Canada speeds up application processing time for Spouse Visa

Canada seeks to process and finalize 6,000 spousal sponsorship applications each month between October and December 2020. This major news has just been announced by IRCC.

IRCC has increased the number of staff who will review spousal sponsorship applications by 66% to reduce wait times and process applications more quickly.

Also, IRCC will use new technology in a pilot project to digitize paper applications. This allows IRCC employees to work remotely and in a variety of workplaces to quickly process requests.

IRCC said it will implement biometric facilitation measures, but did not provide details. In the coming weeks, he will also be piloting a technology allowing interviews with candidates to be conducted remotely.

These initiatives aim to accelerate, prioritize, and finalize around 6,000 spousal requests each month through the end of 2020. A total of 49,000 applications will receive a decision by the end of this year.

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

The processing of spousal sponsorship applications has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, leading to recent protests.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino acknowledged the challenges the slower processing has caused for families, saying: “We understand that the past few months have not been easy for those far from loved ones during these difficult times. That is why we are making the approval of spousal applications as fast as possible. Our government will continue to find new ways to keep families together.”

As part of its 2020-2022 immigration levels plan, Canada has targeted 70,000 spouses, partners, and children among the 341,000 immigrants it intends to welcome in 2020. This plan and these objectives were established before the start. of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reference is taken from CIC News