November 19, 2016:  The Express Entry scoring system gets an update.  Points for a LMIA drop from 600 to 200 for executive positions and drops to 50 points for all other positions.   Extra points are now awarded to applicants on a NAFTA/FTA or intra-company transferee work permit who have been working in Canada for over a year.  Extra points for studying in Canada will also be added to the scoring system.  Applicants receiving an ITA (invitation to apply) for permanent residency will now have 90 days (instead of 60) to submit their application.

November 10, 2016:  The electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) leniency period ends on November 9th.  As of November 10, 2016, all eTA-required travellers must have an electronic Travel Authorization to arrive in Canada by air.

November 1, 2016:  The prevailing wages were updated, with many occupations seeing wage increases.  This change impacts any LMIA applications not yet submitted (those already in the queue are fine).

November 1, 2016:  The NOC 2016 database goes live.  IRCC applications will now be based on this updated occupation classification.  For LMIA applications, use NOC 2011 (instead of NOC 2006).

June 1, 2016:  The Francophonie Significant Benefit program is open again for employers hoping to hire French-speaking or bilingual workers outside of Quebec.  No LMIA is required and the process is quite straightforward.  A great resource for employers considering a candidate from a French-speaking country.