The Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced new steps to expedite the processing of Permanent Residence applications and spousal applications in Canada. Applications have been delayed significantly due to the coronavirus.

IRCC plans to adjudicate 6,000 spousal applications each month between October and December 2020 to facilitate the reunification of families in Canada. IRCC is planning to increase the number of case workers assigned to these cases, adding facilities for biometrics collection and researching technologies to conduct remote interviews for sponsorship applications, when required.

IRCC also announced a temporary policy for Permanent Residence applicants who are required to provide biometrics as part of their application. Many biometrics collections centers have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in  significant delays in application processing. IRCC’s new policy exempts Permanent Residence applicants from having to take biometrics if the applicant has a new or pending application for Permanent Residence made from within or outside Canada and the applicant has previously submitted their biometrics in support of an immigration application within the last 10 years.

Gibney will continue to monitor matters in Canada and will provide updates as they become available.