Maple News reports that Canadians across the country rallied over the weekend to demand faster processing of spousal and family sponsorship immigration applications. The demonstrations, held in several major cities on Saturday, September 19, were organized by Spousal Sponsorship Advocates—a group formed during the COVID-19 pandemic to push for reform in Canada’s family reunification policies.
While foreign spouses and common-law partners of Canadians are technically exempt from COVID-19 travel restrictions, many still face significant hurdles entering the country. A common obstacle is securing a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), individuals from visa-required countries often see their TRV applications denied if they already have a family sponsorship application in the system. The rationale: TRV applicants must prove they’ll leave Canada at the end of their stay—an often contradictory requirement for those hoping to immigrate permanently.
This policy has left many families separated for months, even years. Some couples report waiting more than three years for their permanent residence applications to be processed. In response, advocates are calling for a new category of visitor visa that would allow foreign spouses to join their loved ones in Canada while awaiting permanent residency approvals.
The campaign for reform has gained momentum online as well, with nearly 15,000 individuals signing a petition to modernize the family reunification process. New Democratic Party immigration critic Jenny Kwan has also submitted a separate petition, signed by over 6,000 people, pushing for the creation of a dedicated temporary visa for spouses and close family members.
Kwan has been actively engaging with Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, raising concerns over the long delays and the emotional toll on families who remain apart. In a recent open letter, she argued that extensions to immigration deadlines introduced during COVID-19 have had the unintended effect of prolonging family separation, without resolving the underlying backlog issue.
Minister Mendicino has previously cited the concept of “dual intent”—which allows individuals to apply for both temporary and permanent residence—as a potential solution. However, critics argue that the IRCC’s interpretation still places too much emphasis on proving short-term departure intentions, an unrealistic expectation for those with immediate family in Canada.
Families and advocates continue to call for swift action, emphasizing that reunification is more than a policy issue—it’s a matter of human rights. With Parliament resuming post-September 23, supporters are hopeful that these concerns will finally be debated at the highest levels, and clearer, more compassionate pathways to reunite families will emerge.