Karygiannis
calls on Minister Finley to reduce Inland Spousal Sponsorship Processing
Times
OTTAWA – Today, in a meeting of the Standing Committee of Citizenship and Immigration, the Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt, questioned the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, about the length of time required to process Inland Spousal Sponsorship applications.
“I asked the Minister about processing times. She said that processing times had been reduced for most applications.” said Mr. Karygiannis. “I, then, asked specifically about Inland Spousal applications, she said she didn’t know. My question is ‘Does the Minister know what is going on in her department?’.”
Mr. Karygiannis produced two faxes from Department of Citizenship and Immigration Officials indicating the length of time needed to process Inland Spousal applications. One, dated July 8, 2003, stated that the processing time was six months. The other fax, dated January 8, 2007, stated that the department was processing applications received on March 27, 2006. According to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration website the length to time to process Inland Spousal applications is approximately nine to ten months. Therefore, the 2007 fax indicates that, under the Conservative government, the time from initial application to the time approval is given has increased to over one year.
“This is unacceptable. Canadians want to be re-united with their loved ones.” Mr. Karygiannis further stated. “This ballooning timeline has happened under the Harper government’s watch. The Minister doesn’t seem to care. Her cavalier attitude suggests that ‘Immigrants Need Not Apply!’.”
To view copies of the above-noted faxes, please visit http://karygiannismp.com/spousalwaitingtimes.pdf
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