It has been some time since Alexander Immigration shared updates on social media. The reason for this pause is our commitment to keeping up with the ongoing changes—sometimes occurring on a daily basis—to ensure the information we share is accurate and reliable.
This year, especially the past three months, Canadian immigration has seen significant transformations. Unfortunately, temporary foreign nationals, including workers and students, have often been scapegoated for challenges such as the housing crisis, unemployment, labor shortages, and strains on the healthcare system. These issues, compounded by political narratives, have added complexity to the immigration landscape.
As we approach the end of 2024, we have taken the opportunity to summarize the key changes in Canadian immigration up to 01 December 2024, below:
IRCC Policy Updates and Changes in 2024
Immigration Levels Adjustments
- Reduction in Targets:
- On 24 October 2024, IRCC announced the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, introducing controlled targets for temporary and permanent residents to achieve sustainable long-term population growth.
International Student Program Reforms
- Intake Cap:
- Starting 22 January 2024, IRCC capped international student permit applications to approximately 360,000 approvals for the year to stabilize growth in the program.
- Regulatory Changes:
- Effective November 2024, students must now receive approval for a new study permit before switching designated learning institutions (DLIs). Non-compliant DLIs may face suspension from enrolling international students.
Refugee System Updates
- Faster Refusal Processing:
- In November 2024, IRCC introduced measures to expedite asylum claim refusals unlikely to succeed, addressing a backlog of over 260,000 cases while maintaining fairness.
Application Fee Updates
- Fee Adjustments:
- On 01 December 2024, IRCC updated processing fees for temporary resident applications, including those for visitors, workers, and students, aligning with commitments to fair and efficient processes.
Francophone Immigration Policy
- Increased Francophone Representation:
- Targets were set to increase French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec, aiming for 8.5% by 2025 and 10% by 2027 to support minority Francophone communities.
Labour Market Impact Assessment Changes in 2024
Adjustments to LMIA Validity Period and Workforce Caps
- LMIA Validity Period:
- Effective 01 May 2024, LMIA validity periods reverted from 12 months to 6 months to better reflect current labor market conditions.
- Workforce Caps:
- Employers hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers are limited to 10% of their workforce, down from 20%, except certain occupations in the construction and healthcare sectors.
Suspension of Low-Wage LMIA Processing in High Unemployment Areas
- Policy Implementation:
- As of 26 September 2024, LMIA applications in the Low-Wage Stream are no longer processed in areas with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, except for critical sectors like agriculture, food processing, construction, and healthcare.
Increased Wage Thresholds for High-Wage Stream
- Wage Adjustment:
- Effective 8 November 2024, the minimum hourly wage for the High-Wage Stream increased to 20% above the provincial or territorial median wage to prioritize domestic workers.
Enhanced Compliance and Anti-Fraud Measures
- Program Integrity:
- IRCC introduced stricter compliance measures, including increased inspections and consideration of LMIA fee adjustments to support anti-fraud efforts.
The 2024 reforms reflect IRCC’s dedication to responsibly managing immigration, tackling labor shortages, and upholding program integrity while advancing Canada’s economic and demographic objectives. Wishing all permanent and temporary residency aspirants the very best in their journey. Here’s to hoping 2025 brings positive news and opportunities for you!