Canadian Immigration Podcast

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry tackle one of the most critical yet frequently misunderstood aspects of Express Entry applications: proving work experience. With refusals on the rise, Mark and Alicia walk you through the common mistakes applicants make when submitting reference letters and employment document...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe breaks down the latest immigration measures introduced by the Liberal government, focusing on their impact on temporary residents, construction workers, and Canada’s housing crisis. With a late Friday night announcement (as usual), Minister Marc Miller introduced new initiatives that aim to support the construct...

Episode 161 Show Notes Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry dive deep into one of the most common and misunderstood aspects of Express Entry— settlement funds . Misconceptions about proof of funds often lead to rejected applications, unnecessary delays, and missed opportunities for permanent residence in Canada. M...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Igor Kyryliuk dive into the latest category-based Express Entry draws and the major changes announced by IRCC. With some occupations removed, new categories introduced, and controversial priorities in focus, Mark and Igor break down what’s changed, who benefits, and who is left scrambling for options...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry kick off the Express Entry Getting It Right series by tackling one of the most misunderstood aspects of Express Entry: Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs). Many applicants mistakenly assume they know when and how to submit police certificates—only to have their applications re...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry continue the Time’s Up series with an in-depth look at the Certificate of Qualification (COQ) and how it affects Express Entry points. Many applicants mistakenly assume they qualify for the 50 additional CRS points —only to have their applications refused. Mark and Alicia break...

  Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry continue their Time’s Up series with a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of Canadian immigration: bridging work permits. They break down the key differences between Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs) and Bridging Closed Work Permits , highlighting the...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, host Mark Holthe and co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry dive deep into the recent announcement by Immigration Minister Marc Miller regarding the removal of LMIA-based job offer points in the Express Entry system. This change has significant implications for temporary foreign workers, international students, and employers across Canad...

Episode 155: When Not to Claim Refugee Status in Canada Episode Summary In this installment of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , host Mark Holthe is joined by co-host Alicia Backman-Beharry to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing temporary residents in Canada—understanding when not to file a refugee claim. As desperation grows for individuals facing expiring work permits and diminishing...

Episode 154: Humanitarian & Compassionate Applications: A Lifeline for Those Without Options Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, host Mark Holthe and returning guest Igor Kyryliuk delve into one of the most misunderstood and complex pathways in Canadian immigration—Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) Applications. As immigration policy tightens, many tem...

Episode 153: "No Extensions for PGWPs: Navigating Post-Graduation Work Permit Challenges" Episode Summary In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe and Alicia Backman-Beharry tackle the recent changes impacting Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders in Canada. As the government tightens immigration policies and limits temporary resident extensions, many PGWP holders are...

Episode 152: "How to Move to Canada 2.0: Dedicated to US Citizens Post-Election" Episode Summary In response to the recent U.S. election results and a renewed interest among U.S. citizens exploring Canadian immigration options, Mark Holthe and Betsy Kane break down the key pathways available for Americans considering a move to Canada. From work permits and professional transfers to permanent resid...

Episode 151: Time's Up Series - Transitioning from Worker to Visitor Status in Canada In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe and Igor Kurliuk continue their "Time’s Up" series by discussing a critical question facing temporary foreign workers in Canada: Can I change my status from worker to visitor when my work permit is about to expire? As new immigration policies tighte...

Episode 150: Time's Up Series - The High Cost of Staying in Canada Illegally In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , Mark Holthe and immigration lawyer Alicia Backman-Beharry continue their Time’s Up series by delving into the significant risks and long-term consequences of staying in Canada without legal status. As temporary resident options narrow, many individuals face tough decis...

Episode Summary: Time's Up – What to Do When Your Work Permit is Expiring In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast , Mark Holthe and immigration lawyer Alicia Backman-Beharry kick off the Time’s Up series, designed to address the critical issue of expiring work permits for international students, post-graduate work permit holders, and temporary foreign workers. Mark and Alicia explore t...

Episode Summary: In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe is joined by Alicia Backman-Arcand to discuss the latest developments in the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), specifically the launch of the brand new Expression of Interest (EOI) system . The episode delves into the impact of these changes, how they align Alberta with other provinces like BC and Ontario...

Podcast Show Notes: Uncovering TFWP Abuse: What Every Employer and Worker Needs to Know In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe and Alicia Backman-Beharry discuss the growing issue of abuse within Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). They explore the legal obligations of employers, the rights of foreign workers, and the severe consequences of non-compliance wi...

Podcast Show Notes: Provincial Nominee Programs and the "Intention to Reside" Requirement In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, Mark Holthe and Alicia Backman-Beharry delve into the intricacies of Canada's Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) with a focus on the "intention to reside" requirement. This requirement is a critical component for applicants nominated by a province, as they...

Episode Title: Lengthy Delays in Security Screening Host: Mark Holthe, Immigration Lawyer, Holthe Immigration Law Guest: Will Tao, Immigration Lawyer, Heron Law Offices Sponsor: Canadian Immigration Institute - Subscribe to the 2024 Express Entry Accelerator Course Episode Summary In this insightful episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, host Mark Holthe welcomes back immigration lawyer Will...

In this episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast, your hosts Mark Holthe and Alicia Backman-Beharry dive deep into the real costs associated with immigrating to Canada. From government fees to travel expenses, Mark and Alicia break down the hard and soft costs that every potential immigrant needs to consider. Key Topics Discussed: Government Fees: Breakdown of application processing fees. Recen...

Show Notes for Canadian Immigration Podcast Episode 143: The Dangers of Crowd Sourcing Immigration Information Episode Overview: Join host Mark Holthe, as he welcomes back Robert Leong, a seasoned immigration lawyer from British Columbia, for an enlightening discussion on the risks associated with sourcing immigration advice from unregulated forums and platforms. This episode sheds light on how re...

Episode Number: 142 - The PNP Battle for PR in Canada - From Temporary to Tenuous Introduction: Host: Mark Holthe Co-Host: Alicia Backman-Beharry Overview of the episode: Discussing the intensifying challenges within provincial nominee programs (PNPs) across Canada and how they impact temporary residents and foreign workers seeking permanent residency. Key Topics Discussed: Recent Changes in PNPs:...

Episode 141: Impacts of the Closure of the Self-Employed Persons Program and Changes to the Startup Visa Host: Mark Holthe Guests: Alicia Backman-Beharry, Pantea Jafari Date:  May 13, 2024 Introduction: Welcome to Episode 141 of the Canadian Immigration Podcast. In this episode, we dive into the recent changes and closures of two significant immigration streams: the Self-Employed Persons Prog...

Podcast Episode 140: What if I am not invited in an Express Entry Draw? Host: Mark Holthe Guest: Alicia Backman-Beharry Introduction: Welcome to another episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast. In today’s episode, we delve into what happens if you are not invited in an Express Entry draw, a pertinent question for many amidst the high CRS scores of recent general draws. Key Points: Overview of...

Title: Making Sense of the Filipino Temporary Foreign Worker Exit Visa Requirements Introduction: Welcome back to another episode of the Canadian Immigration Podcast. Today, we delve into one of the most complex aspects of immigration for Filipino workers—the exit visa requirements. This episode, which is also available as a vodcast on our Canadian Immigration Institute YouTube channel, features a...