminates job offer points from Express Entry scoring

Blog Canadian Immigration Programs How do I immigrate to Canada?Permanent Residence ProgramsParlez-Vous Francais? The new approach to achieving Canadian permanent residency

Blog How do I get a work visa for Canada?Work Permits Working in CanadaMore Changes to Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program – Government Takes Aim at Employer’s Pocketbooks to Reduce Reliance on Foreign Workers

BlogBarrage of Immigration Changes Continue Unabated

14 October 2025Expectation Overload: Employers now subject to more scrutiny when hiring foreign workers under Labour Market Impact Assessments

23 September 2025“Timing in Life is Everything”: Why timing matters in the Canadian immigration process!

16 September 2025Beware of Ghost Consultants and the Promise of Quick Fixes in the Immigration Sphere

26 August 2025Baby it’s cold out there….and it’s going to get colder! Why the Humanitarian and Compassionate application is not always the answer.

13 August 2025Alternative Options to the Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program

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