Tag Archive: family

Faster Spousal Temporary Resident (Visitor) Visa Processing Times; New Open Work Permit for Spousal and Family Class Applicants

May 26, 2023

Today, Friday, May 26, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced new measures to strengthen family reunification, which include:

  • faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing times for spousal applicants
  • new and dedicated processing tools for spousal TRV applicants
  • a new open work permit for spousal and family class applicants
  • open work permit extensions for open work permit holders expiring between August 1 and the end of 2023

Minister Fraser announced that, going forward, most TRV applications will be processed within 30 days, and applicants will benefit from processing measures specific to their circumstances as spouses and dependants.

Once in Canada, spouses, partners and dependants are now able to apply for and receive an open work permit as soon as they submit a complete permanent residence application under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class (SPCLC) or other family class programs.

Finally, Minister Fraser announced that spousal applicants, along with other open work permit holders, whose open work permits expire between August 1 and the end of 2023, will be able to extend their work permits for an additional 18 months.

Quota for 2014 Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship Program Full

February 4, 2014

On February 3, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced that the 2014 quota of 5,000 new Parent/Grandparent Sponsorship Applications had been met. No new Applications will be accepted for processing until January 2015, at which time it is anticipated that the quota will be raised from 5,000 new Applications to 20,000 new Applications. Further details will be released by Citizenship and Immigration Canada closer to that date.

In the interim, and as an alternative to being sponsored, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens/permanent residents still have the option of applying for a “Parent and Grandparent Super Visa,” which will be valid for up to ten (10) years. The multiple-entry visa allows an applicant to remain in Canada for up to twenty-four (24) months at a time without the need for renewal of their status. The Parent and Grandparent Super Visa came into effect on December 1, 2011, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be able to issue the visas, on average, within eight (8) weeks of the application.