Kanset Services Inc.

Kanset Services Inc. For over 15 years, we've been helping individuals, families, and employers navigate the Canadian immigration system with confidence. Welcome to Kanset!

This page is your source for immigration news, practical tips, answers to FAQs and insights. Kanset Services is a Toronto-based immigration consulting firm employing professionals with over 20 years hands-on experience assisting families immigrate and settle in Canada. If your dream is to live in Canada, our dedicated team will guide you and your family every step of the way to ensure that your goals are achieved.

08/31/2026

One rule that is widely misunderstood by study permit applicants.

If you are applying for a study permit on or after September 1, the amount of required funds calculation must be based on updated requirement. Specifically, the minimum required amount has just been increased to $23,448.

It is also very important to understand that the amount is for one applicant, and it excludes tuition and transportation expenses.
The amount that applies to you is the one in force on the day you apply, not the day your program starts.

Another important update is for parents and grandparents, and hosts applying for super visas for Canada.

On Aug 25 IRCC published updated instructions for calculating the super visa income requirement, and there are now two ways for the host(s) in Canada to meet it. One, they can use their higher income year out of the last two, instead of only the most recent one. Two, they can now meet part of the requirement themselves and have the visiting parent’s or grandparent’s own income supplement the rest (up to 25% of total).

Families who already qualified and applied under the old rules, still qualify.

Also this week: no new Express Entry draws since Aug 19, and IRCC’s consultation on 2027 Express Entry categories closes Sep 1.
These figures come from IRCC’s published examples and change with the cost of living.

Which numbers apply to your family depends on your family size and your situation.

Not sure which one is yours? Book a consultation.

08/28/2026

Bay Street, 28th floor. Maria was there for a job interview and the address alone was intimidating. Then Mary walked out in a red suit.
Nineteen years later they are still working together, and Kanset exists because of a two-minute conversation.

Maria and Mary tell that part themselves in episode 1 of Kanset Talks. Full episode in bio.

Video production by Studio for podcasts, reels, courses, events | Toronto (Vaughan)


08/27/2026

Can a minor have both a study permit and a work permit in Canada?

For many families of temporary foreign workers, the answer changed on January 21, 2025. Dependent children are no longer eligible for an open work permit under the family measure that applies to many high-skilled workers who are not on an eligible permanent residence pathway.

That does not mean every possible work-permit route is closed. Limited exceptions, extensions and other eligibility categories can still apply. The child must also meet the minimum working-age rules in the province or territory.

This is one of those questions where the family’s exact immigration pathway matters.

Questions about your family’s permits? Book a consultation through the link in bio.

Video production by Studio for podcasts, reels, courses, events | Toronto (Vaughan)


08/26/2026

Should you apply for spousal sponsorship as a common-law couple, or get married first?

On paper, the definitions look simple. In practice, the real difference comes down to the evidence:

Common-Law: Requires proving evidence of having at least 12 continuous months of cohabitation, with joint leases, shared bills, financial responsibilities, etc.

Married: Confirmed by a legal marriage certificate, though you must still prove the genuine nature of your relationship.

The second major decision? Choosing between an inland application (living together in Canada, with open work permit options) vs an outside Canada application (which retains appeal rights and offers travel flexibility).

Hear Maria Guerts break down spousal sponsorship strategies in Episode 2 of Kanset Talks on YouTube.

Questions about your sponsorship timeline? Link in bio to connect with our team.

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You have a great foreign worker and they fit your team. Their work permit is expiring within the next year, and you want...
08/26/2026

You have a great foreign worker and they fit your team. Their work permit is expiring within the next year, and you want to keep them. What are your actual options as an Ontario employer?

Supporting a worker’s status does not always mean a complex or expensive application. Depending on the worker's experience and your business, there are three primary routes:

1. Encourage to Apply Under CEC: If your worker has 1+ year of skilled Canadian experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3, they may qualify through Express Entry. Your role is a detailed employment reference letter confirming their job duties, NOC, hours, wage, and period of employment. Employer cost: $0 government fees.

2. OINP Workforce Priority Stream: A provincial-nomination route for workers in Ontario, including TEER 4 and 5 occupations as well as TEER 0 to 3. Your role is to complete the OINP employer application for a full-time, permanent job offer and confirm that the business meets the program's revenue and staffing requirements. Recruitment evidence may be required in some circumstances.

3. LMIA Support: May be needed for an expiring closed work permit when another work permit route is not available. Your role includes the ESDC application, recruitment documentation, and meeting the required wage rate. Employer commitments include the $1,000 processing fee, advertising costs, and documented recruitment efforts.

The most important rule for employers? Start the conversation 6 to 9 months before their permit expires.

Need guidance on the right route for your team? Link in bio to book an employer consultation.

08/25/2026

If you hold passports or citizenship from more than one country, do you really have to list all of them on your Canadian immigration application?

Yes, absolutely.

Under Canadian immigration law, withholding information about another citizenship is considered misrepresentation. That carries serious consequences, including an automatic 5-year ban from applying to enter or stay in Canada.

Holding dual or multiple citizenships is completely legal in Canada. On its own, it does not hurt your application. What it does change is the process of checking an applicant's background: you will need to provide travel history, address history, and potentially police clearances for each country where you have lived.

Always be fully transparent on your forms. If you have questions about background checks or complex travel histories, it is always best to clarify them before submitting.

Questions about your application? Link in bio.

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08/24/2026

What happened in Canadian immigration last week, and how have wait times shifted over the past year?

Express Entry saw three consecutive rounds issuing 6,442 invitations. The French-language category invited 5,000 candidates with a CRS cutoff of 382, the lowest score for this category since March 2025. Canadian Experience Class invited 1,000 candidates at CRS 523, while the Provincial Nominee Program round issued 442 invitations at CRS 760.
Looking at official processing times compared to 3, 6, and 12 months ago, the long-term trends tell an important story:

Proof of citizenship has seen the steepest increase: currently estimated by IRCC at about 25 months, compared to about 12 months in May, 11 months in February, and 9 months in late 2025. Over that period, the official queue tripled from about 40,400 to 121,800 applicants.

Extending visitor status in Canada now shows 419 days, up from roughly 215 days three months ago and 120 days last summer. If you apply before your current status expires, you can remain in Canada legally under maintained status while IRCC processes your request.

Meanwhile, core permanent residence streams under Express Entry remain steady, with Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class holding near their 6-month service standards.

These timelines are estimates and averages published by IRCC, not guarantees. If you are planning an application or status extension, factor in current timelines early.

Also on the radar: the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot moves into its 2026 annual cap period on Aug 26. ESDC has also updated the low-wage cap calculation for worksites with fewer than 10 employees.

Follow for weekly Canadian immigration updates.



08/21/2026

If you are an artist, creative professional, or athlete hoping to immigrate to Canada, you have likely noticed that the federal Self-Employed Persons Program remains paused.

IRCC has now published its comprehensive evaluation of the program. Here is what you need to know:

1. Why was it paused?
The program was designed over two decades ago for people with two years of experience in cultural activities or athletics. With only ~1,000 PR admissions allocated per year, an intake surge created a backlog of over 10,000 applications and processing times exceeding four years.

2. What did the evaluation conclude?
IRCC determined that the program's design is "no longer fit for purpose." However, the government agreed that Canada still needs a dedicated PR pathway for international talent in arts, culture, and sports. Future policy options are being developed, but no reopening date or new program has been announced.

3. What can you do right now?
Do not put your plans on hold waiting for an unannounced reopening. Active alternatives include:
- Significant Benefit (C10/C11) LMIA-exempt work permits to establish your artistic or athletic practice in Canada
- Standard Express Entry (FSW/CEC) pathways if your profile meets education, language, and work experience criteria
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways tailored to regional industries

Every profile has unique factors. If this pathway was in your plans, a consultation can help you explore which active options make sense today.

Questions about your immigration pathway? Link in bio.

08/20/2026

Your neighbour, your hairdresser and the person at the supermarket all have immigration advice for you.

Mary hears it every day. People arrive with a preconceived and usually negative notion that they do not qualify, pieced together from stories they’ve heard from everyone around them.

What actually matters is different. The government is not checking whether your case matches your neighbour's. It is looking at whether you would be an asset to the Canadian economy and to Canadian society. That is a very different question than the one going around the group chat.

Before you listen to that unsolicited advice, ask someone who has experience and knows the rules. Questions? Link in bio.

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08/19/2026

Is there a minimum income required to sponsor your spouse?

In most cases, no. There is no minimum necessary income requirement for sponsoring a spouse or partner.
That being said, sponsorship means signing an undertaking, a binding promise to cover your spouse's basic needs. Maria's advice: be prepared to explain how you support yourself and how you plan to support your spouse, whether they are already in Canada or coming to Canada.

In the case of sponsoring a spouse and a dependent child who has a dependent child of their own, this changes: the minimum income requirement does apply.

Not sure how your plan reads on paper? That is worth a conversation before you apply.

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