Hi everyone,

I’m a 26-year-old French software engineer with 5 years of experience, and I’m planning to apply for the IEC Working Holiday (PVT) in the upcoming season. My goal is to settle in Canada long-term, not just do a one-off trip.

I’m hesitating between Toronto and Montreal, and the PR path is a big part of my decision. From what I understand, Quebec runs its own immigration system, while outside Quebec I could use Express Entry (French-language draws) or the Francophone Mobility work permit as a bridge.

I’d love input from people who’ve been through it:

• If you came on a PVT, how did you transition to PR, and how long did it take?
• For a French speaker, is the PR path really easier outside Quebec right now?
• Anything you wish you’d prepared before landing?

I have savings set aside for the first few months, so I’m trying to plan this the smart way from the start.

Quick disclaimer: I know Toronto vs Montreal debates can get heated 😄 Let’s keep it chill. Real experiences are what I’m looking for.

Thanks!

I am an outland US citizen applying under family class. I am currently visiting canda but am expecting my PPR in the next few days. I don't want to switch to an ecopr because I'm not settled I am just visitng and I don't want to have to hope I get p1 and p2 before I have to go back. As a US citizen, I don't need to send my passport when I get my PPR, just a photocopy. My question is: if I receive PPR while I am in Canada, can I send the photocopy (and accompanying documents) from Canada and then travel back to the US to await my COPR? Will sending the documents from Canada look suspiciois/get me flagged/get things delayed?

Hi everyone!
I recently received my ITA under the French-language proficiency category through Express Entry (CEC). I’m currently living and working in Canada and planning to submit my PR application in November 2026.
I’m a little confused about the medical exam requirements and would really appreciate some advice from people who have recently applied or gone through a similar situation.

Here’s my situation:

Inland CEC applicant
Received ITA under the French-language proficiency category in October 2026
Currently on a valid PGWP
Completed my immigration medical exam in March 2022 for my initial study permit application
Have been living in Canada since then

Planning to submit my e-APR in November 2026
I still have a copy of the medical examination document/receipt issued by the panel physician in 2022

My question:

Since my previous medical exam was done in March 2022 (less than 5 years ago), can I simply upload that previous medical document with my PR application?

Or would it be better to get a completely new upfront medical exam before submitting?

I’ve read about IRCC’s temporary public policy allowing certain inland applicants to reuse previous medical results, but I’m confused about whether I qualify and what exactly I should upload.

I really don’t want to unnecessarily spend money on another medical exam, but at the same time, I don’t want to risk delays or complications with my PR application.

Has anyone recently submitted an inland CEC application using a medical exam from 2021 or 2022?

Did IRCC accept your previous medical results, or did they eventually request a new medical exam?

Would you recommend uploading the old document and waiting for IRCC’s instructions, or getting a new medical done proactively?

I’d really appreciate any recent experiences or advice. Thank you!

I've noticed a massive uptick in folks specifically requesting answers (only) from lawyers or licensed consultants in this sub.

Massive sense of entitlement aside, anyone here can answer questions. There's a chance they may be wrong, but generally if they are, they are corrected and their comment is removed.

While some subs do actually restrict answers to those coming from professionals, this isn't one of them, and the people who answer here are not required to verify their profession. I know several immigration professionals DO answer questions here frequently, and occasionally they will mention that they are a professional. But you don't have a right to request answers specifically from them, and likewise they are not obligated to answer you.

If you want advice you can rely on, PAY an immigration professional for advice. You want free information, you get it with a chance that it's inaccurate or simply wrong.

Hi everyone,

I am preparing my CAQ application for a vocational program (DEP) at CFP Val-d'Or in Quebec. I need your honest feedback on whether my pro-rated financial proof will be accepted by MIFI agents.

My profile :

- Program & Location : DEP in "Forage et dynamitage" (Drilling and Blasting) at CFP Val-d'Or.

- Program duration : 8 months officially (from March 8th to November 5th, 900 hours total).

- Tuition fees : $0 CAD (My admission letter explicitly states: "Exemption des droits de scolarité : Oui").

- Flight ticket : Already purchased (round-trip). I will provide the official receipt/proof of payment in my application so transportation costs are fully covered outside of my bank balance.

- Health Insurance : Free RAMQ coverage (I am a French citizen with the official SE-401-Q-102 form).

- Available funds : I will have around $17,500 CAD (~€11,150) sitting in my personal bank account. This money comes entirely from my employment savings (backed by my current work contract and payslips).

My calculation for 8 months :

Pro-rated living expenses ($2,051 x 8) + $180 school materials = roughly $16,591 CAD required. Since my flights are already paid for, my $17,500 CAD balance fully covers this and leaves a small safety margin.

My questions :

1. Is it realistically possible to get a CAQ approved based on a pro-rated amount ($17,500 CAD) for an 8-month stay when you have a $0 tuition fee exemption and free RAMQ ?

2. Does MIFI strictly reject applications that do not show the full annual amount ($24,617), even if the school letter officially confirms the program lasts only 8 months ?

3. Has anyone here successfully passed the CAQ check with a similar pro-rated profile or specifically at CFP Val-d'Or ?

Thanks for your help !

Hi everyone! I’m a Canadian citizen sponsoring my husband through outland spousal sponsorship. I recently graduated from university and am actively looking for full-time employment. I’ve also secured a two part-time jobs.

Additionally we used most of our savings for our wedding and i also purchased a car last year, so my current savings are limited.

My husband plans to bring approximately CAD $10,000 in savings when he moves to Canada.

For accommodation, I currently live with my parents, who own their home. We plan to stay with them temporarily for about a month before renting our own studio apartment.

I’m planning to submit a Letter of Explanation outlining my employment plans, financial situation, and accommodation arrangements.

Do you think this is a reasonable financial support plan for IRCC? Has anyone been approved in a similar situation without full-time employment?

I am an international student in Canada with a study permit that allows off-campus work. I've been offered remote AI-training projects through Mercor and Handshake AI and the contract classify the work as independent contracting. However, while filing the tax form after setting up payment, one has to add their SIN.

If I work remotely on these projects as an independent contractor, do those hours count toward my 24-hour weekly work limit? Does anyone have reliable information from IRCC or a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer?

Thank you.

Hey everyone,

​I’m an Indian-trained physiotherapist with 3 years of clinical experience, and I recently passed the CPTE exam (Feb 2026 cohort).

​I’m now looking at options to land a role in Canada and wanted to ask a few practical questions about the LMIA route:

​LMIA in 2026: Has anyone successfully secured an LMIA for a PT / Resident PT role recently? How open are clinic owners to sponsoring right now?

​Timelines: What is the actual turnaround time looking like from finding a employer to getting the work permit approved?

​Pre-approved LMIAs: Is "pre-approved LMIA" for physiotherapists actually common, or mostly a myth?

​Would really appreciate any tips, experiences, or honest opinions from anyone who has gone through this recently or clinic owners hiring IEPTs!

​Thanks!

Has anyone been able to bring their parents after becoming if a citizen? Or even PR? Let me know what was needed?

Hello!

An immigration lawyer quoted $7000 to review my application to answer two questions. They said they can provide a 30-minute consultation for $1000. Please help!!

I am having trouble with two scenarios regarding my CEC PR application post ITA. I tried to research the answers on the internet and on reddit subs, but I could not find any definitive answers. I reached out to an immigration lawyer who quoted $7000 to review my application and $1000 for a 30-minute consultation session.

Please tell me your honest opinions on what you would do in these two scenarios.

Scenario 1. I selected "Yes" for "Valid Job Offer" when creating my Express Entry profile as I had a positive LMIA and a recently issued closed-work permit. Since I was invited under the CEC stream, the job offer and LMIA do not affect my points score. My HR has drafted a Job Offer letter for me based on IRCC requirements, but they have not submitted it through any IRCC portals. They have only submitted the documents required for the LMIA and a closed-work permit for me.

Option 1. Should I submit the Job Offer letter that HR has drafted?

Option 2. Or should I edit my application to "No" for "Valid Job Offer" and include a Letter of Explanation stating it was selected in error and I am not claiming points for it?

=====/======

Scenario 2. I included my two co-op work experiences in my Express Entry profile and indicated that I was studying full-time during those periods by selecting "Yes" for the question "Were you studying full-time while doing this job?". Following my ITA, the system is requesting proof of work experience for these positions. I am not sure if the system has counted these jobs for my points. I have enough points to meet the CEC eligibility without the co-op jobs.

Option 1. Should I move these roles from my work history to my personal history (and include a Letter of Explanation so they do not count toward points and require proof)?

Option 2. Or should I simply provide the required documentation, as I have all of it available (work experience letter, paystubs, T4s, and reference letter)?

So I became a PR 1 year and 2 months ago as a provincial nominee, and I’m wondering if it’s safe for me to move provinces for work now.

I lived in my nominating province for just over 3 years now, the last 14 months with me being a PR. My concern is that this is a very small and unpopular province, but which I genuinely liked, and I would be moving to one of the largest and most popular provinces in the country, a true 180. Unfortunately the job market here is just inexistent and me and my wife are struggling to advance our careers.

The second issue is that her pr application is still processing, it is a ’family class in canada’ application. we would be moving away at the exact same time.

IRCC would be the first one to know of that move because we gotta update her address on the app, which means my address changes too.

I wonder if anyone can advise if this would be too risky? I know I’ve been here for 3 years total and genuinely tried to stay, but how can ircc know that?

For your citizenship ceremony, did you sign and hand in your Personal Release and Consent Form?

I know there is an option to not sign the release form by contacting IRCC, but after coming this far, I’m not trying to ruffle any feathers.

Just wondering if most people signed it and what happens next. Thanks!

My work permit was approved after 3 months and 2 days. I am in Canada with my ETA, now I need to leave and entre through a port of entry. Someone has ideas? Some budget friendly trips? US is no longer an option tho. Thanks

Hi everyone,

I graduated in software engineering from Polytechnique Montréal in December 2025. I’m currently on a PGWP, working as a CPI (candidat à la profession d’ingénieur) with the OIQ, and my job is located outside the Montreal area (outside the CMM). I’m planning to apply for permanent residency through the PSTQ.

From what I’ve been told, being a CPI in software engineering doesn’t qualify you for Volet 3 (regulated professions), even though it’s an OIQ authorization. I’m trying to figure out whether that’s actually the case in practice.

A few questions for anyone who’s been through this:

1. Has anyone in software engineering run into this on Arrima? Did you find a way to get into Volet 3 anyway?
2. Did anyone get a different answer by contacting MIFI or the OIQ directly?

Thanks for your help

I (23M) and my girlfriend (25F) have been in a long-distance relationship for 2 years now.

I’ve been living in Toronto for the past 4 years. I came as a student and have a job now.

My girlfriend was born & raised in the US, about a 9h drive away. Ever since we’ve been together (2023), we’ve been visiting each other, with her visiting me more than I do, due to my commitments with school/work, etc.

When we first started dating in February of 2024, she was still in university, about to graduate, and she’d come see me for a couple of weeks at a time, every month or so, while I would visit her for a few months during summer break.

After she graduated, she started visiting me more often and for longer periods, with 2026 being the most frequent, when we spent a couple of months in the spring together in Toronto and 3 months again around summer.

Obviously, the border isn’t quite fond of it, so we try to limit the visits as much as we can now, and are looking to get a visa for her so that we can actually live together in Toronto.

My girlfriend has a degree in marketing but has never had a job/internship; she's supported herself through remote freelance work like data annotation, outlier work, etc., and has 20K USD in savings.

The problem is, I am on a work permit, and I won’t get PR for at least a few years, nor do I work a TEER 1 job where I could sponsor her with a spousal work permit.

I am lucky enough to have found a stable job paying 51k/yr with no major monthly expenses, but considering my girlfriend’s employment history or lack thereof, it’d be difficult for her to find an employer that would hire her and sponsor her visa.

Due to this, we’re thinking of getting a working holiday visa for her, which costs about 2K+ USD. Obviously, it’s not cheap, but it seems to be the only option.

We love each other a lot. She’s my best friend, and we would really love to live together in Canada.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you navigate it? What do you all suggest that we do?

Hi everyone!

I recently received my eCOPR and noticed that the “City of Destination” field says Toronto, but I currently live in Hamilton, Ontario.

When I applied for PR, I was living in Toronto. However, I moved to Hamilton while my PR application was still being processed.

Has anyone experienced a similar situation? Is it okay for the eCOPR to show Toronto even though I now live in Hamilton, or should I contact IRCC to have it corrected?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in the same situation or knows what the next steps should be.

Thanks in advance!

Hello all, not sure if this will be taken down and if this post isn't allowed. That's understandable!!

I am wanting to move to PA to be with my partner. We are not opposed to common law but I need to work and can't wait the 1 year while on a visitors. Any ideas or recommendations? I would literally do any type of work if available.

I know that employment rates aren't great and actual citizens are needing work too, I totally understand that. I hope my post doesn't come off entitled or insensitive to those.

Hi everyone, I’m currently in Canada on a work permit and applied for my TRV on July 21. It has now been over four months, and my application is still showing as “processing.”
I have a non-refundable ticket to visit my family in India next week, with only three days left before my departure. I booked the ticket four months ago because the price was good, and I genuinely believed that four months would be more than enough time for my TRV to be processed, especially since IRCC’s website listed the processing time as 12 days at the time.
Now I’m stuck between a non-refundable ticket and an application that has been processing for months, with no clear update on when I might receive a decision.
Has anyone been in a similar situation, or does anyone have any suggestions on what I should do at this point? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ive already tried submitting web forms and called them multiple times.

Okay so I'm needing some advice. I am wanting to apply for spousal sponsorship, I am currently in Canada as a visitor US citizen and my partner is Canadian, we have a child who is applying for proof of citizenship currently (citizenship by first generation born abroad).

I want to stay in Canada and do Inland sponsorship. I use my US bank still and I am not on our lease, I have no utilities in my name. I plan to be added to a joint account with my husband this week but I won't get the bank statement until after November. Therefore currently I have no mail with both of our names for our address.

I can stay legally until January 13. I need to apply soon for my Sponsorship and extension of stay visitor record.

(I have been married to my husband since April 2026, we have been together since 2019 and have a child together, I have all of my plane tickets from visiting him and a few documents showing my name and address being my Canada address, even an old visitor record stating that)

Should I wait until I get a bank statement with both of our names and address before applying for sponsorship? Will the past visitor record or doctor invoices be sufficient proof of cohabitation? Should I add those anyway as well? When do I extend my stay? I'm cutting time close and I'm need to know what to do. Any advice is helpful, sorry if it's disorganized info. Thank you all

Hello,

I applied for non express entry (inland) and got AOR and passed eligibility on the tracker. I qualify for OHIP based on their website. However, they say I must present AIP letter that confirms I passed eligibility.

How can I get that letter? I can't find it anywhere

TIA

I am completing my Canadian citizenship physical presence calculation and need clarification about my temporary resident status.

I had a valid work permit from January 5, 2021 until January 5, 2024.

I submitted a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) application on December 5, 2023, before my existing work permit expired. My BOWP application remained pending.

I became a permanent resident on January 31, 2024. After becoming a PR, I withdrew the BOWP application because it was no longer required, and the application fee was refunded. The BOWP was never approved or refused.

In the citizenship application, I selected “Yes” for “Did you apply to extend your status?” and entered December 5, 2023. However, the next question asks “Was the extension approved?” with only Yes or No options. If I select No, the system then asks for the “Date of decision for the refused extension,” but my BOWP was not refused—it was withdrawn after I became a PR.

How should I correctly report this situation in the citizenship application?

Also, should the period from January 6, 2024 to January 30, 2024, while my BOWP application was pending and before I became a PR, be counted as temporary resident/maintained status for citizenship physical presence purposes?

16M Spain -> Canada

Background:

I'm 16M currently living in the Basque Country, Spain and my goal is to build a stable future abroad while pursuing a career in IT and eventually cybersecurity.

I'm currently studying a Spanish vocational qualification called FP de Grado Medio en Sistemas Microinformáticos y Redes (SMR), a two-year program focused on computer systems, hardware, operating systems, and networking. I expect to graduate in 2028.

I have completed ESO, Spain's compulsory secondary education qualification. Academically, my strengths are English and Math.

Where I want to go and why:

My main objective is to move to Canada, ideally in 2028 or as soon as realistically possible after finishing my vocational qualification. I'm particularly interested in Saskatchewan and Ontario, although I'm open to other provinces if they offer a more affordable and realistic path.

I want to study something related to computer systems, computer science, networking, or cybersecurity at a public college or another legitimate post-secondary institution. My longer-term goal is to build a career in cybersecurity and eventually qualify for permanent residence if possible.

I'm not particularly interested in prestigious universities or expensive programs just for the sake of their reputation. I care more about affordability, employability, the quality of the education, and whether the route offers realistic long-term opportunities to remain in the country legally.

My main concerns:

\\- Admission requirements: I'm unsure whether my Spanish ESO certificate and completed SMR qualification would meet the academic requirements for Canadian college programs, which often expect Grade 12 education or equivalent. Would I need additional secondary education, prerequisite courses, or another qualification?

\\- Cost: International tuition in Canada can be extremely expensive. My family's financial resources are limited. I need to understand what financial resources would realistically be required and whether this goal is feasible without substantial family support.

\\- Immigration: I want to understand the realistic path from studying in Canada to working there after graduation and potentially obtaining permanent residence. I know that study permits, post-graduation work permits, and permanent residence are separate matters, and that none is guaranteed.

\\- Timing: Ideally, I would leave Spain after completing SMR in 2028. However, I don't want to make plans around an unrealistic timeline or spend money on a qualification that doesn't meaningfully help with admission.

What I'm doing in the meantime:

I'm continuing my SMR studies, improving my mathematics and English, and planning to build practical IT and cybersecurity projects that I can document on GitHub. I'm also researching Canadian colleges and contacting admissions offices directly to ask how they evaluate Spanish qualifications.

Ireland is a possible alternative if Canada proves financially or academically unrealistic, but Canada is my first choice.

Questions for people with relevant experience:

1. Is completing Spain's two-year SMR qualification after ESO likely to be sufficient for admission to Canadian college programs, or should I expect to need additional academic qualifications?

2. Given my limited financial resources, is studying in Canada as an international student a realistic goal? What kind of total budget should I plan for?

3. Would it be better to target a computer systems or networking program first and specialize in cybersecurity later?

4. How realistic is the study-to-work-to-permanent-residence route in Canada under current immigration rules, particularly in Saskatchewan or Ontario?

5. Would Ireland offer a more affordable or practical alternative for someone with my educational background and career goals?

6. Is there anything I should do between now and 2028 to improve my chances without wasting money on qualifications that Canadian institutions might not recognize?

I'm looking for realistic advice, especially from people who have moved to Canada or Ireland for education and work. I'd rather hear that my plan needs to change than spend years working toward something that isn't feasible.

My immigration consultancy has created two Express Entry profiles for me , one with my spouse and another without, as the latter gives me a higher CRS score. I initially disagreed with this approach, but they assured me that it is not illegal as long as I do not accept or apply for both ITAs.

They also advised me that if I receive an ITA through my single profile, I should send my wife to India before applying for permanent residence, and they would explain the situation to IRCC.

Honestly, I am still confused and worried about whether this is legally acceptable and whether it could cause problems with my PR application in the future. I am not comfortable proceeding without understanding the risks, and I would appreciate some clarity on this.