Family reunification measures introduced to help address labor shortages

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Canadian government has introduced new immigration measures to promote family reunification and address labor shortages.

Key Points:

• Canadian authorities will now process most temporary resident visas within 30 days of receiving them.
• Spouses, partners and dependents are now able to apply for an open work permit as soon as they submit a complete permanent residence application under the spouse or common-law partner in Canada class or other family class programs.
• Spouses and other open work permit holders, whose open work permits expire between Aug. 1 and the end of 2023, will be able to extend their work permits for an additional 18 months.

Additional Information: Open work permits extensions will be offered to permanent residence applicants awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application and their spouses; family class-sponsored spouses with valid temporary resident status and their dependent children; spouses and common-law partners of most work permit holders and their dependent children; and spouses and common-law partners of study permit holders.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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