Rajeev Sharma :- In a significant shift in immigration policy, the Canadian government has introduced sweeping changes to its Permanent Residency (PR) system, dealing a major blow to thousands of Punjabi workers and international students across the country.
Under the revised immigration framework, workers employed in the food and service industry will no longer receive priority for permanent residency applications. The decision is expected to heavily impact Punjabi youth working at fast-food chains, gas stations and retail outlets as food service supervisors or retail managers in hopes of securing PR status.
Canadian immigration authorities stated that these sectors already have an oversupply of workers, prompting the government to remove such occupations from its priority list. Going forward, preference for PR will mainly be given to applicants employed in healthcare, construction, social services and STEM-related technical fields.
The policy shift has triggered concern among Punjabi communities, particularly amo
Canada News,cqn and temporary workers who had planned their future in Canada around the earlier aimmigration pathways.
At the same time, the Canadian government has announced strict new measures against fraudulent immigration consultants. Under a new law set to take effect from July 15, 2026, agents involved in immigration fraud could face fines of up to 1.5 million US dollars and imprisonment of up to 12 months.
The crackdown follows growing concerns over fake admission letters and forged documents that have left thousands of international students at risk of deportation. According to official figures, nearly 10,000 fraudulent admission letters have been detected in Canada, with a large number of cases reportedly linked to Punjab and Gujarat.
Under the new regulations, all immigration consultants will now be required to hold valid licences. By April 2027, the government also plans to launch a public online registry containing licensing details and professional records of immigration advisers.
In a major relief measure, Canada will additionally establish a compensation fund aimed at reimbursing victims who suffered financial losses due to immigration fraud. The move is expected to provide support to several families from cities such as Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar, many of whom sold land or took heavy loans to send their children abroad.
Meanwhile, protests by Punjabi students have intensified in cities including Halifax, Nova Scotia, where several applicants claim their PR files were rejected after sudden policy changes. Demonstrating students have demanded that applications submitted before the rule changes should be processed under the previous system.
With visa deadlines approaching and deportation fears mounting, uncertainty and frustration continue to grow within the Punjabi diaspora in Canada.
