There is a possibility of a huge increase in the number of illegal immigrants in Canada, about half of whom will be Indians. Millions of work permits are expiring in Canada. According to data received from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), immigration consultant Kanwar Serah said that about 1,053,000 work permits are set to expire by the end of 2025, while another 9,27,000 work permits are set to expire in 2026.

HT quoted Kanwar Serah as saying that when a work permit expires, holders automatically lose their legal status unless they obtain another visa or become permanent residents. These options have become even more limited as the Canadian government continues to tighten its immigration rules for temporary workers and international students.

For the first time in Canada, a large number of people are in danger of losing their legal status.
Kanwar Serah said that for the first time in Canada such a large number of people are in danger of losing their legal status. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the legal status of about 3,15,000 people is expected to end, which could create bottlenecks in the immigration system. More than 2,91,000 people lost their legal status in the last quarter of 2025.

According to Kanwar Serah, by mid-2026 there will be at least 2 million people living in Canada without legal status, of which almost half will be Indians. Sarah said that thousands of study permits will also expire and many other applications may also be rejected.

Illegal immigrants living in tents in the forests
The increasing population of illegal immigrants in some parts of the Toronto area (Brampton and Caledon) has already created social problems. Tent camps have started appearing in forested areas, in which illegal immigrants are living. Brampton-based journalist Nitin Chopra documented one such tent city. He said that information has been received that illegal immigrants from India are working for cash payment and some brokers are brokering temporary marriages.

read this also

‘Financial dominance of husband in marital dispute is not cruelty’, Supreme Court tells wife living separately from husband

Hundreds of H-1B visa holders who returned to India earlier this month to renew their work permits are stuck here as appointments have been suddenly postponed to next year due to the US State Department’s new social media scrutiny policy. These appointments of workers were scheduled between 15 and 26 December. This period also coincides with the American holiday season.

Interviews scheduled for mid-to-late December have reportedly been postponed to March next year. Many leading law firms have said that hundreds of their clients are stranded in India. Indian immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth told the Washington Post that this is the biggest mistake ever. I don’t think there is any solution to this.

US State Department gave information through e-mail
According to reports, a man living on the outskirts of Detroit returned to India this month to attend a wedding. His dates of meeting at the embassy were fixed on 17th and 23rd December, but now their period has expired. Experts are worried about how long the companies for which he works will wait for his return.

According to the report, the US State Department informed Indian workers in an email that their interviews have been delayed due to a new screening policy on social media, which is aimed at ensuring that no applicant poses a threat to US national security or public safety.

American Embassy issued warning
The US Embassy in India issued a warning on December 9, saying that if a visa applicant reaches the embassy on the previously scheduled date even after receiving information about the change in the interview date, he will not be granted entry. The alert said, “If you have been informed by e-mail that the date of your visa interview has been changed, the Indian Embassy is ready to assist you in your new date. You will not be admitted to the Embassy or Consulate if you arrive on the previously scheduled date. According to a report released in April by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 71 percent of H-1B visa holders are from India.

read this also

India Nuclear: Who has the remote control of the nuclear bomb in India? Who can order an attack?

In a major change in America’s immigration system, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that now the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) will be reduced. This decision will impact millions of Indian professionals and their families. The agency says that this change is necessary to strengthen security checks and detect potential risks.

USCIS said the new policy will allow for more frequent screening of people seeking permission to work in the US, to prevent fraud and to identify individuals with malicious intentions so that they can begin the process of removing them from the country.

People should not become a threat to public safety

Director Joseph Edlow linked the decision to public safety concerns. He said reducing the employment-permission period would ensure that people who want to work in the United States do not pose a threat to public safety and do not promote anti-national ideologies.

Foreign citizens should be checked frequently

Referring to a recent incident, he said that the person who attacked National Guard soldiers in Washington was allowed to come into the country by the previous administration. After this incident, it has become more important that foreign citizens are checked repeatedly. These changes directly impact several categories that are used by Indian citizens in large numbers, such as employment-based green card applicants and H-1B workers who are undergoing processing.

EAD valid for only 18 months instead of 5 years

Now according to the new policy, EADs given to refugees, asylum seekers, those seeking relief from removal process and those applying for Green Card (INA 245) were earlier valid for five years, but now it will be valid only for 18 months. The policy alert states that this rule applies to all applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025.

This change could create new concerns for Indian applicants who are already facing long waits for green cards for years. Many Indians rely on long-term EADs and advance parole documents to remain employed. The Indian expatriate community is the largest beneficiary of employment-based visas in the US. They will be most affected by this change.

Finland is included in the list of the world’s happiest countries. The high life quality, safe society and beautiful natural views here have made it attractive to global talents. Taking Permanent Residency-Pr for Indian citizens in Finland gives many benefits. With this, you can stay and work in Finland indefinitely, live with family and later opens the way to take citizenship.

Benefits of permanent residence (pr)

• The right to live and work indefinitely in Finland.
• Access to government facilities like health, education.
• Facility to travel in Schengen Area.
• The Residence Card is necessary to renew every five years, PR does not end.

Note that PR and Finnish citizens are different. To get citizenship, it is necessary to fulfill language efficiency, eight -year continuous residence and other criteria.

New rules and updates in 2025

• It is now necessary for family sponsors to stay in Finland at least 2 years.
• The minimum age of husband and wife has been fixed at 21 years.
• Work permits with fast processing for experts, minimum monthly salary EUR 1,600 (about ₹ 1.65 lakh).
• PR is not straight, but only after staying on Type A work or family based permit.

Who can apply?

Duration of habitat

• Type A (Continuous) Residence Permit is required to be 4 consecutive years.
• It is mandatory to stay physically in Finland at least 2 years.
• Type B (Temporary) permit will not be counted.
• Current permit must be valid
• Temper permit (work or family -based) should still be valid for PR.
• Students or people looking for jobs cannot apply directly to PR.

Income and professional qualifications

• Financial stability is necessary for type a permit.
• Work-based admission: Annual Income EUR 40,000 (about ₹ 41.3 lakh) or recognized Masters/Postgraduate Degree + 2 years experience.
• C1 Level Finnish/Swedish + 3 years Work Experience Alternatively Useful.

other requirements

• Clean Criminal Record (Police Clearance from India).
• Valid health insurance and residence proof.
• No pending debt or dependence on social welfare.

Application process for pr, know easy steps

• Get the initial residence permit
• Application on the basis of job, family or university.
• Online Enter Finland or VFS Global from Center of India.
• Submit biometrics, passport, job contract, salary proof, certificate and police clearance.

Residence and renewal

• Stay in Finland on Type A Permit and renew as required.
• Prepare PR documents:
• Passport, photo, residence proof, income/salary slip, educational certificate, travel log and family details.
• Apply before the end of the current permit.

Identity Verification

• Biometric verification at Migri service point.
• Waiting for decision
• See the situation from Migri’s Processing Time Checker.
• Get a pr card if approved.

Objection/appeal

• Appeal in 30 days in case of rejection, fee EUR 260.
• Unemployed permit holders are given a 3 -month -old grace period to find a new job.

Benefits and challenges

Benefits:

• The right to live and work indefinitely.
• Facility to sponsor family.
• Schengen travel facility.

Free education and health services

The path of citizenship after eight years (including language examination).

Challenges

1. Cold weather and language difficulty (Finnish/Swedish).

2. Life standard expensive.

Also read-

Explained: More than 65 thousand deaths, 80% Gaza destroyed, who lost in 2 years of war and what found next?