Immigration.ca - Colin Singer, Canada Immigration Lawyer

11/02/2026

Are you an aircraft mechanic, pilot, avionics technician or automotive service technician? Canada just held an Express Entry draw for you. On October 28, IRCC invited 150 transport workers to apply for permanent residence, with a minimum CRS score of 477. That is the highest cut-off and the smallest Transport round since the category started in 2023. To qualify, you need at least 12 months of full-time experience in one eligible occupation within the past three years. Here is the full breakdown, including who qualifies:

https://immigration.ca/canada-invites-150-transport-workers-express-entry-crs-477-october-28-2026/

Canada issued 150 invitations in an Express Entry Transport occupations draw on October 28, 2026, at a CRS cut-off of 477 — the smallest Transport round and the highest Transport cut-off on record.

10/30/2026

Waiting on an LMIA while your work permit is about to expire? There is some good news.

As of October 28, 2026, IRCC officers must wait for the LMIA decision before deciding a qualifying work permit application, instead of moving ahead after 90 days. That means eligible workers who apply to extend in time are less likely to be refused just because ESDC has not finished its assessment.

The LMIA itself is still required, though, and employers still need to apply well in advance. Here is who qualifies and what to do next:
https://immigration.ca/canada-removes-90-day-limit-for-work-permit-applicants-awaiting-lmias/

Canada removes the 90-day LMIA limit for eligible work permit applicants. Learn who qualifies, how maintained status works and what changes mean for foreign workers.

10/29/2026

Right now it can take up to 34 months just to get a document confirming you are a Canadian citizen. For the roughly 130,000 Lost Canadians waiting on Bill C-3 applications, that wait keeps growing.

In a new opinion piece, immigration.ca founder Colin Singer makes the case that Ottawa should partially pause economic immigration in its 2027 levels plan and move IRCC staff onto the citizenship-by-descent backlog. As he points out, unlike visas, a citizenship certificate for someone who can prove Canadian ancestry is a legal obligation, not a discretionary choice.

The 2027 levels are expected in early November. Read Colin's full argument and tell us what you think:
https://immigration.ca/pause-economic-immigration-bill-c-3-backlog-2027-levels/

With 130,000 Lost Canadians applications waiting up to 34 months, Ottawa should pause parts of its 2027 economic intake to clear the Bill C-3 backlog.

10/29/2026

Professionalism and courtesy, from start to finish:

5 stars - "I appreciated the professionalism and courtesy extended by Andrew Kaoma. He offered insights into the citizenship by descent process and made clearer the path, validating things I had learned and providing me encouragement." - Chris

Explore your options for Canadian citizenship by descent -> immigration.ca
https://immigration.ca/

10/29/2026

Ever wondered whether a Canadian ancestor could make you a citizen? Tanner, a professional genealogist, found his answer in his own family tree: a Quebec City couple who moved to Wisconsin in the 1840s.

In our new Q&A, he shares what it took to document his claim under Bill C-3, why church parish records were the hardest to track down, and his number one tip for anyone starting out: never trust an online family tree unless it is backed by a primary source.

Read his story:
https://immigration.ca/genealogist-canadian-citizenship-by-descent-qa/

A professional genealogist on tracing his Quebec roots for Canadian citizenship by descent, the hardest records to find, and advice for Americans.

10/28/2026

Could Bill C-3 bring hundreds of thousands of Americans with Canadian roots north? Our new preliminary estimate suggests about 280,000 US-based Lost Canadians and their spouses could move to Canada.

It's based on a survey of 409 of our citizenship-by-descent applicants, nearly 15 per cent of whom said they're very likely to move within five years of approval. It's an informed projection, not a final count, and spouses would still need their own immigration route, since marrying a citizen doesn't make someone Canadian.

See how we got the number:
https://immigration.ca/bill-c-3-280000-lost-canadians-could-move-to-canada/

A preliminary immigration.ca estimate suggests about 280,000 US-based Lost Canadians and their spouses could move to Canada under Bill C-3.

10/28/2026

Studied or worked in Quebec? This Saturday, October 31, is the deadline to apply under the reopened Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), and Quebec hasn't confirmed when another window might open.

To qualify this time, you needed to have earned an eligible Quebec diploma, or built up at least two years of qualifying Quebec work experience, by November 19, 2025. French-language requirements still apply, and applications must be in through Arrima by 11:59 p.m. Montreal time.

Here's who can still apply, and how:
https://immigration.ca/quebec-experience-program-application-window-closes-october-31-who-can-still-apply/

Quebec Experience Program applications close October 31, 2026. Find out who qualifies, the requirements for workers and graduates, and how to apply before the deadline.

10/27/2026

Good news for Manitoba grads! On October 22, Manitoba issued 1,304 Letters of Advice to Apply in MPNP Draw #282 - its largest round since July.

The biggest share, 734 invitations, went to Skilled Worker in Manitoba candidates who (or whose spouse) studied at a Manitoba post-secondary school, with a minimum score of 816. Another 513 went to top-scoring profiles at 846 and up, and 57 to strategic recruitment invitees.

Met the criteria but missed out? Double-check that your language test number is valid in your EOI before the next draw.

https://immigration.ca/manitoba-issues-1304-letters-of-advice-to-apply-mpnp-draw-282-october-22-2026/

Manitoba issued 1,304 Letters of Advice to Apply in MPNP Expression of Interest Draw #282 on October 22, 2026, its largest round since July, led by 734 to Manitoba graduates.

10/26/2026

Big news for anyone hoping to settle in Alberta: the province issued more than 560 invitations across five AAIP draws between October 9 and October 20. The biggest was an October 20 round that invited 386 Express Entry candidates at a minimum score of 60, the largest Alberta Express Entry round this year. There were also rounds for health care workers, tourism and hospitality, and law enforcement. As of October 21, Alberta had 772 nomination spaces left for 2026. Here's the full breakdown:

https://immigration.ca/alberta-issues-560-invitations-five-aaip-draws-october-2026/

Alberta issued more than 560 invitations across five AAIP draws between October 9 and October 20, 2026, including a 386-invitation Express Entry priority sector round.

10/23/2026

Fewer foreign workers are arriving in Canada, so why are there more work permit holders than before?

According to new IRCC data, 1,550,215 people held only a work permit at the end of August 2026, about 8.2 per cent more than in August 2024. That is despite a 57 per cent drop in new worker arrivals. Meanwhile, the number of study permit holders has fallen by almost 41 per cent.

The reason is that many workers already in Canada still hold valid permits, and some can extend them. We break down what it means for the 2027 temporary resident target here:

https://immigration.ca/canadas-work-permit-population-rises-despite-57-drop-in-new-arrivals/

Canada's work permit population has risen 8.2% since 2024 despite a 57% drop in worker arrivals. New IRCC data reveals why temporary resident numbers remain high.