Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a new processing time of 30 days for Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) for spousal applicants. This means that spouses and dependents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who have already applied for permanent residency in Canada can now come to Canada within 30 days of applying for a TRV.
Previously, the processing time for spousal TRVs was up to six months. The new processing time is a result of IRCC’s increased use of advanced analytics to pre-screen TRV applications. This allows IRCC to identify applications that are more likely to be approved and process them more quickly.
The new processing time for spousal TRVs is part of the government’s commitment to family reunification. The government has also announced that spousal applicants and their dependent children who reside with their sponsor in Canada and have temporary resident status may now be eligible for open work permits. This means that they will be able to work in Canada while their permanent residency application is being processed.
Open work permits
Open work permits allow foreign nationals to work in Canada for any employer, without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Spousal applicants and their dependent children who are eligible for open work permits can apply as soon as they have submitted a completed application for permanent residence to IRCC.
Extension of open work permits
Open work permits that expire between August 1, 2023 and the end of 2023 will be eligible for an 18-month extension. This extension will be available to spouses and dependents of most temporary workers, spouses of international students, and permanent resident applicants.
The government’s new family reunification measures are a welcome development for Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are waiting to be reunited with their spouses and dependents. The new processing time for spousal TRVs and the expansion of eligibility for open work permits will make it easier for families to be together while their permanent residency applications are being processed.