Minister of Immigration Canada reinforces criteria for Family Reunification in Quebec

Historical📌 Record — April 2024 News. A The quotas and criteria cited here were revised by Quebec's 2026-2029 immigration plan, which lowered the overall admission thresholds. For the current situation, read: Because the province of Quebec has its own policy ofimmigration?

Family Reunification in Quebec and its long waiting time

If you are a ** permanent resident or Canadian citizen **, live in Quebec, and are facing endless waiting time when sponsoring a relative or spouse (family reunification), know that you are not alone.

In recent months, the Quebec government has emphasized that its autonomy to legislate within its immigration jurisdiction must be respected by IRCC, especially amid the pressures facing Canada’s immigration system.

This week, Marc Miller, the Canadian federal immigration minister, detailed the steps he would take to align levels of ** family reunification in Quebec** to standards he deemed appropriate, discussing with his Quebec counterpart, Minister ChristineFréchette.

“I have decided to instruct my ministry to process applications for permanent residence from family reunification applicants who have received a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) issued by your ministry, totaling approximately 20,500 applications,” Miller wrote to Fréchette.

Miller’s decision could trigger a clash of jurisdictions and comes after months of discussions between Quebec’s provincial governmentand the federal government on the former’s strict immigration targets for annual family reunification.

Also read: “A brief history of Canada’s immigration policy”

Quebec’s ** family reunification ** goals are set at about 10,000 immigrants per year, a threshold Miller described as “artificially low” in his letter, many of whomface significantly longer wait times than federal service standards for application processing.

In July 2023, CTV News Montreal reported that the ** family reunification process in Quebec takes an average of 24 to 26 months**, about 10 to 15 months longer than federal government standards.

Miller has undertaken to issue decisions on these applications within the usual federal government timeframes, even if thismeans exceeding the immigration targets set by the Quebec government.

How does the Canadian immigration process through family reunification work?

The Canadian immigration process through family reunification is one of the ways that permanent residents and Canadian citizens can bring their family members to live with them in Canada. This process aims to strengthen family ties andpromote the integration of immigrants into Canadian society.

To begin the family reunification process, the Canadian sponsor must meet the requirements established by Canada’s immigration authorities. In general, the sponsor must be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen and intend to live in Canada while the sponsored family member also resides in the country.

In addition, the sponsor must be able toto provide financial support to the family member for a set period after their arrival in Canada.

See the session on family sponsorship on the official IRCC website **by clicking here.**The family member being sponsored must also meet certain eligibility criteria. Depending on the type of family relationship, requirements may vary, but in general include demonstrating a genuine bond with the sponsor, the absence of criminal convictions, and passing medical examinations.

After submission of the sponsorship application and required documents, the family reunification process usually passesby various steps, including document review, medical examinations, background checks, and in some cases, interviews.

Processing time may vary depending on the sponsored family member’s country of origin and other factors, such as the volume of applications and the efficiency of the immigration process at the time.

Once the sponsorship application is approved and all stages of the process are completed, the family membersponsored can receive permanent residence in Canada and enjoy the same rights and benefits as other permanent residents.

Also read: “What changes for you with permanent residence in Canada”

In summary, the Canadian immigration process through family reunification allows permanent residents and Canadian citizens to reunite their familiesin the country, contributing to the strengthening of family ties and to Canada’s cultural and social diversity.

Why Quebec is different from the rest of Canada

From 1971 until 1991, the provincial government of Quebec implemented several measures to gain greater control over immigration to the province, mainly to preserve its culture and Francophone character.

These changes culminated in the Canada–Quebec Accord, which gave the province primary responsibility for selecting many immigrants destined for Quebec, as well as for their integration and francization. The federal government retains responsibility for admission, security and other federal immigration matters.

Also read: “Why does the province of Quebec have its own immigration policy?”

To this day, Quebec maintains more legal control over its immigration than any other province or territory in Canada. This makes Miller’s decision stillmost significant, possibly representing the first time since the signing of the Quebec-Canada Agreement that the federal government imposes an immigration directive on Quebec.

Final considerations

Quebec’s response to Miller’s decision reflects this legal understanding, with Minister Fréchette’s office stressing the need to respect Quebec’s jurisdiction over its own immigration.

The Quebec Ministry of Immigration addedwho was already considering approaches to family reunification, regardless of Miller’s request, respecting the province’s immigration needs and policies, following meetings with family reunification advocacy groups in December.

Also read: “Canada will limit the temporary resident population over the next three years”

In reality, when it comes to immigration in Canada, nothing is absolute. The important thing is to always keep your expectations under control, as the system is still far from efficient for all cases.

Add to this a moment of crisis in housing, social services and health in the province of Quebec, and it is evident that even with aincreased pressure from the federal government to speed up proceedings, there is no guarantee that the Quebec government will actually want this. Next up, scenes.

Well, that’s what I had to say today. I hope you’ve helped once again with this information. Want more tips like these? Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on this adventure we affectionately call immigration.

See you in the next post! 😉