November 2023

Issues surrounding international students have been top news stories of late. They have been blamed for the housing crisis, credited for helping Ontario’s public colleges post record operating surpluses and turned away from food banks.

October 2023

     In March 2023, the governments of Canada and the USA agreed to amend the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement to have it apply across the entire shared border. Previously, it only applied to official ports of entry. This meant that unless an exception applied, an individual wanting to come to Canada to make a refugee claim had to cross the border by foot at an ‘irregular point of entry.’ Often, that irregular point of entry was near Roxham Road in Quebec.

September 2023

     As I wrote about in June 2023, IRCC has a new policy allowing Family Class applicants to apply for open work permits. Previously, only applicants from the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada call could apply, and dependent children could not apply for work permits.

September 2023

     Starting October 23, 2023, Canadian family members can sponsor their Ukrainian family members for permanent residence. The Ukrainian family member must be in Canada with temporary resident status to be eligible. (They cannot be without legal status in Canada.)