In a major immigration policy shift, the United States has introduced a new $250 “Visa Integrity Fee” targeting non-immigrant visa applicants, including many foreign nationals residing in Canada and select Canadian citizens. This change comes as part of the H.R.1 Act—popularly dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill”—which was signed into law on July 4, 2025. […]

July 21, 2025 – Ottawa: In its latest move under the Express Entry system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 202 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a draw targeting candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This draw—held on July 21—continues Canada’s recent trend of prioritizing candidates nominated by provinces and territories, as […]

Canada continues to prioritize immigration policies that address urgent labor market gaps—particularly in healthcare, trades, and food services. If you’re a foreign worker or planning to apply for Canadian permanent residence (PR), certain high-demand occupations can give you a critical advantage in Express Entry category-based draws, while others may qualify your spouse for a Spousal […]

Alberta continues to leverage its immigration streams to address key labor shortages across vital industries, with multiple rounds of invitations issued under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) between July 3 and July 16, 2025. Hundreds of foreign workers were invited to apply for provincial nomination, which opens a direct pathway to permanent residency in […]

Canada has taken a major step toward strengthening its Francophone communities outside Quebec through the newly launched Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)—a specialized pathway to permanent residence for French-speaking foreign workers. Three Canadian regions—Acadian Peninsula (New Brunswick), St. Pierre Jolys (Manitoba), and Kelowna (British Columbia)—have officially revealed detailed requirements for job sectors, occupations, and designated […]

In an exciting move aimed at promoting education, exploration, and affordability for youth, Canada’s Strong Pass program has added 86 more provincial and territorial museums and galleries to its growing list of attractions. This expanded access will provide children (17 and under) with free admission, and young adults (aged 18 to 24) with a 50% […]

Canada’s immigration processing times have seen significant changes since July 2024. The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals both improvements and sharp delays across permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship applications. These changes are critical for individuals planning their immigration journey to Canada, especially those preparing to submit applications or awaiting […]

Pause Affects Employer-Supported Nominations for Skilled Foreign Workers; Applications to Resume in August 2025 The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has announced a temporary pause on the intake of new applications under its Employer Services stream, one of its key pathways for employer-supported skilled immigration. This pause, which took effect on July 4, 2025, is […]