Welcome to the Guberman // Appleby Immigration Update. We hope you find the information provided relevant to your immigration needs. Our objective is to highlight recent changes in immigration that are of interest to our readers. If you have specific questions relating to this update, feel free to contact us at info@gaimmlaw.com.
Today’s topic:
- Synopsis of IRCC Minister Miller’s September 18, 2024 Announcement Concerning Study Permits and Work Permits for Spouses and Student and Spouses of Certain Temporary Foreign Workers; Entry Requirements for Mexicans
Subsequent to the recent announcements pertaining to reducing the percentage of temporary residents in Canada, including foreign workers and international students, from 6.5% to 5% of the population over the next three years, the announcements of September 18, 2024 introduce additional measures to achieve this goal and also reiterate changes made in winter 2024.
Minister Marc Miller made announcement pertaining to.
- International Students and Spouses of International Student
- Spouses of Certain Temporary Foreign Workers
- Entry Requirements for Mexicans
1.Temporary Foreign Workers
Canada previously announced reforms to stabilize international student intake and reduce fraud. These included an intake cap on study permit applications, a letter of acceptance verification system, and increased financial requirements. The 2025 intake cap will be 437,000 study permit.
As of November 1, 2024, international students will also be impacted by changes to Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWP), in that applications will need to include proof of English or French proficiency. For those graduating from a university, CLB level 7 will be required and for those graduating from a college CLB 5 will be required in order for PGWP approval.
In addition, for international student graduates of college programs, eligibility for a PGWP is contingent upon graduation from a field of study “…linked to occupations in long-term shortage”, as per the IRCC announcement.
Spouse’s of internation students are also impacted by this change, in that open work permits for spouses will be limited to those of students in graduate (master’s and doctorate) and professional degree programs.
2.Spouses of Certain Temporary Foreign Workers
Before the end of 2024, there will be limits to work permits eligibility for spouses of temporary foreign workers. Currently, most, if not all spouses of temporary foreign workers are eligible for open work permits. Going forward, only spouses of temporary foreign workers in management or professional positions of who are employed in sections with labour shortage will be eligible to apply for work permits.
3. Requirements for Mexican Travellers
In fact, this is not a new announcement. On February 29, 2024, the Government of Canada significantly changed the entry requirements for Mexican citizens seeking to come to Canada. Since 2016, Mexican citizens were exempt from the requirement to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa. However, as discussed in detail in this Guberman // Appleby Update entry requirements for Mexican citizens vary. Some require Temporary Resident Visas, while others are eligible for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Mexican citizens with a valid US non-immigrant visa or who have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years, and who are traveling by air on a Mexican passport, will be eligible to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Those who do not meet these criteria will need to apply for a Canadian Temporary Resident Visa. This change was prompted by the significant increase in asylum claims from Mexican nationals, many of which were either refused or abandoned. Following the introduction of this visa requirement, the number of claims from Mexican citizens dropped by almost 80% between February and June 2024.
// CONTACT US
We welcome you to contact us directly to discuss the above. Please contact one of our immigration lawyers, by reaching out to our general line 416 548 7100 or via email info@gaimmlaw.com. Our immigration lawyers are always available to discuss any of your specific Canadian or US immigration queries either virtually or in person. We look forward to hearing from you.
