July 2023

Last month, my office received a package from IRCC. In it were four applications. We had been hired by a Canadian citizen to obtain citizenship certificates for her children born in the USA. On one application, we failed to check the box indicating the child’s gender. In her review, the client also didn’t notice the unchecked box. All four applications were sent back to us because of the missing checkmark so that we could place a checkmark in the box, place all four applications back in a courier envelope, and return them to IRCC.

June 2023

Announcements from IRCC continue! Since starting this blog 10 years ago, this is the first time I’ve put out three newsletters in one month. And all in the first week!

The electronic travel authorization (eTA) program has been expanded to 13 countries:

June 2023

After much anticipation, IRCC has announced a category-based selection for Express Entry.

Rather than only being selected based on program and comprehensive ranking system points, in the future, applicants can be selected based on French or English language ability, work experience in a specific occupation, or education. In 2023, the following categories will be used:

June 2023

As I blogged about in September 2017, in the past, it has been challenging for romantic partners of Canadians to get approved for a visitor visa. Many couples remained separated, sometimes for years, while waiting for the sponsorship applications to be processed. Though adjustments to the ‘dual intent’ policy last fall provided additional guidance to immigration officers, the policy change did not have a measurable impact on the acceptance rates of these applications; over half of the applicants were being denied.