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Success: CUAET to PR (MPNP)

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We love helping our Ukrainian clients. We have a team of staff in our office who can provide services in Ukrainian and Russian, depending on the situation of our clients.

Congratulations to our clients, a Ukrainian couple who successfully completed their journey from temporary residents under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) to Permanent Residents of Canada through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

Our clients arrived in Canada in January 2023 under CUAET and established their lives in Manitoba. Both secured permanent, full-time employment, built strong ties to the province, and demonstrated their intention and ability to continue building their future in Manitoba.

Their immigration journey required patience and careful preparation, and we are extremely pleased to see it end with a positive result.

As CUAET provided temporary status rather than a direct pathway to permanent residence, our clients explored their options to remain in Canada permanently.

They retained our office in February 2024 to better understand their immigration options and determine the most suitable pathway to permanent residence. After reviewing their circumstances, we determined that the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – Skilled Worker in Manitoba (MPNP-SWM) was the most appropriate pathway for them.

Timeline from Work Permit to PR

  • January 2023 – Arrived in Canada under CUAET
  • February 2024 – Retained Clarke Immigration Law to explore permanent residence options
  • April 2024 – Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted
  • April 2024 – Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) received under MPNP, SWM stream
  • June 2024 – MPNP application submitted
  • March 2025 – Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate received
  • May 2025 – Permanent Residence application submitted to IRCC
  • January 2026 – Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) and biometric request received
  • February 2026 – IRCC requested an updated Schedule A for Principal Applicant
  • Permanent Residence approved and eCoPR received on June 18, 2026.

This is an excellent result for  Ukrainian family who arrived in Canada under an emergency temporary program and successfully transitioned to permanent residence.

Throughout the process, their employment, settlement in Manitoba, financial circumstances, immigration history, and supporting documentation were carefully reviewed and presented as part of their applications.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLIENTS!

It has been a pleasure to assist this family through such an important stage of their immigration journey.

If you came to Canada under CUAET or other Ukrainian special measures and are considering permanent residence, our team can review your circumstances and help you understand whether the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program or another immigration pathway may be available to you.

 

Success: PGWP (Part-time studies)

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International students who submit Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications are subject to strict rules. The rules for the PGWP were amended in 2025 and then IRCC made additional changes to the program in 2026. There has been significant confusion regarding the new rules and we have heard from students that many PGWP applications are being refused. The recent protest in Calgary and the subsequent arrest of some graduates was related to the changes to the PGWP program. 

In this case, our client faced a difficult situation. PGWP applicants are generally expected to maintain full-time student status during each academic session, subject to limited exceptions. Part-time semesters can therefore create significant concerns when IRCC assesses PGWP eligibility and part-time studies can lead to a refusal.

This was the central issue in our client’s case.

Our client came to Canada from India in October 2021 to study at a university in Montreal, Quebec. He successfully completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in May 2026; however, his academic record included part-time semesters in Fall 2022 and Winter 2023, creating a significant potential issue for his first PGWP application. It could have been refused.

ACADEMIC HISTORY AND PART-TIME STUDIES

Our client faced significant academic challenges while adjusting to life and studies in Canada, which resulted in Failed Standing at the end of the 2021–2022 academic year. He was subsequently readmitted under Academic Probation.

As a condition of his readmission, the university required him to study part-time, with a maximum course load of nine credits for two consecutive semesters. His part-time enrollment was therefore not a voluntary decision.

After improving his academic standing, he was permitted to resume full-time studies in August 2023 and successfully completed his degree in May 2026.

LEGAL STRATEGY

Our client contacted Clarke Immigration Law in May 2026. He knew that his PGWP could be refused and he did not want to risk losing his status in Canada. A lawyer at CIL met with him to discuss his legal options. After reviewing his academic and immigration history, we identified the part-time semesters as the primary issue. He retained our office to assist him to prepare and submit his PGWP application, including a detailed explanation – Statutory Declaration.

Our application provided IRCC with the broader context behind his academic record, including his ADHD-related difficulties, Failed Standing, Academic Probation, the university-imposed nine-credit restriction, and his efforts to return to full-time studies.

We prepared a detailed Statutory Declaration, supported by academic and medical documentation, to provide a clear and chronological explanation of the circumstances.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

  • October 2021 – Client arrived in Canada as an international student
  • Fall 2022 / Winter 2023 – Part-time studies under Academic Probation conditions
  • August 2023 – Permission granted to resume full-time studies
  • May 5, 2026 – Consultation with Clarke Immigration Law, retainer signed
  • May 2026 – Bachelor of Arts in Economics completed
  • June 26, 2026 – PGWP application submitted
  • July 7, 2026 – PGWP approved

PGWP APPROVED IN ONLY 11 DAYS

Despite the concerns created by his part-time academic history, our client can now move forward and gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Every immigration application is assessed individually, and outcomes cannot be guaranteed. However, this case demonstrates the importance of identifying potential eligibility concerns before submission and addressing them directly with clear explanations and supporting evidence.

Part-time studies, gaps, academic probation, medical circumstances, or other complications in an academic history can create concerns in a PGWP application. Applicants should not assume that IRCC will automatically understand the circumstances shown on their transcript.

If your academic history is complicated, obtaining professional advice before submitting your PGWP application can help identify potential risks and determine how they should be addressed.

 

MPNP IES – CEP Pathway CLOSED

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MPNP launched new immigration pathways for international students in 2018. Minister Goertzen announced at that time:

“By providing students a fast track to nomination for permanent residency, we hope to attract and retain more talented innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world,” said Goertzen.  “International students bring new ideas, global connections and an entrepreneurial spirit to our province and when they create opportunities for themselves, Manitoba becomes more competitive and innovative.”

Times have changed.

We have seen a huge shift in Canadian immigration laws and regulations since 2018. We have published changes to the Study Permit process. We have seen huge cuts to various programs and increases in IRCC refusal rates.

The latest casualty is the MPNP IES – CEP Pathway. MPNP announced this pathway is now closed:

To be considered in future EOI draws, individuals with active IES‑CEP EOI profiles are encouraged to:

  • review their eligibility for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Pathway: https://immigratemanitoba.com/mpnp/skilled-worker/swm/eligibility/.

  • if eligible, update their profile as soon as possible. EOI SWM draws will continue on a regular basis and a current profile will be required to be considered in future EOI draws.

  • ensure all connections to Manitoba have been declared, including completed post-secondary education in Manitoba.

The government did not provide any justification for the closure of this pathway.

In addition, CIL is very concerned MPNP is encouraging applicants to apply under the MPNP-SWM program. They have indicated that “EOI SWM draws will continue on a regular basis”; however, this is not clear. The EOI draws have been focused on MPNP-SWM within the SRI – not from the general pool. Most MPNP applicants remain in the pool without any hope of being selected.

 

MB MPNP Work Permits – New Policy

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It is no secret that the MPNP program is the best PNP in Canada. It is also the original, first PNP program. My kids may say that the MPNP is the “OG” PNP in Canada. I would love to say that MPNP gets special attention by IRCC based on the history of the program and the high level of expertise by MPNP Officers. They spend significant time vetting the applications. We have helped 1000s of people through the program to get PR status.

Alastair Clarke was in Montreal in 2024 when Manitoba negotiated the previous Temporary Public Policy for Work Permits. That public policy was announced in MAY 2024 based on specific program requirements at that time. We were able to help our clients get Open Work Permits through that program and then help them with PR status.

The APR 2025 program is based on the same public policy section of IRPR that allows Officers to issue Work Permits. That said, the APR 2025 policy is different from the MAY 2024 policy. We know that many applicants had issues with the MAY 2024 public policy and we met with many clients who received refusals from IRCC as they did not properly submit the application. This program opens on 22 APR 2025.

For this 2025 policy, we strongly recommend that applicants hire a professional for the Open Work Permit application.

Basis eligibility requirements:

MPNP candidates who meet these basic requirements may be eligible for this Open Work Permit application:

  • Hold a valid work permit that will expire in 2025, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Held a work permit valid on May 7, 2024 that has since expired and have submitted an application for restoration of temporary resident status under section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for a new work permit under section 200 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, or
  • Were authorized to work pursuant to paragraph 186 (u) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations on May 7, 2024, and the work permit extension application remains pending or was approved, and have submitted an application for an extension of the authorization to remain in Canada as a temporary resident under section 181 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

Additional requirements:

  • They had a valid Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest profile on January 15, 2025, and have a valid Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Expression of Interest profile at the time of this application
  • They were residing in Manitoba prior to January 15, 2025 and have continuously remained residing in Manitoba
  • They are currently employed in Manitoba with a Manitoba employer that is willing to provide a letter of employment*.
  • They are intending to establish in Manitoba as a permanent resident.

Professional Help

If you would like our services, the first step is to call CIL and book a consultation. We will review your situation, including the requirements. If the client is eligible, we can provide a quote for the necessary services. For our base fees, we have published our fees online to provide guidance.

Success: MPNP PFL re IES

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The MPNP program may be the best way of getting PR status in Canada. We have clients from around the world who come to Manitoba. We love helping our clients and we love helping local businesses. Winnipeg needs highly skilled workers in various categories and the program is regularly updating and changing. Through our MPNP Representative Portal, we are able to guide our clients through all the steps. If an MPNP Officer has a concern regarding an application, they must give the applicant a chance to respond to their concerns. In cases of misrepresentation, the application may be banned for 2 years (this is different from the federal ban of 5 years per A40 of IRPA). We have never had a client banned by MPNP.

In this case, our client applied to MPNP by himself. He graduated from a study program in Manitoba and he got a 1 year PGWP. If you have read our previous posts, you will know that we do not recommend short study programs. It can be very difficult to go through all the necessary steps on a short work permit. In general, we recommend a minimum 2 year study program. 

Our client came to us last year with a serious situation. He submitted his MPNP EOI by himself and he was quickly selected within the IES category. In this situation, that is the best chance at being selected as he did not have to wait for 6 months of work experience. He was selected based on the connection between his studies and his work experience. After he was selected and he received his LAA, he thought he was on a path to PR status.

Unfortunately, the MPNP Officer who was in charge of his case disagreed. The Officer did not see the connection between his studies and his work experience and decided that he may not be eligible within the IES category. Our client received a PFL and he had 30 days to respond to the Officer’s concerns.

Our client made the very good decision to immediately contact CIL for help. We reviewed all the documents submitted to MPNP. We contacted his employer in Winnipeg. We reviewed his studies and all the courses which he completed as part of his study program. We worked with our client to draft a detailed explanation to the Officer to explain the connection between his studies and his work experience to show that, in fact, he was eligible within the IES category.

As you can see from the title, this is a success story. After many hours of work, we submitted the package and the Officer agreed. We addressed each of the Officer’s concerns and we clearly showed that our client qualified for this category.

Congratulations to our client!

After fixing this situation, our client was both relieved and excited to go to the next step. He was back on track to get PR status. He is, of course, very thankful for all the work done by our office. He provided a 5 STAR review on Google.

We look forward to working with our client in the future so he can achieve his immigration dreams!

Success: MPNP Nomination Certificate

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If you read our posts, you know we love helping to build Manitoba. All Team Members at CIL live in Winnipeg and we are actively involved in our communities. Winnipeg has won awards as the best city in Canada to raise children. Many people from other provinces call our office as they have heard about how wonderful it is to live in Manitoba. Housing is affordable. Childcare is available. The NDP government is focused on health care. Schools are exceptional.

This success story is from a family who came directly to Manitoba and they were selected by MPNP. It has been a pleasure to work with this family. We helped with their EOI, we helped with Work Permits, we helped with the LAA stage.

Now we will be helping this family get PR status.

Based on all the work done for this family, we got fast results. They did not need to use the special Public Policy for MB (PGWP holders) that was negotiated with IRCC in MAY 2024.

Congratulations to our clients! It has been a pleasure to work with this family.

Success: Fast MPNP NC

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Due to strong demand in Manitoba and many applicants trying to get PR status through the MPNP program, we have seen long processing times. This has been an issue that has been reported on CBC News and CIL has been advocating on behalf of our clients to speed up processing at MPNP.

MPNP Update from April 2024

Alastair Clarke met with senior MPNP Officers at the end of April 2024. During this meeting, we covered many topics, included all the steps that are being done at MPNP to process applications as quickly as possible. Officers and Managers at MPNP are acutely aware of the high stress levels among applicants. After Mr Clarke met with Managers and Officers at MPNP, we posted an update on our website. Please click here to review the update which we published on our website here. Here are some key points from that post:

Yesterday, Alastair Clarke met with MPNP managers and Senior Officers to get an update on the MPNP program. Here are key points:

  • As reported, MPNP has been granted 9,500 NOMINATION CERTIFICATES by IRCC for 2024;
  • There are between 20,000 to 27,000 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI) in the MPNP pool;
  • There are more than 47,000 individuals with temporary status in Manitoba;
  • MPNP has hired more Officers to process MPNP applications and, the latest budget from the Manitoba government provides funding for more Officers in future;
  • MPNP will prioritize applicants who have been selected (at LAA stage) with expiring Work Permits (eg. PGWP or CUAET); however, they cannot guarantee that all applicants will be able to apply for the T13 Work Permit while they are in status;
  • Applicants must disclose the expiry date of their Work Permit for the MPNP Officer to give the applicant priority consideration;
  • If Applicants hire agents and/or consultants who make mistakes, the applicants are liable;
  • MPNP Officers will be flexible with Ukrainian applicants who cannot obtain documents, despite “best efforts”;
  • The Skilled Worker Webform is the best way to request a Work Permit Support Letter; and,
  • Current IRCC Regulations regarding T13 Work Permits do not allow MPNP to provide Work Permit Support Letters on a provisional basis.

Since that meeting in April 2024, MPNP has made many improvements to the program. We have done our best to share our clients’ concerns to both MPNP and to IRCC.

Public Policy for Manitoba PGWP Workers

In May 2024, Alastair Clarke met with IRCC Officers and other lawyers at the CBA Immigration Law conference in Montreal. Around that time, IRCC announced a special program that is only available for workers in Manitoba. I can report that immigration lawyers in Ontario and other provinces are quite envious. This program does not apply for workers in other provinces – only Manitoba.

As reported by MPNP:

This temporary public policy allows post-graduate work permit holders employed in Manitoba with work permits expiring in 2024, who are eligible to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and who have submitted a valid MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) profile prior to May 10, 2024, to be eligible to apply for a province-specific open work permit that will be valid for up to two years.

This program may be extremely valuable for many workers who have PGWPs that are set to expire.

MPNP NC issued after only 2 months

We are pleased to report that our client were just issued their MPNP Nomination Certificate. We did their EOI and submitted their application once they received their LAA. We know many of our clients want fast processing. This file has been processed extremely quickly.

Clients often ask, “If we hire CIL, will you make it go faster?” We have always been completely transparent that a great application, submitted directly by the client or by our office, will be processed in the same fashion. That said, I would like to think that when an MPNP Officer or an IRCC Officer sees the CIL logo, they know it is a strong application.

Spring MPNP update

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Currently, there is a high level of frustration and anxiety among workers and students in Manitoba who are hoping to get Permanent Resident status through the MPNP program. They may have come to Canada with the expectation that their plan would be easy. They may have read old promises by the Government of Canada. They made decisions based on historical data.

Over the past 6 months, the immigration landscape in Canada has dramatically changed. In turn, the MPNP program and the potential future of folks in Manitoba may also change. The promises and expectations from years past do not, unfortunately, support applications in 2024 and the government is not under an obligation to provide status for applicants. CIL provides services for many clients to navigate the system, as it changes, to provide the best guidance for our clients.MPNP

Yesterday, Alastair Clarke met with MPNP managers and Senior Officers to get an update on the MPNP program. Here are key points:

  • As reported, MPNP has been granted 9,500 NOMINATION CERTIFICATES by IRCC for 2024;
  • There are between 20,000 to 27,000 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (EOI) in the MPNP pool;
  • There are more than 47,000 individuals with temporary status in Manitoba;
  • MPNP has hired more Officers to process MPNP applications and, the latest budget from the Manitoba government provides funding for more Officers in future;
  • MPNP will prioritize applicants who have been selected (at LAA stage) with expiring Work Permits (eg. PGWP or CUAET); however, they cannot guarantee that all applicants will be able to apply for the T13 Work Permit while they are in status;
  • Applicants must disclose the expiry date of their Work Permit for the MPNP Officer to give the applicant priority consideration;
  • If Applicants hire agents and/or consultants who make mistakes, the applicants are liable;
  • MPNP Officers will be flexible with Ukrainian applicants who cannot obtain documents, despite “best efforts”;
  • The Skilled Worker Webform is the best way to request a Work Permit Support Letter; and,
  • Current IRCC Regulations regarding T13 Work Permits do not allow MPNP to provide Work Permit Support Letters on a provisional basis.

During the meeting, many other topics were discussed. The MPNP program Managers and Officers have been working hard and they have been putting in significant overtime hours to process applications. They are acutely aware of the high level of anxiety. Workers at MPNP also recognize that applicants may need to leave Canada while their applications are in process and then return to Canada, if the application is approved.

ALTERNATIVES TO MPNP

We have also spoken with many workers who are looking at other options. In particular, we have many people who are considering a refugee claim. This is not an easy process and it is only recommended for individuals who are described by section 96 or section 97 of IRPA. 

Alastair Clarke and other lawyers across Canada have written a guide on filing a refugee claim in Canada, including all the steps involved and potential issues. Please read the guide and get professional help before you start your refugee claim. If your claim is accepted, then you can apply for PR status as our client did in this case. 

The other common option, as an alternative to MPNP and/or Express Entry, is the HUMANITARIAN and COMPASSIONATE (H&C) application, filed per section 25 of IRPA. Within the context of immigration law, this is an application of last resort and it is only recommended if the applicant has no other options. Here is an example of an H&C that we filed, successfully, on behalf of a family.

RISK FACTORS

As in previous years, the MPNP program wants to support individuals with strong connections to Manitoba. Risk factors, including studying or working in another province, will result in lower points. The program may provide Procedural Fairness Letters (PFLs) to individuals who get PR status based on the MPNP program and then move to another province. The MPNP program is focused on high “retention” numbers and they value each Nomination Certificate. Once a Nomination has been issued to an applicant, it cannot be recovered.

If you get a PFL and you need help, please contact our office. We have helped many applicants through this process. 

MPNP has disclosed that the highest retention category is “SWO – with family connections to Manitoba”. The category with the lowest retention is “SWM – with risk factors”. In future, MPNP draws may focus on applicants with the highest chance of strong retention.

MPNP continues to have concerns of abuse. Applicants who apply to the program with the intention of moving to another province after getting PR status are not encouraged to apply.

MPNP-UKRAINE Program is ENDING

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This is an urgent update to the MPNP program. The Government of Manitoba has announced the program to help Ukrainians in Manitoba is ending on 30 APR 2024. We have helped dozens (hundreds?) of Ukrainians through the program and they are on track to PERMANENT RESIDENT status.

If you are reading this and you know someone who may qualify for this program, they must act quickly. The window is closing very soon.

The following special measures will end on April 30, 2024:

  1. Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) Ukraine Special Measures Expression of Interest (EOI) draws

    • Ukrainian nationals who meet MPNP eligibility criteria will continue to be able to submit their EOI applications and be eligible for regular EOI draws.

  2. MPNP application fee refunds

    • Those with Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) issued prior to May 1, 2024, will still be eligible to receive the application fee refund after the complete MPNP application is submitted.

  3. Immigration information appointments at the Reception Centre

After 30 APR 2024, it will be much more difficult for Ukrainians in Manitoba to qualify under the other PR streams.

CBC News: MPNP Program 2023 Recap

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The MPNP program is known as the best provincial nominee program in Canada. It has been used by other provinces as a model. Other provinces have copied the MPNP based on the success of this program. It has been used by Manitoban businesses to recruit workers to meet labour shortages and by workers who are seeking to remain permanently in Canada. In 2023, the Federal government increased MPNP Nomination Certificates to record high levels, based on high demand. We now know that the MPNP did not use all the Certificates issued to the province.

Alastair Clarke was interviewed by CBC News on this topic:

A Winnipeg immigration lawyer said the province has a long history of accepting as many nominations as Ottawa permits.

“From my experience, this current situation is extremely unusual,” Alastair Clarke said.

“Normally in the past when the federal government allocates the number of nomination certificates, the province is able to not only issue that number, but they often will receive more certificates from other provinces.”

Since 1998, the Manitoba provincial nominee program (MPNP) has been used to bring skilled workers to the province to help address labour gaps. The program has contributed greatly to Manitoba’s population growth by bringing in more than 185,000 people.

Manitoba suffers with fewer immigrants: lawyer

Given that successful nominees can bring their families, Manitoba’s failure to reach its 2023 target led to potentially a few thousand less immigrants settling in the province.

“Right now, Manitoba has a labour shortage. I’m regularly dealing with employers and individuals who are looking for workers,” Clarke said.

Indeed, as noted by CBC News, the MPNP staffing shortage may have negative consequences for immigration.

The team at CIL urges the Manitoba government to increase staffing levels at MPNP so they can process more applications and help more people.

Currently, processing times from the LAA stage to the NC stage are too long. We have spoken with MPNP Applicants who have waited 9 to 11 months to receive their NC from MPNP.

At CIL, we can report that our clients get their NC much faster. We are able to upload and submit our client’s documents quickly and MPNP Officers know our reputation for quality work.

Avoid Shady Agents

One of the problems we see with MPNP applications is that people will hire agents who do not give good advice. That is one of the problems that we regularly hear. Applicants are responsible, unfortunately, for the work done by shady agents and that can have serious, long term negative consequences.