Canada Immigration Weekly Update – June 29, 2025
Canada Immigration Weekly Update – June 29, 2025
Canada Immigration Weekly Update – June 29, 2025
Welcome to your Canada Immigration Weekly Update for June 22-29 2025!
This week covers major federal developments—including Express Entry draws under the current Immigration Minister, the proposed Strong Borders Act, significant changes for citizenship by descent, and updated IRCC processing times. Let’s dive in.
Canada Immigration | Weekly Update
IRCC News Updates for the Week of June 22–29, 2025
Program Delivery Updates
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Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) (June 27, 2025):
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Source: IRCC Program Delivery Instructions
The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) is now officially in effect, offering a temporary residence to permanent residence (TR to PR) pathway for eligible French-speaking international students studying outside Quebec.
🔹 Purpose of the FMCSP
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Supports Canada’s Francophone Immigration Policy
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Increases access to the International Student Program for students from countries with lower visa approval rates
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Encourages integration and settlement in Francophone minority communities
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Provides IRCC-funded settlement services to participants and their family members during studies
Eligibility Criteria for Principal Applicants
To qualify, applicants must:
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Be a citizen of one of the eligible French-speaking countries in Africa, Middle East, or Americas (full list available on IRCC)
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Have an LOA from a participating DLI, coded “PPECFSM”
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Be enrolled in a full-time program (min. 2 years) at the post-secondary level, with instruction in French (50%+)
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Provide French language test results (TEF/TCF) with NCLC 5 or higher in all four skills
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Show proof of funds:
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First-year tuition + travel
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75% of LICO based on community population size (e.g., $20,635 for large cities; $14,206 for rural areas)
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Apply from outside Canada (section 213 applies)
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Have no inadmissible family members
Eligibility for Family Members (Dependants)
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Must apply for an open work permit, study permit, or visitor visa
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Must show the principal applicant’s participation in FMCSP
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Dependants receive special user remarks on their documents, enabling access to settlement services
Key Exemptions for FMCSP / PPECFSM Applicants
FMCSP participants (and their dependants) are exempt from:
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Demonstrating intent to leave Canada (sections 20(1)(b), 22(2), 216(1)(b), 179(b), 200(1)(b))
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Providing PAL/TAL (Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter)
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These exemptions apply at entry and every subsequent entry while status remains valid
Other Important Notes
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LOAs must include the PPECFSM code; otherwise, applications are processed under the regular stream
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Medical exams and biometrics may be required
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Study and work permits must include special “User Remarks”:
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Principal: “FMCSP / PPECFSM”
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Dependants: “Dependant FMCSP / Personne à charge PPECFSM”
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Visitors must be issued a visitor record with the above remarks
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Participants may switch to another participating DLI but must reapply with a new LOA under FMCSP
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ᴇꜱᴅᴄ ɴᴇᴡꜱ ᴜᴩᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ
LMIA Wage Thresholds Adjusted as of June 27, 2025
Source: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Effective Date: June 27, 2025
Applies to: Employers hiring temporary foreign workers (TFWs)
🔹 Key Change:
As of June 27, 2025, ESDC has updated the wage thresholds that determine whether an employer must apply under the High-Wage or Low-Wage stream of the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program.
🧾 What this means for employers:
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If the **offered wage is equal to or above the threshold in your province/territory → apply under the High-Wage stream.
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If the **offered wage is below the threshold → apply under the Low-Wage stream.
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New Wage Thresholds by Province/Territory (Effective June 27, 2025)
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See updated wage thresholds by province/territory as of June 27, 2025
Province/territory For LMIAs received before June 27, 2025 For LMIAs received as of June 27, 2025 Alberta $35.40 $36.00 British Columbia $34.62 $36.60 Manitoba $30.00 $30.16 New Brunswick $28.85 $30.00 Newfoundland and Labrador $31.20 $32.40 Northwest Territories $47.09 $48.00 Nova Scotia $28.80 $30.00 Nunavut $42.00 $42.00 Ontario $34.07 $36.00 Prince Edward Island $28.80 $30.00 Quebec $32.96 $34.62 Saskatchewan $32.40 $33.60 Yukon $43.20 $44.40 Additional Notes:
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This wage assessment is based on the position’s wage, not its NOC or job title.
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Employers must meet all program requirements applicable to the selected stream (e.g., transition plans for high-wage, cap limits for low-wage).
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ᴜᴩᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴍꜱ & ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋʟɪꜱᴛꜱ
June 2025
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently released updated versions of several immigration forms. As of June 2025, the following forms have been revised:
⚠️ Make sure to use the latest versions of these forms to avoid delays or refusals. Always download them directly from the IRCC official website.
Provincial Government News:
Latest Draws
Express Entry
Express Entry Draw – June 26, 2025
Draw #353
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Program: Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
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Number of invitations issued: 3,000
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Minimum CRS score: 521
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Draw date and time: June 26, 2025 at 12:48 p.m. UTC
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Tie-breaking rule: Profiles submitted before November 21, 2024 at 3:56 p.m. UTC were prioritized if multiple candidates had the same score.
Note: This draw was specific to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class, meaning only those with Canadian work experience were considered.
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Express Entry – Provincial Nominee Program (June 23, 2025)
Draw #354
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Number of invitations issued: 503
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Minimum CRS score required: 742
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Draw date and time: June 23, 2025 at 3:42 p.m. UTC
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Tie-breaking rule: Profiles submitted before May 30, 2025 at 9:44 p.m. UTC were prioritized if multiple candidates had the same score.
Note: This draw targeted only candidates who were nominated by a Canadian province or territory through the PNP stream.
PNP
Manitoba PNP – Expression of Interest Draw (June 26, 2025)
Expression of Interest (EOI) Draw #248
International Education Stream – Close Relative in Manitoba Selection
A total of 478 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) were issued to candidates who:
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Met the eligibility requirements of the International Education Stream, and
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Declared a Manitoba Supporter who is a close relative, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and has resided in Manitoba for at least one year.
Close relatives include parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles/aunts, nieces/nephews, first cousins.
Candidates must provide proof of both the family relationship and the Supporter’s residency in Manitoba.
Skilled Worker Stream – Strategic Recruitment Initiatives
An additional 14 LAAs were issued under this category.
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Candidates were either in the Skilled Worker in Manitoba or Skilled Worker Overseas pathway.
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All were directly invited by the MPNP through strategic recruitment initiatives.
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The lowest score among these candidates was 712.
Breakdown of the 14 strategic invitations:
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Employer Services: 5
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Francophone Community: 5
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Regional Communities: 3
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Ethnocultural Communities: 1
Of the total 492 LAAs issued in this draw, 65 were issued to candidates with valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes.
Important Upcoming Dates
June 30, 2025
Event: Temporary Suspension Ends for Key Québec Programs
Details:
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Intake of applications under the Québec Graduate Stream
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Invitations under the Regular and Skilled Worker Selection Programs
Context: Québec paused intake to modernize its selection criteria and manage backlogs.
July 2, 2025
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) will launch a new Employer Portal, officially replacing the paper-based process.
This change introduces an employer-led Expression of Interest (EOI) model, allowing Ontario employers to directly manage EOI submissions for employer job offer streams through the portal.
July 11, 2025
Event: Updated LMIA Processing Restrictions Take Effect
Details:
Service Canada will refuse to process low-wage LMIA applications in Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) where unemployment is 6% or higher. This quarterly update affects new and renewal LMIA applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).
Why it matters:
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Employers in affected CMAs will be blocked from hiring low-wage foreign workers.
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Temporary workers in these regions may lose renewal eligibility.
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Employers are advised to check CMA unemployment rates, consider high-wage LMIA streams, or hire in alternate regions.
- Source: canada.ca
This Canada Immigration Weekly Update is based on official IRCC releases and verified event listings.
👉 Stay informed by checking IRCC and provincial updates regularly. For personalized advice, consult a licensed immigration professional.
📎 For the latest Express Entry results, visit: https://ghasedak.ca/express-entry/express-entry-draws/
