Family reunification in Quebec | “Two years without being able to hold my son in my arms, I can’t take it anymore”

Bad news for long-distance loves: the processing time for a sponsorship application for a spouse living in another country has jumped to 41 months in Quebec. Almost four times longer than elsewhere in Canada, where it is 12 months.

The gap is mainly explained by the quota imposed by the Legault government in the family reunification category.

This year, out of a total of 52,500 permanent immigrants, Quebec plans to admit only 10,400 people to family reunification. As there are a lot of applications, 38,400, and a limited number of places, the processing time explodes. It went from 12 months a year ago to 41 months on December 5. It mainly affects couples and their children.

Paradoxically, nearly half of the 38,400 people waiting for family reunification have had their request approved by the Quebec government, and hold the famous Quebec selection certificate (CSQ). In other words, Quebec has said yes to them, but is not opening the door to them.

“Two years without being able to hold my son in my arms, I can’t take it anymore,” says Joane Alexandre, a Haitian married to a Quebecer of Haitian origin, Ralph Alcide, who works in the construction industry in Montreal. His son, Marveen, aged 6, has been living with his father for two years, due to the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

“I always cry,” she said. It’s hard to bear. »

Their sponsorship application was submitted in June 2022 to Immigration Canada. Shortly after, M^me Alexandre obtained the CSQ, but his file has been blocked for 11 months.

This is also the case of Montrealer Mylène Ronco, who has been trying since April 2022 to sponsor her Colombian husband, father of her two children. “I can’t believe we’re going to wait almost two more years,” she laments.

“It’s terrible. It’s a huge burden to live like this. »

Questioned about these delays by Liberal MP Monsef Derraji on Wednesday, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI), Christine Fréchette, limited herself to saying that the immigration plan for 2023, tabled in November, was “watched, analyzed by all the people present here”. “There is no hiding from the plan that we adopted,” she said, trying to pass the buck to Ottawa for the processing delays, although caused by the thresholds imposed by Quebec.

This wait is 12 months in other provinces for a spouse living abroad. And it is 10 months for a spouse established in Canada.

To temporarily reunite families awaiting sponsorship, Ottawa announced new measures in May, including speeding up processing times for visitor visa applications for spouses. But, in fact, many applications are refused, because the Immigration Canada agent is not convinced that the person will return to their country when the visa expires.

This is the case of Joane Alexandre, who cannot explain the authorities’ decision, knowing that, in the case of family reunification, the sponsor is responsible for the immigrant.

Mostly Canadian citizens

The Quebec Reunified collective, which has more than 1,100 members, surveyed 230 people waiting for a decision on family reunification, from December 2 to 5. Result: three-quarters of sponsors are Canadian citizens, estimates the group. The other quarter is made up of permanent residents. Many already speak French or intend to learn it when they arrive in Quebec.

Additionally, 99% of sponsors can host their partner. Housing is therefore not an issue.

In the current context, many expect the 41-month deadline to lengthen further in the coming weeks. “It’s really terrible and it will continue to increase unfortunately,” predicts solidarity MP Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, who has worked for a long time as an immigration lawyer.

“I think it will go up in January, by a few more months,” he specifies, adding that these long delays will undoubtedly push Quebec families to move to Ontario to be able to live with their spouse more quickly.

Note: non-permanent residents, temporary foreign workers or foreign students can come here with their spouses and children.

“A Canadian citizen has fewer rights in Quebec than a temporary resident,” laments Nathalie Coursin, member of Quebec reunified.