Spousal Sponsorship Applications’ Processing Times, to Improve in 2022.

Since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic, processing time for spousal sponsorships have been heavily affected. The delay in the finalization of applications has deterred families and spouses from reuniting within Canada. It has been an ongoing concern as many have voiced their struggles and immense emotional turmoil between the separation from their loved ones, due to stagnant processing.

In January 2022, The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced measures to improve the application process. To further enhance permanent residence applications, IRCC has expanded the digital application portal to include more applicants by summer 2022. The transition to online application will enhance the COVID-19-related delays and promote a more effortless way of processing. By submitting a permanent residence application online, immediate confirmation that the application was successfully received, is provided at the time of submission.

The Minister also announces a new application tracker for family sponsorship candidates to analyze the status of their application. Visit our blog post titled “New Online Case Status Tracker for Family Class Permanent Residence Applications”, for more information pertaining to the new tool.

In March 2022, Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan targets 80,000 applications through permanent residence streams for spouses, partners, and children in 2022. With the sponsorship stream becoming the first to return to its 12-month service standard for processing, Canada seems to be on track with their goal.

Contact us to assess your eligibility to sponsor your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner.