Canada reaffirms its dedication to family reunification, a pivotal objective in the nation’s contemporary immigration framework.
New procedures have been implemented by IRCC to facilitate family reunions. Dependents and spouses will have a better chance of immigrating to Canada now that they will have a road to follow.
According to the former immigration minister Sean Fraser, additional restrictions were announced on May 26:
- Faster processing for spousal TRV applications with specialized tools.
- Introduction of open work permits for spousal and family class applicants.
- Expanded eligibility of Open Work Permits to spouses and family members of PR, Canadian citizens, workers, and students.
Accelerated processing and innovative tools
The new processing techniques are aimed at improving the efficiency of non-complex applications, particularly in the case of those that are not too complex. These procedures have already shown positive results, with spousal TRV candidates receiving 98% approvals (both spouses and dependents). Immigration officers can use a multi-factor analysis of applications to determine whether an applicant is likely to qualify for Permanent Residence (PR) after the IRCC recently implemented new analytics in application processing. The application process has been considerably sped up by officers being able to categorize applications into groups. They are more likely to be approved quickly (based on the applicant’s eligibility).
Fresh Open Work Permit option for spousal and family class candidates
Since January 30th, spouses of those participating in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP) have been allowed to temporarily apply for OWPs. This program will be continued until 2025. By enhancing workers’ financial security and promoting family harmony and integration into their communities. The IRCC believes granting work permits to their spouses, dependent children, and common-law partners will reduce some of their stress.
A working-age child who is 16 or older and of all skill levels may apply as a primary applicant to the project. Nearly 200,000 foreign workers and their families are expected to be able to work in Canada. As a result of this program, which will ease the country’s labor deficit and boost the economy.
Family reunification – Outland applicants eligible for Open Work Permit
The IRCC modified its outland sponsorship guidelines on May 26th, extending the eligibility for Open Work Permits (OWP).
The OWP is now available to the wives, partners, and dependents of Canadian citizens, permanent residents, temporary employees, and students who are currently studying in Canada under the amended program. Spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, and dependent children over the age of 18 are included in this category of family members.
Previously, OWPs could only be obtained through inland sponsorship or by someone who had a TRV and lived in Canada. The revised measure, however, broadens the application pool by allowing outland sponsorship applicants from outside Canada to also be eligible for OWPs.
According to the new policy, spousal sponsorship requests will be handled by IRCC within a year. Family members must share a Canadian residential address with their sponsor during the OWP application process. And must hold valid temporary resident status, maintain it, or restore it in order to qualify.
According to the public policy of the IRCC, OWPs may be given in one of two circumstances.
First, a foreign person who has an approved IRCC application may be the principal applicant for PR in Canada under the spouse or common-law partner category or as a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner under the family class category.
Such candidates ought to:
- Maximum two-year work permit application filed.
- Subject of a sponsorship application by Canadian citizen or PR spouse/partner.
- Share a residential address with sponsor in Canada during application.
- Possess valid temporary resident status or apply for status restoration in Canada.
Moreover, an other possibility is that the foreign person is a dependent child who was named as a family member in the PR application. They must possess:
- Filed a work permit application for up to two years.
- Share the same Canadian residential address as the principal applicant and sponsor during application.
- Possess valid temporary resident status or apply for status restoration in Canada.
