Maple News reports that, as of August 10, the processing time for a proof of Canadian citizenship certificate has risen to 25 months, up from 19 months in July, according to the federal government’s processing-time tool. The surge in wait times accompanies a rapidly expanding backlog at Immigration, Refugees and […]
Northwest Territories Expands Nomination Slots to 300 for 2026, NTNP Announces
Maple News reports that the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has gained 103 additional nomination spaces from the federal government for 2026, lifting the territory’s annual allocation to 300 nominations. This increase mirrors the total reached by the end of 2025 after two prior increments. The boost enables an additional […]
LMIA Processing Times Edge Higher Across Most Streams in July 2026, Maple News Reports
Maple News reports that LMIA processing times rose across nearly all streams of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in July 2026, with increases ranging from one to nine business days, according to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Breaking from the broader trend, the permanent resident stream was an exception, […]
British Columbia Invites 500 Workers Across Five Priority Sectors to Apply for Provincial Nomination
Maple News reports that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued invitations to 500 candidates to apply for provincial nomination through an occupation-specific draw targeting priority workers, spanning five in-demand sectors: construction trades, healthcare, childcare, education, and veterinary care. The invitations fall under BC’s Skills Immigration stream and represent […]
US Birthright Restrictions Push Americans Toward Canadian Citizenship by Descent as Canada Expands Eligibility
Maple News reports that on Thursday, August 6, U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at narrowing birthright citizenship, following a Supreme Court ruling that blocked his broader earlier attempt. The orders expand the categories of people deemed ineligible for automatic citizenship at birth and target so-called birth […]
Nova Scotia Elevates NSNP Costs with $1,000 Worker Fee and $2,000 Entrepreneur Fee
Maple News reports that Nova Scotia is introducing new application fees for the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP). Beginning September 1, 2026, foreign nationals seeking to immigrate through the NSNP’s worker streams must pay a non-refundable $1,000 application fee. The change marks a shift from the previous policy, which […]
Canada Sets Eligibility Rules for Permit-Exempt Academic Examiners
Maple News reports that the Canadian federal government has for the first time published explicit eligibility criteria for foreign nationals to work in Canada without a work permit as academic examiners. In updated instructions posted on the government website on July 31, 2026, eligible examiners must be senior academics or […]
Quebec Citizenship by Descent: The Free Record Corrections That Could Save You Months
Maple News reports on a practical path through Quebec’s civil-status records for citizenship by descent. A case in point: a genealogical search turns up two versions of a great-grandmother’s name—Marie Thibodeau on a 1903 parish baptism register and Mary Thibodeaux on a 1924 Quebec marriage license. Such spelling discrepancies can […]
IRCC Walks Back Proposed Restriction on Reciprocal Employment Permits
Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration department has walked back a rule change that would have restricted reciprocal employment work permits to workers already employed outside Canada. Officials described the change as a version-control error that does not reflect the department’s intended policy. The contested update appeared in officer instructions […]
Canada kicks off first permanent-residence selections under revamped Transport category, Maple News reports
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 300 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in an Express Entry draw targeting candidates in the new Transport category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 470, and applicants needed to have created an Express Entry profile before 2:55 p.m. […]
Ontario Opens Intake for New Permanent Residency Pathway via OWPS
Maple News reports that Ontario has opened intake for a new pathway to permanent residence under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). The Ontario Workforce Priority Stream (OWPS) is now available for eligible foreign nationals to be considered for provincial nomination. To be considered, applicants must create an Expression of […]
Canada Tightens LMIA-Exempt Reciprocal Work Permits to Current Employees
Maple News reports that Canada’s immigration authorities have tightened the rules governing work permits issued under the International Mobility Program’s C20 exemption, restricting eligibility to foreign nationals who are already employed by the sponsor company abroad. On July 29, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada published updated instructions stating that […]
Maple News Reports 5,000 ITAs in French-Speaking Express Entry Draw as IRCC Pushes Francophone Immigration
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 5,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a French-language Express Entry draw. To be considered, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 391 and had to have created an Express Entry profile before 11:32 p.m. UTC on […]
IRCC Processing Times Rise Across Temporary Residence Categories, Maple News Reports
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its processing time estimates for temporary residence applications on August 5, signaling longer waits across most categories. The most notable increases include a 14-week jump in work permit processing for applications from Pakistan; a one-week uptick for Nigerian and […]
Washington’s cross-border roots could unlock Canadian citizenship for thousands
Maple News reports on Washington state’s long-standing, tangible ties to Canada, a cross-border dynamic felt from Blaine to Sumas. Even Point Roberts—a Washington enclave reachable only via Canada—highlights how closely intertwined these communities are across the border. The region’s history helps explain why a policy shift in Canada could open […]
IRCC updates Express Entry score distribution as pool tightens and mid-range scores rise
Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published an updated distribution of candidate scores in the Express Entry pool. The Aug. 3 snapshot shows the pool contracting by more than 2,400 profiles since July 19, even as the 501–600 CRS band increased by just over 1,500 […]