50. The Minister may make a decision relating to the receipt and processing of applications filed in accordance with Chapter III, unless such a decision concerns international student applications, in which case it may be made only by the Government.
A decision is made taking into account, in particular, the guidelines and objectives set out in the annual immigration plan, economic and labour needs, the need to promote diversity in the origin of applications for selection, humanitarian considerations, any situation that could compromise the health, safety or well-being of immigrants, Québec’s capacity to receive and integrate immigrants, the objective of ensuring the preservation and vitality of French, the only common language of the Québec nation, or the public interest.
Such a decision may pertain to the maximum number of applications the Minister will receive, the period for receiving applications, the terms and conditions for suspending the receipt of applications, the order of priority for processing applications, the suspension of the processing of applications and the disposition of applications not yet under examination.
A decision may, if it so specifies, apply to applications received before its effective date. In such a case, the Minister informs the persons concerned and, if applicable, returns the sums they have paid as fees.
2016, c. 32016, c. 3, s. 50; 2019, c. 112019, c. 11, s. 15112019, c. 112019, c. 11, s. 15122019, c. 112019, c. 11, s. 1513; 2024, c. 432024, c. 43, s. 611.