Hi Sous02. Yes, from what I've been told by my MP office, generally 98% of the TRV apps for spouses get denied. However, I explained my situation to them and there is a compassionate angle that may help, but of course nothing is guaranteed. I'm a full time single parent with 2 young kids, and I work full time so having my wife be able to visit is a huge boon to my situation since it's more difficult for me to travel and see her. I know I could take my kids with me, but it gets very expensive, and my 12 year old son doesn't want to go, and my daughter is a really picky eater and would probably starve... Sigh, don't get me started.
From what I've seen of the latest TRV forms, it opens it up to provide nearly the same amount of information as the PRV. I would at least want to include our UCI number in the PRV app and ask for a month, then extend once so that it covers the PRV processing time.
I know that some have said that people wanting their spouses to come earlier to visit for a number of months while waiting for PRV is trying to trick the system (i.e. abuse the intent of a TRV) so a spouse can come to Canada before their PR. In my opinion, if a couple is married and they are applying for PRV and expect no issues, then a TRV should be granted so the couple can be together, especially given the long processing times. The government after all is making family sponsorship top priority, so this simple gesture (allowing spouses to visit) can go a long way to relieving peoples frustration with the immigration system.
Another opinion I have, if TRVs are supposed to be temporary, why do they offer a service to extend those visas? Why do they also offer inland PRV processing for people who are in Canada already on some other visa and wish to stay and wait out the PRV they are applying for? It just seems that their rules seem to be a bit "inconsistent".
ok, end rant.