Dear XXXX:
Thank you for your correspondence of July 3, 2020, addressed to the Honourable Marco E.L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, concerning your sponsorship undertaking on behalf of your spouse’s application for permanent residence. I have been asked to respond to your concerns.
I understand that you are looking forward to having your spouse join you in Canada. Family reunification is a priority for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and every effort is made to complete the processing of partner and spousal applications as quickly as possible. However, spousal sponsorship is a two-step process. The sponsor must be assessed against the requirements of sponsorship, and the foreign national being sponsored must be assessed against the statutory requirements of being in good health and of good character; individuals who want to live permanently in Canada must meet program eligibility requirements, as well as statutory medical, criminality, and security background clearances. These requirements exist to protect the interests and safety of Canadians. The onus rests on applicants to prove that they have met the requirements for entry to Canada or that admission would not be contrary to legislative requirements. In addition, in the case of spouses and partners, the assessing officer must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes only.
IRCC conducts background checks by working together with partner agencies, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), medical authorities, and agencies of foreign governments. Background screening processes are non-discriminatory and universal in their application. Any delays or requirements that the Department’s partner agencies may need in providing input are something over which IRCC has no control.
Departmental records indicate that this application was received on February xx, 2020. The current
processing time for applications in this category is approximately 12 months from the date of receipt of the completed application.
Although the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) have had an effect on the Department’s operations and ability to respond to and process applications, I would like to assure you that IRCC continues to explore options to facilitate processing in these extraordinary times, including finalizing applications virtually, and applicants are contacted by immigration officers should additional information or documentation be required, or as soon as a final decision has been made.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I trust that this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
P. MacLeod
Ministerial Enquiries Division
This electronic address is not available for reply.
