News Extra
Canada reuniting loved ones through new immigration measures
New measures also address labour shortages in Canada
Families are meant together, especially during life’s big moments like moving to a new country. That is why Canada is working to help families reunite more quickly and easily, and support themselves once in Canada.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, joined by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, announced new measures to strengthen family reunification, including
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 faster temporary resident visa (TRV) processing and more considerate application measures so that families can be together sooner while they wait for their permanent residence to be finalized. Going forward, most of these applications will be processed within 30 days, and applicants will benefit from processing measures specific to their circumstances as spouses and dependants. Many applications have already been processed using these new tools. Within this cohort of applicants, we have seen an approval rate of 93%.
Once in Canada, newcomers often seek jobs to support themselves and their families. That is why Canada has also made open work permits available for spousal applicants and their dependent children who reside with their sponsor in Canada and have temporary resident status. 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. A similar option was recently offered to many with expiring post-graduation work permits.
Immigration will continue to play a vital role in addressing Canada’s labour shortages, and together, these initiatives deliver on the Minister’s mandate letter commitment to strengthen family reunification by facilitating temporary resident status to spouses, partners and dependent children waiting for permanent residence.
Quotes
“Family reunification through immigration is not only a matter of compassion; it is a fundamental pillar of Canadian society. Today’s announcement is a mandate commitment to help build inclusive and resilient communities. We are supporting Canadians and newcomers by reuniting families faster, and also allowing them to work and support themselves more quickly once they’re here. By doing so, Canada is helping newcomers achieve their true potential, while also strengthening Canada’s economy and social fabric.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“Family reunification lies at the heart of building vibrant and inclusive communities. In Vancouver, we know that when families are united, they become stable, put down roots and begin to build a future. Our city thrives. This unwavering commitment to bringing loved ones together fuels our collective spirit and enriches the tapestry of our diverse neighbourhoods. Today’s emphasis on family reunification amplifies Vancouver’s strength, resilience, and compassion as we create a city where every individual feels a sense of belonging, and every family can flourish.”
– The Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre
Quick facts
Canada has taken action to improve client service and process applications faster. In 2022, we finalized more than 5.2 million applications across our multiple lines of business, resulting in millions of people getting decisions on their cases.
Since July 2022, new spousal sponsorship applicants can expect their applications to be processed within the service standard of 12 months (for 80% of cases, for non-Quebec applications).
Open work permits are available to foreign nationals in a number of different situations, but not all will be eligible for an extension through this facilitated processing measure. It will only be offered to
permanent residence applicants awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application and their spouses
family class-sponsored spouses with valid temporary resident status and their dependent children
spouses and common-law partners of most work permit holders and their dependent children
spouses and common-law partners of study permit holders
Canada issued more than 1,075,000 work permits and work permit extensions in 2022.
The Executive Director of Refugees in Libya, David Yambio, has mourned the death of a migrant whose body was recovered off the coast of Benghazi after reportedly being stranded at sea for 14 days, describing the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by people fleeing conflict and persecution.
In a post on X, Yambio reflected on his own experience in Libya, saying that while detained in the North African country, he had often hoped that, if he were to die, it would be at sea rather than at the hands of violent militias.
According to him, the sea represented the only place where many migrants retained a sense of dignity, as they risked everything in pursuit of safety and international protection.
Yambio questioned what he described as a deeper humanitarian tragedy, arguing that many people seeking refuge would rather face the dangers of the Mediterranean than remain exposed to violence by armed groups in Libya.
He also criticised what he called Europe’s role in arming militias and accused African leaders of remaining silent in the face of abuses against migrants.
The activist said the photograph accompanying his post showed one of several people seeking protection who had been stranded at sea for two weeks. He noted that the man’s body, along with those of two others, was recovered off the coast of Benghazi a few days ago.
Ending his post on a poignant note, Yambio said the deceased asylum seeker had been portrayed as an “invader,” underscoring what he believes is the dehumanisation of migrants fleeing in search of safety.
At least 50 migrants are feared dead or missing after a boat carrying about 60 people capsized off the eastern coast of Libya while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe, authorities have said.
The vessel overturned on Tuesday near Bardaa Island, off the coastal city of Tobruk, according to the Coast Guard in eastern Libya.
Officials said 10 passengers, including some women and children, survived by swimming to Bardaa Island. Search and rescue operations were still ongoing as authorities continued efforts to locate the remaining passengers.
The latest disaster is another in a series of deadly shipwrecks involving migrants departing from Libya, a major transit hub for people seeking to reach Europe in search of safety and better economic opportunities.
Just last month, another migrant boat sank off eastern Libya, leaving 51 people dead or missing.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has remained politically unstable, making it a key departure point for migrants fleeing conflict, persecution and poverty across Africa and the Middle East.
Human traffickers frequently load migrants onto overcrowded and unseaworthy boats for the dangerous Mediterranean crossing, a route that has claimed thousands of lives over the years and remains one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors.
Sea-Watch International has announced that its rescue vessel, Sea-Watch 5, has returned to operations in the central Mediterranean after what it described as an attack by Libyan militias in May, saying it has already rescued 52 people in two separate operations.
In a post published on its verified X account, @seawatch_intl, the humanitarian organisation said 40 people were rescued on the first day of operations, followed by another 12 the next day. It added that one of the survivors, a pregnant woman, requires urgent medical care.
Sea-Watch also claimed that an average of eight people die every day while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, renewing its criticism of European migration policies and rescue coordination.
The organisation accused the Italian government of assigning its rescue vessel to the northern port of Marina di Carrara, which it said is more than four days away from the rescue zone. According to Sea-Watch, the practice keeps humanitarian rescue ships away from areas where migrants are most at risk.
“To ensure that as few rescue ships as possible are in the rescue area, Italy sends us to the northern port Marina di Carrara, 4+ days away,” the group wrote, describing the decision as “cruel and irresponsible.”
Sea-Watch argued that the lengthy journey delays the disembarkation of rescued migrants and reduces the number of rescue vessels available to respond to emergencies at sea.
The organisation also directly criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the country’s migration policies, questioning the government’s approach to search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
Italian authorities have previously defended the assignment of distant ports to humanitarian vessels, saying the measure is part of efforts to manage migrant arrivals and coordinate disembarkation procedures.
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