Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Law Firm Blog

"May you live in Interesting Times"

There's a remark attributed to Vladimir Lenin, "There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen," likely referring to the Bolshevik revolution and other remarkable watershed moments near the end of the Great War; periods where change accelerates at an unprecedented pace. On some level the sentiment is applicable to the Canadian immigration policy landscape of 2024, a year marked by swift and transformative changes. In 2024, Canada's immigration framework underwent significant transformations, reflecting the country's response to economic needs, public sentiment, global challenges and of course political considerations and calculations with the long-in-the-tooth Liberal government confronted by a frustrated and unhappy electorate. What did 2024 bring us? 1. Introduction of Temporary Resident Caps One of the landmark decisions was the government's move to cap temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers, to manage population growth and alleviate pressures on housing and infrastructure. Temporary resident levels weren't really counted or considered in immigration planning in the past. That's now changed. This policy change was part of a broader strategy to ensure "sustainable" immigration numbers, reducing the temporary population to 5% of Canada's total by the end of 2027. That reduction of course is based on... Read more →

Change to the Visitor Visa Process -Program Delivery Instructions Updated for Visitor Visa Issuance November 2024

Introduction In a notable shift, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has revised its approach to issuing visitor visas. As of the updates made public on November 6, 2024, the issuance of multiple-entry visitor visas is no longer an automatic process. If an officer was going to approve the default would be multi-entry and until the expiry of the passport/travel document. That's no longer the case and reflects increased tightening in the visa regime and immigration/entry to Canada overall. Ostensibly the change aims to tailor visa issuance more closely to the specific circumstances of applicants. Here’s what you need to know about these changes: The Essence of the Multiple-Entry Visa A multiple-entry visa for Canada traditionally allows travelers to: Enter Canada multiple times during the visa’s validity period. Be valid for up to 10 years or until the expiration of either the travel document or biometric validity, whichever occurs first. However, Visa officers are now directed to use discretion to decide on the type of visa issued: Purpose of Visit: *Short-term or One-Time Events: If the visit is for a conference, short training, or similar one-off events, a single-entry visa might be more appropriate. *Regular Visits: For those visiting frequently,... Read more →

CBSA Raids in Calgary and Increased Focus on Enforcement

Stewart Sharma Harsanyi Immigration Lawyers · 2024 10 07 RedFM Interview On CBSA Raids And Enforcement I was interviewed by RedFM news director Rishi Nagar on the recent reports about CBSA raids against employers and foreign workers engaging in unauthorized work. The interview is a Punjabi language broadcast and is above. The following provides some additional context to this interview: The Recent CBSA Raids on Unauthorized Workers: A Shift in Immigration Enforcement The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) appears to have intensified its operations, conducting widespread raids targeting foreign nationals working without proper authorization. This uptick in enforcement activities isn't just about numbers; it's a clear signal of changing priorities within Canada's immigration framework. Why Now? Well, we can look to the current political climate: With immigration often at the forefront of political discourse, these actions might serve as a response to public and political pressure to address unauthorized employment, which some perceive as undermining the integrity of legal immigration processes. - There's little doubt that there's been a change in policy. We're seeing a move towards stricter enforcement, possibly in alignment with Minister Marc Miller's strategy to reduce the number of temporary residents. This could be an attempt to... Read more →