ICP Immigration Inc - Masoumeh Alimohammadi

🔴 Canada Expands Work Permit Access for Spouses of Quebec Healthcare Workers
Canada has expanded access to open work permits for spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign-trained healthcare workers in Quebec.

Effective May 25, 2026, eligible spouses no longer need the principal worker’s work permit to be valid for at least 16 months. This requirement was introduced in January 2025 as part of broader restrictions on spousal open work permits.

The exemption is limited to spouses of foreign-trained healthcare professionals in Quebec who work in one of three eligible occupations:

🔸 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
🔸 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
🔸 Medical laboratory technologists

The principal worker must also have been admitted into one of Quebec’s approved recruitment or credential recognition projects for foreign-trained healthcare professionals.

The principal worker must still be authorized to work in Canada when the spouse applies.

This exemption does not reverse Canada’s broader 2025 restrictions on spousal open work permits. The 16-month validity rule still applies to most other spouses of foreign workers. Instead, the update creates a narrow exception for Quebec’s healthcare sector, where the province is working to retain internationally trained professionals amid ongoing labour shortages.

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🔴 Two Days, Two Draws, 7,500 Express Entry Invitations
Canada issued 7,500 new invitations through Express Entry in two consecutive draws held on May 27 and May 28, 2026.

The first draw targeted Canadian Experience Class candidates, with 3,000 invitations issued and a minimum CRS score of 518. This was four points higher than the previous CEC draw on April 28, which had a cutoff score of 514.

One day later, IRCC held a French-language proficiency draw, inviting 4,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 409. This was the largest French-language draw of 2026 so far, and the cutoff was nine points higher than the previous French draw on April 29.

Together, the two draws show that IRCC has resumed larger non-PNP Express Entry rounds after a pause of about four weeks. In May, Canada had already held two Provincial Nominee Program draws before returning to CEC and French-language selections.

The higher CRS scores in both draws suggest that competition remains strong. For CEC candidates, the cutoff stayed above 500, showing continued pressure among applicants with Canadian work experience. For French-speaking candidates, the score remained much lower, but still increased from the previous round.

French-language draws continue to be one of Canada’s key immigration priorities, especially as the federal government aims to increase French-speaking immigration outside Quebec. Candidates need strong French test results to qualify under this category.

So far in 2026, IRCC has held 11 PNP draws, 9 CEC draws, 6 French-language draws, and a smaller number of occupation-based draws, including healthcare, trades, physicians, and senior managers.

Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply now have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. Those still waiting should keep their Express Entry profiles updated, especially language test results, work experience, education documents, and police certificates.

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🔴 Maintaining Canadian PR Status: What New PRs Need to Know
Canadian permanent residents must spend at least 730 days in Canada within every five-year period to keep their PR status. Days don’t need to be consecutive, but the five-year period is rolling, not fixed from the landing date.

IRCC or CBSA can assess any five-year period immediately before a PR card renewal, a Permanent Resident Travel Document application, or a return to Canada at the border. For new PRs, officers check if they have already spent 730 days in Canada or can reach that number before their fifth anniversary.

Some time abroad counts, such as accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse or parent, or working full-time for a qualifying Canadian business or public service employer. Many misunderstand the rules—working for a foreign subsidiary or multinational does not automatically qualify.

Residency issues usually appear at the first PR card renewal or when applying for a PRTD abroad. CBSA may also question travel patterns at the border. A formal report does not immediately cancel PR status but can trigger a review or removal process. Appeals may be possible.

The safest approach: live mostly in Canada for the first five years, keep accurate travel records, and document any qualifying exceptions.

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🔴 Canada Tightens Rules for Digital Nomads
Canada has introduced stricter documentation requirements for digital nomads who want to work remotely from inside the country without a work permit.

The update was published on May 26, 2026, in new instructions for immigration officers under “Temporary residents: Digital nomads.” Previously, officers were told that digital nomads did not need to provide additional documentation beyond what is normally required from visitors. Under the new instructions, applicants must now provide enough proof that their income is earned entirely outside Canada and that they are working for a foreign employer or, if self-employed, serving only clients outside Canada.

Digital nomads can still enter Canada as visitors and work remotely for up to six months, as long as they are not entering the Canadian labour market. This means their employer or clients must not have financial ties to Canada, and the work must remain fully foreign-based.

The update does not create a new visa or work permit category. Instead, it gives officers clearer instructions on what digital nomads must prove before being allowed to rely on the work-permit exemption.

Those who want to stay longer than their authorized period must apply for a visitor record. Family members travelling with them must also apply for their own temporary resident status. Digital nomads must also meet the usual visitor requirements, including showing they can support themselves financially, will leave Canada when required, and are not inadmissible for medical or criminal reasons.

The change suggests Canada is still allowing remote workers to stay temporarily, but with more careful checks to ensure they are not working for Canadian employers or serving Canadian clients without proper authorization.

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🔴 Applicants Warned to Be Careful When Using AI for IRCC Fairness Letters
Applicants who receive a Procedural Fairness Letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada should treat their response as a critical part of their immigration file.

A Procedural Fairness Letter, often called a PFL, is sent when an officer has concerns about an application and gives the applicant a chance to respond before a final decision is made.

The response should directly address the officer’s concerns, provide clear explanations, and include strong supporting documents. If the application is later refused, the PFL response may become important in deciding whether the case can be challenged through judicial review.

Applicants should also be careful when using AI tools to draft a response. While AI can help organize ideas or improve wording, it may also create fake case law, incorrect legal references, or inaccurate sections of immigration law. Submitting unverified legal information can seriously damage an application.

For serious concerns, including possible misrepresentation, inadmissibility, or refusal risks, applicants may need professional legal advice before submitting their response.

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🔴 Alberta Invites 1,051 Candidates in Latest PNP Draws
Alberta invited 1,051 candidates through four provincial immigration draws held between May 1 and May 13, 2026.

The invitations were issued under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), targeting candidates in healthcare, technology, the Alberta Opportunity Stream, and rural community pathways.

The largest round was held on May 6 under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, with 832 invitations and a minimum score of 54. This stream made up nearly 80% of all invitations issued in these latest draws.

On May 7, Alberta invited 146 candidates through the Accelerated Tech Pathway, with a minimum score of 57. On May 13, another 61 candidates were invited through the Dedicated Health Care Pathway under Express Entry, also with a minimum score of 57. The Rural Renewal Stream saw 12 invitations on May 1, with a minimum score of 50.

So far in 2026, Alberta has held 36 provincial immigration draws and issued at least 6,269 invitations to apply for provincial nomination. Most of these invitations have gone through the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

As of May 14, Alberta had used 2,191 of its 6,403 federal nomination spaces for 2026, leaving 4,212 spots available.

The province has identified healthcare, technology, and rural immigration as key priorities for 2026. These latest draws show Alberta is continuing to focus on workers who can support labour needs in major sectors and smaller communities across the province.

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🔴 Express Entry Backlog Falls to Record Low, but Delays Remain Significant
Canada’s Express Entry backlog has dropped to its lowest level on record, according to IRCC’s latest application inventory update for March 31, 2026.

Only 10% of Express Entry applications were considered backlogged, down from 11% in February and far below the 32% recorded in November 2025. IRCC considers an application backlogged when it has not been finalized within the department’s normal service standard. For Express Entry, that standard is about six months.

However, the broader backlog remains significant. As of March 31, IRCC had 2,154,300 applications in its inventory, with 935,000 still considered backlogged. This was only a slight decrease from 941,400 in February.

Permanent residence applications showed mixed results. The Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program backlog fell from 40% to 38%, while family sponsorship remained unchanged at 22%. From January to March 2026, IRCC made 112,600 decisions on permanent residence applications and welcomed 83,000 new permanent residents.

Temporary residence files were more uneven. Study permit backlogs improved, falling from 46% to 40%, and visitor visa backlogs eased slightly from 48% to 46%. However, work permit backlogs increased sharply from 27% to 34%, rising above IRCC’s projected level for March.

Citizenship grant applications remained stable, with 23% of files considered backlogged. IRCC had 270,100 citizenship grant applications in its inventory at the end of March.

The latest update shows clear improvement in Express Entry processing, but it does not mean Canada’s immigration backlog problem is over. Hundreds of thousands of applicants are still waiting beyond normal processing standards, especially in temporary residence categories such as work permits, study permits, and visitor visas.

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🔴 Nova Scotia Launches New Job-Matching Initiative for Express Entry Candidates
Nova Scotia has launched a new Critical Vacancies initiative to help employers connect with skilled workers through the Express Entry system.

The initiative is designed for sectors facing labour shortages, with the current focus on construction and healthcare. Its main purpose is to match qualified foreign workers with Nova Scotia employers who have been unable to fill certain positions locally.

As part of this process, Nova Scotia has started sending Notices of Interest (NOIs) to selected Express Entry candidates. Candidates must have an active Express Entry profile, but they do not need previous work experience in Canada or Nova Scotia.

An NOI does not mean the candidate has received permanent residence, a provincial nomination, or a guaranteed job offer. It only means Nova Scotia may be interested in the candidate’s profile and may review them for possible employer matching.

Candidates who receive an NOI must submit information about their education, work experience, and qualifications. The province will then review their profile and may share suitable candidates with employers. Employers can then contact candidates for interviews and may offer them a job.

A job offer from a Nova Scotia employer may help candidates pursue a federal or provincial immigration pathway later. However, permanent residence is not automatic and still depends on the candidate’s eligibility.

This initiative reflects Nova Scotia’s 2026 immigration priorities, especially in healthcare and skilled trades.

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🔴 Canada Exempts Unaccompanied Minors from Asylum Ban
On May 19, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a temporary policy exempting unaccompanied minors from the one-year ban on asylum claims. The ban, established under Bill C-12, made claims filed more than a year after entry ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) for individuals who arrived in Canada after June 24, 2020.

Under the new policy, children under 18 without a parent or legal guardian in Canada can have their claims processed even if filed late or after crossing the U.S.-Canada border irregularly. Delegated IRCC officers can now exempt these minors from the “one-year” and “14-day” rules, allowing their claims to go through the standard eligibility review and, if eligible, be referred to the IRB.

The exemption expands protections already granted under Canada’s Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S. and applies only to refugee claims filed on or after May 19, 2026. Minors must still meet all other requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

This policy remains in effect until the Minister of Immigration revokes it, ensuring unaccompanied minors can navigate the asylum process despite lacking legal guardianship.

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🔴 Quebec Population Declines as Temporary Immigration Drops in 2025
Quebec’s population fell slightly in 2025 to an estimated 9.03 million, down about 9,600 from the previous year, according to the latest figures from the Institut de la statistique du Québec.

The decline reflects a sharp reduction in temporary immigration after years of rapid growth fueled by international students, temporary workers, and asylum claimants.

Temporary residents in the province decreased by 51,400, bringing the total to 514,050 at the start of 2026. Permanent immigration, however, rose slightly to 60,150 new arrivals, though this was insufficient to offset broader demographic pressures.

Quebec recorded more deaths than births for the second consecutive year, with 80,450 deaths versus 78,200 births. The province’s fertility rate remained low at 1.36 children per woman, and the average age of mothers at first birth reached 30.2 years.

Net international migration contributed only 450 people, while interprovincial migration resulted in a loss of 7,600 residents.

The report highlights the challenge for Quebec and Canada in balancing reduced temporary immigration with the need to maintain population stability and support the workforce.

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