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As the world grapples to contain the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, all facets of Canada’s immigration program have implemented changes including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and the Federal Court.

The Coronavirus continues to spread at lightning speed both in China and around the globe. The Government of Canada has done its part to assist permanent and temporary residents as well as pending applicants to be able to able to either come to or remain in Canada on an urgent basis to minimize health risks to individuals.

For the past two years I have delivered a presentation in December on the most interesting and influential immigration court decisions released during the calendar year. Preparing for these presentations has given me the opportunity to look at general trends in immigration cases rather than focus on specific issues for my clients as a Vancouver immigration lawyer.

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.

Canadians and permanent residents who want to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residence will have to wait longer this year for instructions on how to participate in the popular program. On December 30, 2019 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that they have postponed the launch of the parents and grandparents (PGP) sponsorship program for 2020 until further notice. New instructions may not be released about the implementation of the 2020 program until as late as April 1, 2020.

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.

In my immigration practice I meet people everyday who are interested in coming to Canada or staying to study, visit or work, or to obtain permanent resident status. Some of my clients come very prepared and have done a lot of independent research, while others are just beginning to learn about the available options to meet their immigration goals.