EPON CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANCY

EPON CANADIAN IMMIGRATION CONSULTANCY This page will provide information and updates on the various immigration pathways to Canada and related matters.

This will include but is not limited to the latest updates on Express Entry, NOC, and other relevant topics.

04/14/2026

PERMANENT RESIDENCE- Targeted Express Entry changes in 2026

The proposed Express Entry changes on Permanent Residence favour the following:

1. High Wage Occupation factor: Candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in occupations earning above the national median wage would receive extra CRS points. IRCC proposes three tiers based on how much an occupation earns above the median:

• 1.3 times (e.g. financial analysts);
• 1.5 times (e.g. engineers and teachers); and
• 2 times (e.g. physicians and professors).

The list of qualifying occupations would be updated regularly.

2. Merging all three programs into one stream with unified eligibility requirements, which would include:

o Standardizing work experience eligibility to one year of cumulative work experience (Canadian or foreign) in the last three years;

o Standardizing language requirements to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 for all candidates;

o The deletion/ changes of CRS factors such as:

 Having a sibling in Canada;
 Obtaining a Canadian post-secondary credential;
 Having French-language proficiency.
 Eliminating the 67-point grid used by the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP);

3. Improved Canadian licensure recognition: Holders of a Certificate of Qualification in a Red Seal-designated trade would get better recognition under the new system.

Public consultations are slated in the spring of 2026. There is no implementation date yet.

03/27/2026

BREAKING!!

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would like to inform you that yesterday evening, Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act) received royal assent and has become law, strengthening Canada’s immigration and asylum systems.

Effective immediately, IRCC and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will begin assessing claims for refugee protection (also known as asylum claims) against two new eligibility requirements. This means that a claim won’t be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) if it was made:

- More than one year after the claimant’s first entry into Canada after June 24, 2020, regardless of whether the person has since left and returned.

- More than 14 days after the claimant’s entry into Canada between ports of entry along the Canada–United States land border.

Guidance will be provided to officers to consider the individual circumstances of unaccompanied minors, given their lack of legal guardianship.

People affected by these new rules will be referred to the removal program at CBSA. Once CBSA is ready to remove them, they may be eligible to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), a process which prevents people from being sent back to a country where they face risks like persecution or torture. The CBSA tells people if they can apply for a PRRA as part of their exit interview.

The two new eligibility requirements will also be applied retroactively to any claims made on or after June 3, 2025. IRCC and the CBSA will redetermine the eligibility of affected claims now ineligible for referral to the IRB under the new rules. Affected claimants and their counsel will be contacted by IRCC or the CBSA to inform them of next steps.

It is important that asylum claimants keep their contact information up to date with IRCC or the CBSA. They can update them by submitting an IRCC web form.

People with ineligible claims under the new rules continue to be eligible for coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program.
The Act also contains significant reforms intended to streamline the asylum process. These changes will come into force in the coming months and will require amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. More information about additional changes to the in-Canada asylum system will be available closer to implementation.

03/27/2026

SIX COMMON MISTAKES IN EXPRESS ENTRY (CANADA)
APPLICATIONS

1. WRONG NOC

To evaluate a candidate’s work experience, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer focuses on whether the candidate did the lead statement and most of the main duties listed in the description of the occupation declared in her/ his profile, under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system. The job title is not important.

2. Counting work done while studying in Canada

Express Entry has 3 categories- Canadian experience class (CEC), Federal Skilled worker program (FSWP), and Federal skilled trade program (FSTP).

For CEC & FSTP- Work done while studying full-time in Canada is not considered in determining the one-year minimum work experience.

For FSWP-— Work done while studying full-time in Canada is counted toward the one- year minimum for as long as it was paid, continuous, and meets the other program rules.

3. Erroneous working hours or missing time windows

To determine if a candidate is eligible for Express Entry, IRCC measures work experience in hours, not months or years. One year of full-time work equals 1,560 hours (30 hours per week). For FSTP, two years equals 3,120 hours. Working 30 hours/week is considered full-time work.

Even if a candidate works more than 30 hours/week, the excess hours will not count towards the required hours.

For Express Entry, the work experience must have occurred within a certain period otherwise, it is not counted.
o CEC- within the last three years.
o FSWP- within the last 10 years.
o FSTP -within the last five years.

4. Work that will not be eligible for Express Entry

• Unpaid or volunteer work is not counted; it has to be paid work for all kinds of Express Entry programs.

• Work without proper legal authorization is not counted for CEC; not for CRS points nor for Canadian work experience.

• Self-employment doesn't count toward CEC eligibility but with an exception for physicians.

5. Canadian work experience

For work experience to be counted as Canadian work experience under the CEC, the candidate must be physically in Canada and working for a Canadian employer.

6. Not complying with all requirements for category-eligible work
experience

Aside from the CEC, FSTP and FSWP, the IRCC can invite candidates to apply for occupation -based categories in the Express Entry provided the candidate has:

• 12 months of work experience in a single eligible occupation for a given category.

o can be full-time or equivalent part-time work experience.

o work experience can be gained in Canada or abroad.

o work experience does not have to be continuous.

03/07/2026

TR TO PR PATHWAY LAUNCH

The Canadian Minister on Immigration has announced the launch of TR to PR pathway which will benefit 33,000 temporary foreign workers. This program will likely benefit those who are already working in Canada and have established strong ties such as children are in school, paying taxes, actively participating in Canadian communities, etc.

Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to get their documents organized since this program is expected to be filled out in a few days, if not hours. Kindly prepare, among others, the following documents:

-Employment records (Letters of Employment, ROE, etc)
-Tax documents (CRA NOA)
-Language test results( IELTS, CELPIP, PTE, TFE, TCF)
-Proof of Canadian community ties.

ANALYSIS 2026 EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS
03/07/2026

ANALYSIS 2026 EXPRESS ENTRY DRAWS

03/03/2026

Alberta held two AAIP draws and invited hundreds from the Hospitality and Alberta Opportunity Stream

On February 20 and February 24, 2026, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held two draws and invited 899 candidates. Said candidates came from the priority sectors under the Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) and the Tourism and Hospitality Stream, as follows:

Draw date Stream / focus Minimum score Invitations issued
2/24/2026 Tourism and
Hospitality Stream 73 68

2/20/2026 Alberta Opportunity
Stream – Priority
Sectors 56 831

As of February 26, 2026, the AAIP cited 45,698 worker Expressions of Interest (EOIs) currently in the candidate pool, across all streams and pathways. Of this, 28, 916 come from the AOS.

The AAIP nomination undergoes two stages.
First a candidate has to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The second stage is when the candidate is Invited to Apply by the AAIP. The Invitation to Apply may be to a stream/pathway different from the one they selected in their EOI, if they meet all eligibility and selection criteria.

03/03/2026

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) opened its second intake window for capped sector applications

Starting March 2, 2026, employers in capped sectors submitted their applications for SINP’s second intake window in the following capped sectors:

• Accommodation and food services;
• Retail trade; and,
• Trucking.

The quota filled up fast and presently, only 40 positions for retail trade is available.

SINP’s remaining intake window for capped sectors in 2026 are as follows:

• Intake 3: May 4, 2026.
• Intake 4: July 6, 2026.
• Intake 5: September 7, 2026.
• Intake 6: November 2, 2026.

The number of positions available per upcoming intake window is yet to be published.

03/03/2026

Stricter Rules for WORK PERMITS issued under “SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT” LMIA exemption

Foreign nationals and their employers will be subjected to a more stringent evaluation when they apply for a work permit under the “significant benefit to Canada” exemption to the requirement for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA exemption code C-10), under section 205(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR). The amended version highlights that work permits issued under R205(a) through the general exemption ought to be issued only in “unique or exceptional situations.”

Accordingly, a “significant” benefit requires a situation in which “the applicant’s employment and unique qualifications, expertise and/or experience would lead to positive effects on the broader community, region or country, beyond impacts on just the applicant, their dependents and their prospective employer.” Also, the significant benefit leads to “creating a large number of employment or training opportunities” “where the number of positions will have a demonstrable impact.”

Moreover, the new instructions include a provision that “When assessing the social or cultural benefits, officers should examine whether the person’s presence in Canada is crucial to an event and/or whether circumstances have created a need for the person’s entry.” Further, it also emphasized that the “scale of ‘significant’ is relative to the industry/town/sector etc,” clarifying that a case “does not need to be across Canada or the top of the top to be considered significant.”

These instructions apply only to work permits issued under R205(a) through the general exemption; they do not apply to the specific scenarios pre-identified by the immigration department as falling under R205(a), such as marine workers, airline personnel, rail grinder operators, and foreign physicians bound for work in underserved regions in Quebec.

02/18/2026

BREAKING: EXPRESS ENTRY UPDATES

Canada has just updated Express Entry by giving priority to three new occupational categories for Permanent Residence:
• researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience,
• transport occupations, and
• military personnel.

Senior managers with Canadian experience occupations
Occupation 2021 NOC code
Senior managers - construction,
transportation, production and utilities 00015
Senior managers - trade, broadcasting
and other services 00014
Senior managers - health, education,
social and community services and
membership organizations 00013
Senior managers - financial, communications
and other business services 00012

Researchers with Canadian work experience occupations
Occupation 2021 NOC code
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants 41201
University professors and lecturers 41200

Skilled military recruits occupations
Occupation 2021 NOC code
Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces 43204
Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces 42102
Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces 40042

Transport occupations
Occupation 2021 NOC code
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors 72600
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus
mechanics, and mechanical repairers 72410
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors 72404
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics
mechanics, technicians and inspectors 22313

02/14/2026

A few of many countries allowing dual citizenship with Canada in 2025 (not in any particular order)-

1. Philippines
2. UK
3. USA
4. France
5. Germany
6. Brazil
7. Australia
8. Mexico
9. Sweden
10. Italy
11. Belgium
12. Syria

Dual citizenship is always subject to two legal systems:
- Canada allows it.
- Your other country must also allow it.

How to become a Canadian citizen-
1. Citizenship by birth
2. Naturalization
3. Citizenship by descent

02/14/2026

TIPS IN PREPARING A RESUME IN CANADA

Common Resume Formats Used in Canada
1. Chronological resume:
WORK EXPERIENCE starts with your most recent position and moving backward. It places emphasis on job titles, employers, and dates.

2. Functional resume:
Emphasizes skills and strengths rather than job dates.

What NOT to include in a Resume-
• Personal details: Information such as age, marital status, or a photo.

• Unclear or informal email addresses: An email address should be simple and professional .

• Too much detail: Long lists of duties or general statements can make a Resume harder to scan. Focusing on a few strong examples may help keep it clear and concise.

HELPFUL TIPS
A Resume is usually reviewed very quickly. Make sure it help employers focus on your skills and experience.

• Clear examples of your work: Where possible, include short examples or results that show how you contributed in past roles. i.e. Implemented a software which saved the company $______.

• Action-focused wording: Use simple, direct language to describe what you did. This may help make your responsibilities and achievements easier to understand. As ER Nurse, perhaps you help in resuscitating patients.

• Up-to-date contact details: List your name, phone number, and email address at the top of your resume. Make sure this information is current and easy to find.
• Targeted Resume-
Review the posting before applying. Write in the Resume key words used in the job posting to show how your background relates to the role. Update your Resume for each position to keep it focused and relevant.

• Keep the layout simple:
A clear layout may make your resume easier to read.
Use simple fonts, clear headings, and consistent spacing.
Bullet points may help highlight key information.
Keep it short- one to two pages.
Focus on your most recent and relevant experience.

• Include different types of experience:
List your paid work experience and volunteer work- outside or inside Canada. Highlight skills such as teamwork, communication, or organization.

• Use online profiles and social media with care:
Some employers review LinkedIn profiles as part of the hiring process. So, keep your profile current and consistent with your Resume. Some would even check your social media so use them with care.


• Check for accuracy and clarity:
Before sending your Resume, check it for spelling, grammar, and clear wording. Ask a trusted person to review it to help catch things you missed.

02/14/2026

Six high-paying occupations being prioritized for Permanent Residence in Canada with little post secondary education-

Occupation Post-secondary Median Top
/ NOC education annual pay Annual pay
($CAD) ($CAD)
Construction
Estimators /
22303 2-3 years 79k 128k

Construction
Millwrights and
Industrial
Mechanics/
72400 None to I year
college 77k 108k

Electrical &
Electronics
Engineering
Technologists &
Technicians/
22310 1-2 years college 74k 115k

Heating,
Refrigeration &
Air-Conditioning
Mechanics/
72402 None- 2 years college 78k 116k

Heavy Duty
Equipment
Mechanics
/ 72401 None – 1 year college 77k 114k

Insurance
Agents &
Brokers/
63100 3-6 months 62k 107k

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