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On December 23, 2024, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugeees and Citizenship (IRCC), announced that Express Entry candidates will no longer receive the additional 50 CRS ranking points for having a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), counting towards their job offer.

This measure is meant to be a temporary measure to help reduce fraud in the Express Entry system by removing the incentive to illegally buy or sell a LMIA to improve the CRS ranking for a greater opportunity to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). This change is expected to come into effect Spring 2025.

This change will impact any candidate looking to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system, including those currently working temporarily in Canada. Those not affected by this change are candidates who have already been invited to apply or those who currently have a permanent residency application in processing. Once this change is introduced, it will apply to all candidates with a LMIA in the pool as well as any new candidates entering the pool to await an ITA.

IRCC News Release: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/12/canada-takes-action-to-reduce-fraud-in-express-entry-system.html

Effective January 21, 2025, only spouses of certain international students and foreign workers will be eligible to apply for a family open work permit (OWP).

As part of the broader measures announced by IRCC in September 2024, this change is in response to an evolving shift in Canada's economy, including a softening of the labour market.

Family OWPs will now be limited to spouses of international students who are enroled in

  • master's program that are 16 months in duration or longer
  • doctoral programs or
  • select professional and eligible programs

Family OWPs will also be limited to spouses of foreign workers who are employed in

  • TEER 0 or 1 occupations or
  • select TEER 2 or 3 occupations in sectors with labour shortages or linked to government priorities - full list will be available on January 21, 2025

Additionally, the foreign worker must also have at least 16 months validity remaining on their work permit at the time when their spouse applies for their OWP. Dependent children will no longer be eligible for an OWP.

Spouses of foreign workers covered by a free-trade agreement and those transitioning to permanent residence will not be impacted by these changes.

IRCC News Release: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/changes-open-work-permits-family-members-temporary-residents.html

Further to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship's announcement of June 21, 2024 limiting "flagpoling" applications for work permits, additional instructions and restrictions on who can apply at a port of entry has been provided.

"The following persons cannot apply on entry to Canada [R198(2)]:

"Persons who hold a valid work permit or who wish to change their conditions or renew their work permit should apply in Canada, pursuant to section R199."

The full Program Instructions can be found here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/persons-who-may-apply-port-entry.html

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