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CAPIC INFORMS

14 January 2025 | Vol. 95

In This Issue:

  • CAPIC's 20th Anniversary Photo Contest
  • The Birth of a Profession Second Edition is Now Available!
  • Immigration News Update
  • Follow-Up on Stakeholder Meeting: ESDC's Response to Questions on International Mobility Program
  • IMMeCentre Files
  • Employment Opportunities with IRCC and IRB

CAPIC's 20th Anniversary Photo Contest

Dear CAPIC Members, 


As we celebrate CAPIC’s 20th Anniversary, we’re inviting you to take a trip down memory lane with us! To commemorate this special milestone, we would love to include photos from our members that capture the essence of CAPIC's journey over the years. 


Whether it’s from an event, a conference, a memorable meeting, or any moment that represents CAPIC’s community and shared memories, we invite you to share your photos with us. 


How to Enter: 



  • Please send your images to newscoordinator3@capic.ca by March 31, 2025 and include the year the photo was taken, along with any context or details you’d like to share about the moment captured. 
  • The top 20 winners will be selected and featured in our 20th Anniversary celebrations! Their photos will be showcased throughout the year. 


 

By submitting your photos, you consent to CAPIC using them for promotional purposes, including to display at future events and celebrations. 


We can’t wait to relive the moments that have made CAPIC such a special community over the past two decades. Be part of our history – share your memories with us! 


Thank you for helping us celebrate 20 incredible years! 

The Birth of a Profession -

Second Edition is Now Available!

CAPIC's second edition of the book about our profession, The Birth of a Profession: The Remarkable Story of Professional Canadian Immigration Consultants, is now available.


This updated edition highlights our journey, including CAPIC’s pivotal role in the creation of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, and the road to regulation of the profession. CAPIC members can access the book for free through CAPIC Connect. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.


If you’re not yet a CAPIC member, now is the perfect time to join and gain complimentary access to this inspiring story!




 SECOND EDITION

Immigration News Updates

TFW Program - Information on Primary Agriculture Sector 


The following message was received from Employment and Social Development Canada and we are sharing with the membership at large.










TFW PROGRAM

Changes to open work permits for family members of temporary residents


As part of the broader measures announced in September 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is changing open work permit (OWP) eligibility for family members of international students and foreign workers.


Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be able to apply for a family OWP.

OPEN WORK PERMITS

Program delivery update: Canadian interests – significant benefit – Intra-company transferees [R205(a)] (exemption codes C61, C62 and C63)


On January 6, ICT program delivery was updated. It includes how to assess whether an enterprise meets the multinational corporation criterial under the C61, C61 and C63 categories, with examples under each category.



ICT TRANSFEREES

Canada takes action to reduce fraud in Express Entry system



Express Entry candidates will no longer receive additional points for having a job offer. This change will come into effect in spring 2025.











REDUCING FRAUD

Immediate bans for non-compliant immigration representatives


The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has updated its procedures to strengthen protections for newcomers. Effective immediately, the Director of the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015 can ban immigration representatives who contravene the Act without first issuing an administrative monetary penalty.


OINP UPDATE

Refusal to process a Labour Market Impact Assessment application


Jan. 10, 2025, ESDC posted an unemployment rate table on its TFWP website to determine refusal to process LMIAs with positions in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or above. The table will be updated every three months, and the next update will take place on April 4, 2025.



LMIA APPLICATION

Follow-Up on Stakeholder Meeting: ESDC's Response to Questions on International Mobility Program

ESDC has provided follow up information to questions posed at a joint stakeholder meeting held on October 3, 2024. The questions were surrounding multi-national corporations and senior level manager spousal open work permits. You can access answers to these questions here.


Useful links can be found below as well as a PowerPoint Presentation.


PRESENTATION

IMMeCentre Files


IMMeCentre Updates:

To help our members keep abreast of the legislative and regulatory changes in development, we added proposed amendments to the respective statutes. We encourage our members to either respond to our HYS(s) or access the public consultation web page(s) included in the IMMeCentre respective sections to provide input to the proposed amendments. 



Part 1: Newly Added Resources:


Below are newly added resources after the last CAPIC Inform. A short description is added for each item, including case law.  


I. CAPIC Toolbox

  • Practitioner Practice Resources
  • Statutes, Regulations, Conventions, and Treaties 
  • Federal Statutes and Regulations 
  • Four amendments to IRPR become official: The amendments are about information sharing between Canada and the U.S., the International Experience Canada, the Ports of Entry immigration services, and the increase of removal costs to $3,840 and $12,880.  
  • Proposed IRPR and Citizenship Regulations amendments: The amendment aims to give IRCC the power to sanction UAPs and individuals, including authorized representatives counselling fraud and misrepresentation. Consultation deadline: February 4, 2025, 11:59 pm EST. 
  • Introducing the College Act Regulations:  The Regulations aim to provide the College with the regulatory framework to effectively govern RCICs and RISIAs. Consultation deadline: February 4, 2025, 11:59 pm EST. 



  • Practice Tools 
  • Temporary Residence 
  • Students 
  • Canada Top 50 Research Universities 2024 
  • IRB Proceedings 
  • Immigration Appeals 
  • Removal Order Appeal References 
  •  A case interprets the application of s. 67(1)(c), allowing immigration appeals on H&C considerations was added to this section: Menjivar Melgar v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2022 FC 1490 
  • Refugee Claims 
  • A case interprets the application of the RPD Rule 60(3) concerning re-open a refugee claim on the ground of interests of justice: Rajput v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2022 FC 65 
  • Technologies in Immigration:  
  • An article is added: The Top Legal Tech, Service Providers, and Products in Canada 



II. Government Departments and CICC Updates

Check the government departments’ updates in this section.  

  

  • IRCC:  
  • Policy updates:  
  • On December 23, 2024, IRCC announced that job offer points for EE candidates will be eliminated. The change will take effect in spring 2025. 
  • January 2025 
  • On January 4, 2025, Ministerial Instructions were issued for the Agri-Food Immigration Class and the Parent/Grandparent Program. For the former, a cap of 1,000 applications is set; applications received will be counted towards the cap regardless of whether they meet R10 requirements. There will be no new intake for the PGP.  
  • On January 6, 2025, IRCC updated its Intra-company transferees program delivery. 
  • Parliament 
  • Updates 
  • On Jan. 6, 2025, Proroguing Parliament to March 24, 2025 and summoning Parliament to meet March 24, 2025 were proclaimed. 
  • Bills 
  • The Legislative Costing Note for Bill C-71, the Bill to amend the Citizenship Act to eliminate the first-generation limit.  
  • CBSA: 
  • Updates:  
  • On Jan. 2, 2025, CBSA announced its intention to have the first Canadian land preclearance operation at the Cannon Corners port of entry in New York (adjacent to the Covey Hill, QC port of entry). 
  • As of December 23, 2024, the flagpoling for work and study permits at the border ended with limited exemptions. 
  • ESDC 
  • Jan. 10, 2025, ESDC posted an unemployment rate table on its TFWP website to determine refusal to process LMIAs with positions in a CMA with an unemployment rate of 6% or above. The table will be updated every three months, and the next update will take place on April 4, 2025. 
  • Provincial Governments 
  • Ontario: On Jan. 1, 2025, Ontario Regulation 485/24 came into force, which allows the director of the director under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, to impose immediate bans on immigration representatives who contravene the Act, without first issuing an administrative monetary penalty.  
  • BC: New Skills Immigration Guide effective on Jan. 7, 2025. 



III. Case Law Study Centre

  • Case law directions: We further refined the structure of this section by organizing all permanent resident classes in the “Permanent Residency” section. 


  • Admissibility 
  • A40 Misrepresentation: Bedisse v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1835 
  • Permanent Residency 
  • Liu v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1784 
  • H&C 
  • Kapoor v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 2095 
  • Uhunmwangho v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 2008 
  • Rahimsalehi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1855 
  • Quebec Programs 
  • Investor Class: Munib v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1903 
  • Temporary residency 
  • Visitor:  
  • Financial assessment: Kaur v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1758 
  • Worker:  
  • ICT: De Silva v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2024 FC 1798 


Employment Opportunities

with IRCC and IRB

We are excited to share two job opportunities if you're looking to make an impact in Canada's immigration and refugee systems.


Please click the following links below for more information on job requirements and how to apply.


  • Appointment Opportunity at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – Position: Reviewer

Reviewers must determine whether, on a balance of probabilities, the person is responsible for the violation and, if so, whether the amount of the penalty has been determined in accordance with the acts and regulations. Reviewers review all written submissions requesting a review and provide a decision in writing to the requester and to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.


A contracted designated representative is someone who plays a vital role by representing persons appearing before the IRB who are unable to represent themselves because they're either under 18 years of age or unable to understand the nature of the proceedings.


Diamond Partners

Platinum Partners

Gold Partners

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