Abramovich Immigration Law presents a weekly analysis of Canadian immigration policies, keeping you informed about the latest updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in the Canadian immigration sphere. Stay connected with us! Follow us on our social media channels for real-time updates, expert commentary, and valuable immigration insights.

Canada’s latest Express Entry draws: Over 3,000 immigration candidates invited in June 2025

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted two Express Entry draws in mid-June 2025. The first draw, targeting Provincial Nominee Program candidates, issued 125 invitations with a cut-off score of 784 points. Shortly after, a larger draw for Canadian Experience Class candidates resulted in 3,000 invitations being issued, with a reduced cut-off score of 529 points. These draws bring the total number of Express Entry invitations for 2025 to 38,342, demonstrating Canada’s continued commitment to welcoming skilled immigrants.

Express Entry, Canada’s flagship immigration system, uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate skilled worker applications. Candidates are scored based on factors like age, education, work experience, language skills, and adaptability. After creating online profiles, candidates enter a pool where the highest-scoring ones receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through regular draws. Abramovich Immigration Law provides expert guidance throughout the Express Entry process, helping candidates maximize their CRS scores and successfully navigate the application requirements. Contact us for more information.

Immigration Canada intensifies scrutiny on spousal point system manipulation

IRCC has launched a significant crackdown on skilled immigration applicants who strategically manipulate the point-based system to enhance their chances of permanent residency. The federal department has identified a growing trend where married applicants deliberately exclude their spouses from applications to gain additional points, potentially increasing their scores by up to 40 points in the Express Entry system.

Strategic manipulation has emerged as a pressing concern amid heightened competition in the immigration landscape, particularly following the post-pandemic surge in study and work permit holders since 2022. While the system maintains a maximum score of 600 points for both single and married applicants, the department notes that married candidates increasingly opt to apply as singles, planning to sponsor their spouses later after securing their permanent residence status.

Immigrant homeownership in Canada surpasses native-born citizens

Statistics Canada’s latest census data reveals that established immigrants in Canada have achieved higher homeownership rates than Canadian-born citizens. The data shows immigrants who have lived in Canada for over five years boast a remarkable 69.7% homeownership rate, significantly exceeding the 61.9% rate among native-born Canadians. This trend highlights the successful economic integration of long-term immigrants and challenges traditional perceptions about immigrant wealth accumulation of immigrants in Canada.

The findings particularly emphasize the impact of cultural factors and financial strategies among immigrant communities. Established immigrants often leverage multigenerational living arrangements and demonstrate strong saving practices, contributing to their higher homeownership rates. Meanwhile, recent immigrants face initial challenges, with only 38.7% achieving homeownership, underlining the importance of time and stability in the journey toward property ownership.

Ottawa extended the EMPP for skilled refugees 

Canada has announced the extension of its Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) through December 31, 2025, to address labour shortages while supporting global refugee resettlement. The program, which has successfully admitted 970 individuals since 2019, facilitates permanent residence pathways for skilled refugees and displaced persons, particularly in critical sectors such as healthcare, construction, and food service, where over 30% of admissions have been in healthcare alone.

The extended federal stream will maintain an annual intake cap of 950 applications for the job offer stream in 2025. This initiative aligns with Canada’s comprehensive immigration strategy, providing safe and legal immigration pathways while addressing crucial labour market needs. The EMPP’s success demonstrates Canada’s commitment to combining humanitarian efforts with economic growth, offering displaced individuals opportunities while supporting Canadian employers in essential sectors facing workforce challenges.

Canada’s new leadership faces critical policy challenges

Newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney faces unprecedented challenges as he steps into leadership during what he terms a “moment of crisis.” Despite his ambitious rhetoric and transformative agenda, questions arise about his ability to implement meaningful change while confronting deeply entrenched institutional barriers and powerful stakeholders across housing, immigration, crime, and resource development sectors.

The path forward demands more than just strategic planning; it requires a fundamental departure from the previous administration’s policies. While Carney positions himself as a change agent, his government’s early actions, particularly in housing and immigration policy, suggest a concerning continuity with the Trudeau era. The real test lies in whether Carney can transcend his Laurentian establishment roots to deliver the substantive reforms Canada needs, especially in the face of complex domestic challenges and evolving US relations.

OINP launches a new digital employer portal to streamline the immigration process 

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has announced the launch of its new Employer Portal, set to go live on July 2, 2025. This innovative platform will revolutionize the current paper-based system, introducing a secure and user-friendly digital interface for employers seeking to hire foreign workers. The transformation marks a pivotal shift from an applicant-led to an employer-led process, streamlining the application procedure for Ontario’s Employer Job Offer streams.

The new portal introduces several groundbreaking features, including seamless integration with My Ontario, online application management, secure document uploads, and automated field population. During the transition period from June 20 to July 2, 2025, the system will undergo necessary upgrades, requiring existing Expression of Interest (EOI) registrants to re-register through the new platform. This temporary disruption affects the Foreign Worker, International Student, and In-Demand Skills streams, with the promise of enhanced efficiency and user experience upon completion.

Canada emerges as a global leader in refugee reception, ranking 4th worldwide in 2024

According to the United Nations Refugee Agency’s 2024 Global Trends Report, Canada has emerged as a key destination for asylum seekers, ranking fourth globally. The country efficiently processed 174,000 new refugee claims during the previous year, making a substantial contribution to the global total of 3.1 million claims. In the international ranking, Canada follows the United States (729,100), Egypt (433,900), and Germany (229,800), while maintaining a higher position than Spain (167,400).

Canada’s commitment to refugee protection extends beyond asylum claims, as the country distinguished itself as the second-largest resettlement nation globally, welcoming 49,300 refugees in 2024. Additionally, Canada led worldwide efforts in granting permanent residence to 27,400 refugees. This achievement comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduces the Strong Border Act, addressing the challenges posed by the current 284,715 claims in the system.

Abramovich Immigration Law offers comprehensive immigration services to assist individuals and families in their journey to Canada. With a dedicated team of experienced immigration lawyers and consultants, we provide personalized guidance through various immigration pathways, including Express Entry, family sponsorship, study permits, and work visas. We take pride in our high success rate and commitment to making the Canadian immigration process as smooth and stress-free as possible for our clients. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward achieving your Canadian immigration goals.