Canada to speed up spousal sponsorship application processing

Kara Crudo, Kareem El-Assal
Published: September 24, 2020

Canada is seeking to process and finalize 6,000 spousal sponsorship applications each month between October and December 2020.

This major news has just been announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

IRCC has increased the number of staff that will review spousal sponsorship applications by 66 per cent in order to reduce wait times and process applications more quickly.

In addition, IRCC is going to utilize new technology in a pilot to digitize paper applications. This is to allow IRCC employees working remotely and at various work settings to be able to quickly process applications.

Looking to sponsor your spouse? Complete a free assessment form so we can help you!

IRCC said it will implement facilitative biometrics measures, but did not offer specifics.

In the coming weeks, it will also pilot technology to conduct interviews with applicants remotely.

These initiatives are aimed at accelerating, prioritizing, and finalizing about 6,000 spousal applications each month through to the end of 2020.

In all, this will result in 49,000 applications receiving decisions by the end of this year.

IRCC noted that the coronavirus pandemic has created uncertainty for Canadian citizens and permanent residents looking to sponsor their spouse. It will continue to seek innovative and compassionate ways to bring families together.

Looking to sponsor your spouse? Please complete an eligibility assessment form now.

Spousal sponsorship application processing has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in recent protests.

Immigration minister Marco Mendicino recognized the challenges that slower processing has caused for families, stating:

We understand that the last few months have not been easy for those who are far from their loved ones in these difficult times. This is why we are accelerating the approval of spousal applications as much as possible. Our government will continue to find new ways to keep families together.

Under its Immigration Levels Plan 2020-2022, Canada targeted 70,000 spouses, partners, and children to be among the overall 341,000 immigrants it aimed to welcome in 2020. This plan and these targets were set prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Complete a free spousal sponsorship assessment form to receive our assistance.

© 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
British Columbia and PEI invite candidates in latest round of provincial nominations
Lighthouse in PEI
Quebec pauses two major permanent resident pathways
Quebec City in the fall
IRCC announces temporary measures for those impacted by the conflict in Lebanon
Airplane landing in Canadian airport.
How does IRCC use information from PR and international student applicants?
A close-up of a woman logging into a portal on her laptop, with graphic representation of the input boxes
Top Stories
British Columbia and PEI invite candidates in latest round of provincial nominations
How can my foreign employees legally work in Canada?
What items do you need to declare when entering Canada?
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Settling in Canada
What items do you need to declare when entering Canada?
A picture of the Canadian flag imposed over people walking into the distance
The five most important things to know about renting in Canada
A picture of the Toronto skyline
Can you afford to live in Canada?
First winter in Canada? Four questions you need to ask when buying a winter jacket
A woman looks at a winter jacket in a store.
Link copied to clipboard