Caglar Aybas
Caglar Aybas is the founder and editor of Canadianow. He writes about Canadian immigration policy, benefit payments, and everyday life in Canada for newcomers, drawing on official IRCC, CRA, and provincial government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or a licensed immigration consultant -- for personalized legal advice, always consult a licensed professional.
CanadiaNow
Understanding TEER Codes: A Comprehensive Guide for Newcomers
If you’ve started researching Express Entry or applied for a job in Canada, you’ve probably run into a five-digit code ...
How New Immigrants Can Build a Balanced Life in Their First Year
The first year after landing in Canada is usually the hardest one. Between finding work, learning a new city, and ...
How Self-Employed and Freelancers Pay CPP and Taxes in Canada (No Employer Withholding)
Quick Answer If you’re self-employed, freelancing, or working as an independent contractor in Canada, no employer withholds tax, CPP, or ...
Credit Karma vs Borrowell: Which Free Credit Monitoring App Actually Works in Canada?
Quick Answer Both Credit Karma Canada and Borrowell offer free credit monitoring using soft credit pulls, so checking your score ...
PEI Express Entry Stream: Eligibility and How to Apply
Updated July 2026. The PEI PNP Express Entry stream lets Prince Edward Island nominate candidates who are already in the ...
Canada’s Proposed Asylum Reform 2026: What Claimants Need to Know (and What’s Still Just a Proposal)
Canada published proposed regulations to overhaul how asylum claims are received and decided. As of June 2026 these are proposals, not law. What's changing, why asylum is not an immigration shortcut, and where to get real legal help.
CRA Voluntary Disclosures Program: How Newcomers Can Fix Tax Mistakes Before Getting Caught
Made a tax mistake - unreported foreign income or a missed T1135? The CRA's Voluntary Disclosures Program lets you fix it with reduced penalties and protection from prosecution, but only if you apply before the CRA contacts you.
Leaving Canada as a Permanent Resident: How Time Abroad Affects Your PR and Citizenship
Record numbers of PRs left Canada in 2026. Time abroad counts against the 730-day residency obligation and your path to citizenship. What counts toward your days, how to protect PR status if you must leave, and the departure-tax angle.
Transferring Schools in Canada: When You Need a New Study Permit (and the PGWP Trap)
If your study permit names your school, switching DLIs without a new permit can void your status and cost you your PGWP. When you need a new permit, how the PAL bottleneck works, and the 'reasonable progress' trap for repeat switchers.
IRCC Reverses Bill C-3 Citizenship Surrender Letters: What to Do If You Got One
After Bill C-3 expanded citizenship by descent, IRCC sent some people letters asking them to surrender citizenship certificates - then began reversing those orders in June 2026. If you received one, don't surrender anything before verifying your status.
