Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a significant policy change requiring all Express Entry permanent residence applicants to complete medical examinations before submitting their applications.
Currently, applicants submit their complete permanent residence application first, then await IRCC instructions to complete required medical exams.
This change will not affect applications submitted before the implementation date or non-Express Entry permanent residence applications.
Effective August 21, 2025, the change aims to reduce processing times by ensuring all medical requirements are fulfilled upfront, which may help eliminate delays caused by medical exam scheduling and results verification after application submission.
#express_entry, #canada_immigration, #permanent_residence #medical_exam_changes, #ircc, #immigration_medical_exams, #pr_application_process
August 14, 2025
The Canada Border Services Agency and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have apprehended three individuals involved in orchestrating illegal border crossings.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of Tolga Yilmaz, 34, at Montreal-Trudeau Airport on August 8, linked to the illegal entry of 44 individuals near Stanstead on August 3.
Two additional suspects, Can Volkan, 25, and Kurey Recep, 27, were arrested on August 10 while attempting to smuggle 11 foreign nationals in the Valleyfield region. All face charges under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Customs Act.
#border_security, #human_trafficking, #cbsa_rcmp_collaboration, #immigration_enforcement, #national_security, #illegal_border_crossing, #law_enforcement
August 13, 2025
A comprehensive analysis identifies Toronto as hosting nearly 50% of Canada's undocumented immigrants, with an estimated 250,000-300,000 individuals residing without legal status.
According to recent data, Canada's total undocumented population exceeds 600,000 nationwide, with major urban centers serving as primary settlement hubs.
The study, which examined immigrant proportions in Census Metropolitan Areas alongside sanctuary policies and community services, reveals that Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal lead the country in undocumented residents.
While these individuals contribute significantly to essential sectors like construction, hospitality, and caregiving, they face considerable challenges, including limited healthcare access, employment exploitation, and deportation risks.
#undocumented_immigrants, #urban_demographics, #migrant_workers, #immigration_statistics
August 12, 2025
Statistics Canada has reported a 15.6% year-over-year reduction in international arrivals for July 2025, representing the sixth consecutive month of declining visitor numbers.
The total of 6.3 million arrivals, encompassing both returning Canadian residents and non-residents via air and automobile transportation, exhibited divergent patterns across various travel categories.
While non-resident air arrivals demonstrated a modest 3.1% increase, Canadian-resident return journeys experienced substantial decreases, notably in automobile travel from the United States, which declined by 36.9% compared to July 2024, extending a concerning seven-month negative trajectory.
#international_travel, #tourism, #travel_statistics, #tourism_decline, #cross_border_travel, #travel_trends
August 12, 2025
