View as Webpage

From Evelyn and the Team at Ackah Business Immigration Law

Cross-border planning is becoming more complex for businesses and travellers.

For employers, the rules that make Canada and U.S. talent mobility possible are being watched closely. For visitors, even a dream trip to Canada can become stressful if documents, timelines or admissibility issues are overlooked.

This month, we’re looking at what companies and travellers should be preparing for now, before small issues become costly disruptions.



CUSMA Is Up for Review in 2026

If your business relies on moving talent between Canada and the United States, CUSMA, formerly NAFTA, may be more important than you realize.

It’s the agreement that supports pathways such as TN status for Canadian professionals working in the U.S. and other cross-border mobility options that allow companies to move key employees efficiently.

Before the end of July 2026, Canada, the United States and Mexico will decide whether to extend the agreement, renegotiate it or allow parts of it to change.

The outcome could range from stability to real disruption. Eligibility could shift. Processing could slow. As a result, companies may need to rethink how they move talent across the border.

What Happens If Your Work Permit Strategy Stops Working

For many companies, CUSMA is part of how they hire, grow and operate across borders.

If changes affect TN visas or LMIA-exempt work permits, the impact could be immediate.

Employees who once qualified may no longer fit the category. Processing may become slower or more uncertain. Employers may be pushed toward LMIA-based hiring, which can add time, cost and complexity.

The real risk is not the change itself, but being unprepared if change happens.

If your company depends on cross-border mobility, now is the time to build a strategy that can adapt.

LMIA-Exempt Work Permits Are Facing More Scrutiny

We are also seeing some LMIA-exempt work permits become harder to approve.

This includes categories such as the C20 reciprocal employment pathway, where IRCC is looking more closely at how reciprocity is demonstrated, how the role is structured and how clearly the application is supported.

These pathways are still available, but they are no longer as straightforward as they once were.

What used to feel routine now requires stronger positioning, clearer documentation and a strategy that reflects how applications are being assessed today.

For employers, the difference between approval and delay often comes down to how the application is built from the beginning.

Planning a Trip to Canada This Year

May is also when many people begin planning summer and fall travel to Canada.

Canada is an incredible place to visit, from Banff and Lake Louise to Vancouver, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Montréal, Québec City, Vancouver Island and the Atlantic coast.

But Canada is vast, and first-time travellers often try to see too much in one trip. The strongest itineraries usually focus on one region at a time, whether that means the Rockies, Ontario and Québec, the West Coast or Atlantic Canada.

Before travelling, it’s important to confirm whether you need a visitor visa or eTA. 

If you are travelling with children, make sure you have the right family documents. If you have a past DUI, criminal charge, previous refusal or immigration concern, address it before you arrive at the border.

The best Canada trip starts before you board the plane.

👉 Read our blog: Best Places to Visit in Canada and How to Prepare for Your Trip

Referrer of the Month

Phoebe Fung

Founder, Vin Room

Phoebe Fung is the founder of Vin Room, a wine bar with three locations in Calgary. Her Vin Room YYC Airport location is the only locally owned and operated restaurant in the Calgary Airport and won Best Airport Wine Bar at the 2019 Global Food and Beverage Awards. 🎉

Phoebe has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a M.B.A. from Queens University. She spent 15 years in the oil and gas industry before starting Vin Room in 2008 out of a love for food and wine.

Phoebe’s first passion is her four-legged pooch, Dom, who is the driving force behind Vin Room being the first restaurant in Calgary to have dog friendly patios. She is passionate about promoting a dog friendly culture. Phoebe spends her spare time with her pooch Dom @domthesommpomm, who volunteers as a Pals Pet Therapy dog and a Pre-Board Pals at the Calgary Airport.

More about Phoebe

Plan Before the Rules Decide for You

Whether you are moving employees across borders or planning a trip to Canada, preparation matters more than ever.

A strong strategy gives you options. It helps prevent delays. It protects your business, your family plans and your ability to move forward with confidence.

If your business relies on cross-border mobility or if you need clarity before travelling to Canada, book an initial call with our team.

📞 Call us at (587) 200-9584

📧 contact@ackahlaw.com

🌐 www.ackahlaw.com

Grow and thrive beyond borders.

Listen to Evelyn on the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Podcast

Evelyn dives deeper into the real stories, strategies and human moments behind immigration law.

From border updates and work permit tips to interviews with entrepreneurs and newcomers building their lives in Canada, the Ask Canada Immigration Lawyer Podcast helps you stay informed, inspired and confident in your next immigration decision.

Explore all episodes

Previous Webinars

Employer Compliance, Audits & Enforcement| Ackah Law Webinar

Moving to Canada with the Start-up Visa:

Launch Your Future | Ackah Law Webinar

Your Path to the North: How Americans Can Move to Canada | Ackah Law Webinar