Immigration Minister John McCallum

[mikeymyke]

Whether the refugees will cause delays with the spousal applications or not, as I recall, a lot of the members here seemed to have wanted the Liberals to win because they promised to add more resources to speed up family class applications, raise the dependent age, and double the parent/grandparent intake to 10,000. However, the Liberals also promised to bring 25,000 refugees here by the end of the year, so I don't know if people here were aware of this, or were hoping that they would leave the spousal applications alone while processing the refugees.

Either way, for anyone who's concerned about processing times, in my opinion, the best way to do so would be to apply OUTLAND and to submit a very strong application, complete with all documents signed, extensive evidence and documents. INLAND doesn't make much sense for a majority of applicants, given the long processing time and the inability to leave Canada. Also, applying for a visitor visa while the outland application is taking place, allows the applicant to visit the sponsor, while still being free to return to their home country, and still benefiting from a very fast processing time. As for the OWP pilot program thing with inland, you would probably get the PR visa at about the same time or slightly longer with an outland application compared to waiting for the OWP to come through.

 

[prforme]

Even if the new PM is not focussing in reducing processing time for spousal , alternatively can give trv for them so that thy need not wait evn though the tym increases

 

[Officer]

Everyone in this forum is proudly Canadian and good hearted people, furthermore I am also glad to be among people like you guys, who thinks to give a hand to a needy.

But that does not mean, we should pass years of our life waiting for our spouses, which every minute of it, can not be retrievable. there are spouses who are waiting past four years to start their life.

By all means, Canada must welcome refugees but how is this justifying to decrease refugees processing time and increase spousal sponsorship, CIC has limited resources and funds for 2015, shifting of the resources from one side to another, will cost processing time for every sponsor spouse who wants to start their life as a family.

the conclusion is that if refugees are given importance then spousal sponsorship must be considered too, but no one is talking and if we do not show leadership then I welcome everyone to a waiting game...

 

[mpottier]

http://www.inlandsponsorship.ca/mccallum-meeting-fund-raiser/

This group is meeting with the new immigration minster to raise these concerns with spousal sponsorship. Feel free to donate or contribute ideas. To be totally honest we have become so jaded that a sponsorship application taking 8-12 months actually looks good, when in reality it could easily take 8- 12 days or at the most weeks.

 

[Officer]

http://www.inlandsponsorship.ca/mccallum-meeting-fund-raiser/

This group is meeting with the new immigration minster to raise these concerns with spousal sponsorship. Feel free to donate or contribute ideas. To be totally honest we have become so jaded that a sponsorship application taking 8-12 months actually looks good, when in reality it could easily take 8- 12 days or at the most weeks.

When and where is the fundraising?

 

[granol]

what about outland???... I know it's hard for everybody but when I see people who are currently living with their spouse I am like seriously at least you are together... I have to flight 15h to 25h to see my wife for 2 weeks a few times a year and it costs me a fortune because this stupid visa policy which they will reject 95% of the time for many non exempt visa countries... seriously!!!

 

[mpottier]

I guess they are doing it through the link I provided. It's just to cover the costs of getting to Ottawa.

 

[krishnalynn]

what about outland???... I know it's hard for everybody but when I see people who are currently living with their spouse I am like seriously at least you are together... I have to flight 15h to 25h to see my wife for 2 weeks a few times a year and it costs me a fortune because this stupid visa policy which they will reject 95% of the time for many non exempt visa countries... seriously!!!

I can't even imagine how hard that would be. Some of us are so fortunate we can live here and have some semblance of a normal life, even if it means not working. Good luck to you.

 

[Ponga]

IMO, it's still unclear as to what it is [exactly] that the Liberals want to accomplish by December 31st.

When they say that they will `Bring' 25,000 refugees to Canada, does that mean just that; to simply bring them to Canada and then start the enormous task of `settling' them here, in the new year? If so, then it shouldn't require any interruptions to existing sponsorship applications that are being worked on, right? They speak about using military bases for temporary housing, which seems logical.

Now...if they're promising more than this by year end...they better find a bunch of magical unicorns to help them do that.

 

[sashali78]

There is a feeling "Yes, WE CAN!" in the air after Harper is out and Trudeau is in. Just as with Obama 7 years ago. Anyone has a wild guess already how it will all end? 8)

 

[Ponga]

One simple fix to reduce the Inland processing times would be for CIC to eliminate the ambiguity that a person that is IN Canada can (and perhaps should) submit an Outland application, thereby reducing the volume of Inland applications. Even with the lure of the new OWP, aka `the carrot on a stick', that tempts so many people, many of those that are in Canada don't (or didn't) even know that an Outland application is possible. The Inland Guide doesn't even have the words `outland' or `overseas' ANYWHERE, that would alert a potential Inland applicant that they may benefit from a faster processing time by applying Outland. The ONLY thing that it does say, is this...under `Things to remember':

The family class is aimed at faster processing of spouse or common-law partner applications from applicants outside Canada.
Processing times for spouses or common-law partners in Canada are generally longer.

Why not add something as simple as:
"NOTE: If you are currently in Canada, you have the option of submitting an overseas application, which could reduce your overall processing time".
CIC should put this at the very beginning of the Inland Guide (5289). How could that NOT help people?!

There have been members here that have said, in the past, that it's "crystal clear" that this is an option, but I wholeheartedly disagree. The aforementioned `blurb' is confusing as hell. There are many people here that have mistakenly submitted an Inland application.

 

[Gemini020]

wouldn't that just shift the problem to the outland application? I'll have to go through Vienna and that has long enough processing times as it is.

 

[Ponga]

wouldn't that just shift the problem to the outland application? I'll have to go through Vienna and that has long enough processing times as it is.

Maybe in your case, but in the case of an American, for example, it would be a game changer. Many, if not most, people would benefit from faster processing times if they knew that they could submit an outland application while being in Canada.

Besides...the `problem' is the entire process overall. There should be a way to route applications (no matter which stream) to a `fast lane' for those that at least appear to be straightforward, until it is determined otherwise. Let the junior staff process the easy ones, while the veterans (if there are any left) work on the difficult ones.

 

[Gemini020]

Oh I didn't mean to say they shouldn't apply outland just because it makes it more difficult for me and perhaps the choice could be clearer. However by motivating people to apply outland, it does just move the problem so I agree with somehow streamlining the process

 

[Ponga]

http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/un-says-syrian-refugees-will-be-processed-in-canada/

In a statement Tuesday morning, the UN’s Antonio Guterres said his agency is working with the government to identify people for resettlement — particularly from Lebanon and Jordan — and help facilitate their move.

He said Syrians coming to Canada will initially receive a temporary residence permit, which will be replaced by permanent status after processing in Canada. They’ll be eligible to apply for citizenship in four years.





Not quite sure how CIC will be able to do this, without it impacting the current processing times of Inland applicants. At least it will only be a `speed bump', rather than a `sink hole'...unless they don't add additional staff to process them once they're safely here.