Bee The VA March 8th, 2026 Weekly Newsletter
Essential Insights:
CBSA Update
IRCC Updates
Express Entry Draws
PNP Draws
New Caselaws
Job Opportunities
Bee The VA Packages- For start up firms
CBSA Update:
CBSA Issues a temporary halt on removals to Israel and Lebanon
On March 7th, The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has announced a temporary halt on removals to Israel and Lebanon due to the ongoing and unpredictable conflict in the Middle East. Because the current hostilities pose broad risks to the civilian population, the government has implemented an Administrative Deferral of Removals (ADR) under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. This means individuals with enforceable removal orders to these countries will not be removed while conditions remain unsafe. However, the deferral does not apply to individuals deemed inadmissible for reasons such as criminality, security concerns, human rights violations, or organized crime. Removals will resume once conditions stabilize and the risk to civilians is no longer considered widespread. Read here.
IRCC Updates:
Program delivery update: Temporary public policy to support Iranian nationals in Canada
IRCC announced an update to its temporary public policy supporting Iranian nationals in Canada who are currently in the country as temporary residents. The revised policy came into effect on March 1, 2026, and will remain in place until March 31, 2027. It provides operational guidance to IRCC officers on applying these measures when processing applications from eligible Iranian nationals already in Canada. Read here.
Program delivery update: Spouses or common-law partners of study permit holders – [R205(c)(ii) – C42] – Canadian interest – International Mobility Program (IMP)
IRCC updated its guidance under the International Mobility Program (IMP) regarding open work permits for spouses or common-law partners of study permit holders (R205(c)(ii) – C42).
The update introduces:
New eligibility criteria requiring the principal international student not to be in the final term of their program
A link to the list of eligible study programs
Clarification on extension applications
Additional guidance on master’s program duration and how program length ranges should be interpreted.
These changes help clarify how officers assess eligibility for spousal open work permits linked to international students. Read here.
Passport and travel document fees increase soon
Beginning March 31, 2026, the Government of Canada will increase most passport and travel document fees for the first time since 2013 to reflect inflation and the rising costs of producing secure travel documents. The changes are small, with the 10-year adult passport increasing from $160 to $163.50, the 5-year adult passport from $120 to $122.50, and the 5-year child passport from $57 to $58.50. Moving forward, passport fees will be adjusted annually based on inflation under the Service Fees Act. Additionally, starting April 1, 2026, the government will guarantee that complete passport applications are processed within 30 business days or the fee will be refunded automatically, strengthening accountability and service reliability for Canadians. Read here.
Express Entry Draws
Date
Draw Type
Invitations Issued (ITAs)
CRS Cut-off Score
March 2, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 264 -CRS: 710
March 3, 2026
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)- 4,000- CRS: 508
March 4, 2026
French-Language Proficiency- 5,500- CRS:397
March 5, 2026
Senior Managers (NOC 00012–00015): 500- CRS: 429
Provincial Draws:
Date
Draw Type
Invitations Issued (ITAs)
CRS Cut-Off
March 2, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)- 264: 710
March 3–6, 2026
No PNP Draw
New Caselaws:
RAD- In Islas Orrala v. Canada (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship), 2026 FC 280, the Federal Court dismissed a judicial review brought by a Mexican family whose refugee claim had been rejected by the Refugee Appeal Division (RAD). The applicants argued they were repeatedly targeted by the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) across several cities in Mexico and that the RAD failed to properly assess the ongoing risk to them. The Court found that the RAD reasonably applied the Internal Flight Alternative (IFA) test and concluded the family could safely relocate to Mérida, Yucatán, where violent crime rates are lower and where the cartel would likely have no motivation to pursue them. The RAD determined that the previous targeting was linked to the male applicant’s business activities and that changing employment could significantly reduce the risk. Justice McDonald held that the RAD’s analysis was reasonable and supported by country condition evidence, therefore upholding the decision that the applicants were not Convention refugees or persons in need of protection. Read here.
SP & Misrep Inadmissibility- In Ndigui v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 281, the Federal Court dismissed a judicial review application challenging IRCC’s refusal of a study permit and a finding of misrepresentation. The applicant, a citizen of Cameroon, submitted a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a designated learning institution, but IRCC confirmed with the institution that the document had not been issued by them. After receiving a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) raising concerns about the potentially fraudulent LOA, the applicant failed to properly submit a response through the IRCC portal. The Court found that the visa officer’s decision was reasonable and procedurally fair, as the applicant had been given notice and an opportunity to respond. Because the fraudulent document could have induced an error in the administration of immigration law, IRCC’s refusal of the application and the resulting five-year inadmissibility for misrepresentation under IRPA s.40(1)(a) were upheld. Read here.
H&C- In Muhammad v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 290, the Federal Court partially granted a judicial review concerning the refusal of a permanent residence application on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds. The applicant, a Pakistani citizen who previously lost his refugee status due to misrepresentation, sought permanent residence based on his marriage to a Canadian citizen and the best interests of their children. While the Court found the officer’s H&C assessment reasonable and sufficiently transparent, concluding that the positive factors did not outweigh the applicant’s inadmissibility and lack of status, the Court held that the officer erred by failing to consider the applicant’s request for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP). The Court confirmed that even a brief request can trigger a duty for an officer to assess a TRP. As a result, the application was granted in part and returned to a different officer solely to determine whether a TRP should be issued. Read here.
Credibility- In Zhao v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2026 FC 304, the Federal Court dismissed a judicial review of a Refugee Appeal Division (RAD) decision confirming the refusal of a refugee claim by a Chinese national who alleged risks of forced sterilization under family planning policies and persecution for practicing Christianity. The RAD found the applicant’s sterilization notices likely non-genuine, noting inconsistencies in the documents, the applicant’s prior use of fraudulent documents, and objective country evidence showing that forced sterilization is illegal and no longer enforced in Fujian province. The RAD also concluded that current family-planning policies had relaxed and penalties such as social compensation fees had largely been abolished. Regarding religion, the RAD accepted that the applicant had genuinely converted to Christianity but determined that Christians in Fujian province generally practice without persecution and that the applicant had not shown he would engage in activities likely to attract state attention. The Court held that the RAD’s analysis was reasonable and supported by the evidence, and therefore dismissed the application. Read here.
Events for Immigration Professionals:
NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE- Mississauga, ON- May 27-29th
Job Opportunities:
Immigration Lawyer- Mandall Immigraiton Law- $70,000 to $120,000 CAD- Toronto, ON
Immigration Lawyer- Borderpass- Compensation not stated- Toronto, ON
Immigration Senior Associate Lawyer- $85,000 to $125,000 CAD- Calgary, AB
International Student Advisor- University Canada West- $60,000 to $70,000 CAD- Vancouver, BC
Updates with Bee The Va:
Service Spotlight: Administrative Support for Immigration Firms
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Let’s streamline your operations so you can focus on growing your practice.
— Behnoush ShafieiFounder, Bee the VA
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