Canada Introduces New Measures to Facilitate Family Reunification and Support Newcomers

The Canadian government has announced significant measures to enhance family reunification and provide support to newcomers in the country. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, unveiled these initiatives alongside the Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre.

One of the key changes focuses on expediting the processing of temporary resident visas (TRV) for spousal applicants. The government aims to reduce the processing time to 30 days or less for most applications. Additionally, special processing tools tailored to the needs of spouses and dependents will be implemented, resulting in a high approval rate of 93% for applications processed so far.

To enable newcomers to sustain themselves and their families, Canada is introducing an open work permit for spousal and family class applicants. This means that spouses, partners, and dependent children who have temporary resident status and reside with their sponsor in Canada can apply for an open work permit concurrently with their permanent residence application under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SPCLC) or other family class programs.

Furthermore, open work permit holders, including spousal applicants, whose permits are set to expire between August 1 and the end of 2023, will have the opportunity to extend their permits for an additional 18 months. This extension also applies to individuals with expiring post-graduation work permits.

These measures reflect Canada’s commitment to addressing labor shortages through immigration and strengthening family reunification. By facilitating temporary resident status for spouses, partners, and dependent children awaiting permanent residence, the government aims to create a smoother transition for newcomers and foster their integration into Canadian society.

In conclusion, Canada’s new initiatives aim to streamline the process of family reunification, provide work opportunities for newcomers, and fulfill the government’s commitment to supporting immigrant families during their journey towards permanent residence.