The Canadian government considers family reunification an important priority for the state
The minister reminds that access to the website where sponsorship applications could be submitted was closed on February 1, and now the government has begun notifying potential sponsors whose applications were selected.
"Our government understands that for many people, reuniting with their parents or grandparents is an important issue. As a result, we have made the Parent and Grandparent program more fair and transparent, and we are working with potential sponsors, informing them of what they need to do in this process," the minister notes.
In 2018, the ministry is using a new selection process, which, according to the program's authors, gives all potential sponsors equal access to the application process. This approach is fairer than in previous years, when sponsors had to submit applications by courier or mail on a first-come, first-served basis.
The new program aims to better inform potential sponsors. "I also want to emphasize that Canada's immigration ministry is doing everything possible to receive up to 10,000 sponsorship applications for parents and grandparents this year," said Ahmed Hussen.
The minister also noted that families may consider obtaining a special visa called the Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. People who receive it are allowed to stay in Canada for up to two years on initial entry, compared to six months for those with regular visas.
As reported by Russianweek.ca, the Liberal government previously reduced waiting times for foreign spouses wishing to reunite with their husbands or wives in Canada. Previously, couples waited two years to reunite; now, in 80 percent of cases, the waiting period will be reduced to one year. Additionally, over the past year, immigration officials have managed to clear the backlog in their archives, reducing the number of immigration applications to Canada from 75,000 to 15,000.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, in an interview with CBC News, called the work done "a humane thing": "We wanted families not to be separated for too long; family reunification is a very important priority for our government," he said. "Therefore, spousal sponsorship has been, is, and will remain a key element of our immigration system."