Major Policy Change: Visitor Visas for Spouses with a pending Sponsorship Permanent Residency application
On the 30th of October 2020, Immigration and Refugees Citizenship Canada made a key policy amendment concerning the issuance of TRVs (visitor visas) for foreigners in spousal relationships with Canadian Citizens or PRs (Permanent Residents). This policy change makes it seem as if IRCC is more ready to allow a TRV in certain circumstances.
For years, the Immigration and Refugees Citizenship Canada’s internal guiding principle has always been to reject TRV applications for foreign nationals who have spouses who are Canadian Citizens or PRs.
Strangely, IRCC has allowed foreign workers or international students in Canada to acquire TRVs for their partners. Until this recent immigration procedural adjustment, Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents couldn’t acquire TRVs for their spouses.
This monumental shift in immigration policies is attributable to COVID-19-related travel restrictions and amplified lobbying by affected persons for accommodative immigration policies. Our Law firm believes the change is meant to approve visitor visas for spouses having a PR file number.
An applicant can submit their TRV together with evidence supporting Spousal Sponsorship Permanent Resident application number and extra evidence or strong arguments to convince Immigration and Refugees Citizenship Canada that the foreigner under spousal sponsorship will respect Canada’s immigration laws.