If I were you, I'd be focusing your attention on a sense of gratitude that you have the opportunity to be reunited with your spouse in one of the best countries in the world. We have a system in place that undoubtedly has its' issues but overall is relatively efficient compared to other countries. You seem to think there's plenty of money - there isn't. That isn't how it works. They don't have a massive reserve set aside for immigration purposes. Learn about the system a bit more before you come out with posts like this.Only the government would have official numbers. All I can do is guess. The money would actually come from the extra taxes paid by the spouses that arrive early. They could also have an option for express processing if you pay extra. It boggles my mind that anyone is saying that they should not hire more officers! There is plenty of money to pay for it and it would be great for the economy.