August 1, 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Introduces New Measures to Reunite Families

string(57) "https://www.bellissimolawgroup.com/author/david-di-paolo/"

Posted by David Di Paolo - Bellissimo Law Group PC

One of the guiding objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act as provided under section 3(1)(d) of the Act is: “to see that families are reunited in Canada”. On 26 May 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, former Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced new measures designed to strengthen family reunification.

These new measures include:

  • Faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal applicants – IRCC announced that they plan to process TRV applications within 30 days;
  • New and dedicated processing tools for spousal TRV applicants;
  • A new open work permit for spousal and family class applicants;
  • Open work permit holders expiring between 1 August 2023 and 31 December 2023 will be eligible to apply for 18-month extensions to their open work permits.

Upon submitting their complete applications for spousal and family class sponsorships, applicants will need to wait until they receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) from IRCC, so that they can include the application number.

Our office will follow as these new measures are put into effect, as it is currently not clear whether there are any specific requirements to meet or how these applications will be processed, although we are hopeful that IRCC will provide further guidance/instructions in the future. If you have questions about your options of coming to or remaining in Canada, feel free to schedule a consultation with our office.

View the full news release from IRCC here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/05/canada-is-reuniting-loved-ones-through-new-immigration-measures-new-measures-also-address-labour-shortages-in-canada.html.