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08-01-2025

IRCC Conducts First Express Entry Draw of 2025

Canada

#workvisa

Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first Express Entry draw of 2025. It invited 471 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates with a minimum CRS score of 793.

Express Entry manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Candidates are ranked by CRS scores based on factors like age, education, and experience.

Those with the highest scores receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence. Successful applicants must submit their PR applications within 60 days. IRCC aims to process complete applications within six months. These programs remain Canada’s largest economic immigration pathways.
14-04-2025

Canada Issues 825 ITAs in First Express Entry PNP Draw After CRS Policy Change

Canada

#workvisa

Canada’s IRCC issued 825 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on April 14. This is the first draw since CRS points were removed for arranged employment. The minimum CRS score was 764.

Candidates needed to have profiles created before August 17, 2024. So far in 2025, Canada...  has issued 31,508 ITAs. The 2025 goal is to welcome 124,680 new permanent residents through Express Entry.

An ITA invites a candidate to apply for PR. Applicants have 60 days to respond with required documents, such as passports, medical exams, proof of funds, and police clearance certificates.   
14-04-2025

New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa Sees Surge in Interest After April 2025 Changes

New Zealand

#investmentvisa

New Zealand's Active Investor Plus Visa has seen a rise in interest since major changes took effect on April 1, 2025. Over 2,500 people visited the application page in just two weeks. Immigration NZ received 43 applications during this short period.

Previously, only 100 were filed over two and a half years... . The program now offers two categories—Growth and Balanced—with minimum investments of NZD $5 million and $10 million, respectively.

Investors must only stay 21 days in NZ over three years to qualify for residency. Experts expect over 100 applications by May's end and possibly 400–600 annually moving forward.   
14-04-2025

Job Offers Still Valuable for Canadian PR Despite CRS Points Removal

Canada

#permanentresidence

Canada removed CRS points for arranged employment in March 2025. Still, a job offer remains useful for permanent residency. Many Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams require job offers.

The Atlantic Immigration Program and Rural and Francophone Pilots also require them. These programs support foreign w... orkers in specific provinces and communities. A job offer can lead to a work permit and eventual PR.

Canadian work experience from a job can give up to 180 CRS points. It also boosts chances under Skill Transferability Factors. One year of work helps qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), a major Express Entry pathway in 2025.   

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14-04-2025

Hong Kong Justifies Denial of Entry to British MP Amid Rising UK Concerns
Hong Kong defended its immigration actions after denying entry to British MP Wera Hobhouse. She arrived to visit her grandchild but was not allowed in. Hobhouse, part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, called the act cruel and upsetting.

Hong Kong said immigration checks aim to confirm the purpose of the visit. It refused to comment on individual cases. UK officials, including Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressed concern.

They said the denial harms UK-Hong Kong relations. Beijing backed Hong Kong, citing national sovereignty. The UK stressed MPs should not face entry bans for expressing views or criticizing human rights issues.
12-04-2025

Australian With Valid US Work Visa Detained and Deported After Sister’s Memorial Visit
An Australian man was deported from the US despite holding a valid work visa. He had returned briefly to Australia to scatter his sister’s ashes. On re-entering via Houston, he was detained, accused of drug dealing, and denied legal rights.

Officials said his visa showed intent to stay, not visit. He was banned from re-entry for five years. His belongings, including his phone and passport, were returned just before landing in Australia. He now lives in limbo, separated from his partner and life in the US. His story echoes similar recent deportations of foreign nationals at the US borders.
12-04-2025

European Tourists Cancel US Trips Amid Border Crackdown and Safety Fearsunit
European tourists are canceling US travel plans due to stricter immigration policies and safety concerns. A 17% drop in visitors was seen in March. Hotel bookings fell 25%, and cancellations rose, especially from Germany, France, and the UK.

Reports of detentions and device searches at US borders have created fear. Even travelers with valid visas face entry issues. Airlines like Virgin and Air France noted falling demand.

Several European countries issued travel advisories. Personal stories highlight growing anxiety. The US government said visa checks continue after issuance and warned of revocations for any violations. Tourism is now seriously impacted.
12-04-2025

New Brunswick Halts Atlantic Immigration Program Applications for 2025
New Brunswick has closed its intake for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for the rest of 2025. The cap of 1,250 endorsements was reached on April 4. Applications submitted before this date will still be processed.

No new employers will be designated in 2025. Other Atlantic provinces—Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador—still accept AIP applications, with some restrictions. The early closure follows federal cuts to provincial immigration allocations.

AIP helps skilled workers and graduates gain PR through employer sponsorship. Designated employers must endorse applicants. PR processing takes 11 months. Other provincial nominee programs remain available for interested candidates.
12-04-2025

US Judge Allows ICE Operations at Places of Worship Under Trump Policy
A federal judge has ruled that U.S. immigration agents can conduct enforcement actions at places of worship. The decision supports a Trump-era policy allowing ICE operations in churches and synagogues. Religious groups argued this violates freedom of religion.

They linked church attendance drops to the policy. But Judge Dabney Friedrich found no proof that churches were targeted. She ruled that the decline may be due to general immigration fears.

Trump's administration had revoked past limits on enforcement in "sensitive locations." Other courts have issued mixed rulings. The lawsuit is one of several challenges to Trump’s wider immigration crackdown since returning to office in January.
11-04-2025

UK to Remove Asylum Seekers from Nine Hotels Amid Housing Shift
The UK government will remove asylum seekers from nine hotels in England by July. The move follows reports of tensions in areas like Datchet, near Windsor Castle. Some hotels faced far-right protests.

Removed individuals will move to cheaper temporary housing, like flats. The plan is part of ending the costly use of hotels. Thirteen hotels have already been closed. Critics and locals voice mixed views.

Some claim rising crime, while others defend the asylum seekers. Over 20,000 people with no legal status have been removed. Labour supports the shift, saying hotels aren't suitable for vulnerable families and children.

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