Canadian Family Class Immigration: 2024 Year in Review

Over the past year, Canada has introduced several significant updates to its family class immigration pathways. These changes, led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), include adjustments to sponsorship allocations, spousal work permits, and new pathways for families in conflict zones. This blog explores the key developments in family class immigration in 2024 and their projected impact in 2025. We’ll also discuss real-world implications for families navigating these processes.

Reduced Family Sponsorship Allocations for 2025

As part of its Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC announced a reduction in family sponsorship landings for 2025. This applies to categories such as:

• Spouses and common-law partners

• Dependent children

• Parents and grandparents

Target Allocation Changes:

This reduction may result in longer wait times for applicants due to increased demand and processing backlogs. For families currently separated, exploring temporary visa options, such as visitor or open work permits, can provide interim solutions while waiting for permanent residency approval.

Use Case: A Canadian citizen sponsoring their spouse from abroad may face delays due to reduced quotas. However, applying for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) can allow the spouse to live and work in Canada while the permanent residency application is processed.

Revised Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP) Eligibility

In 2024, IRCC implemented stricter eligibility criteria for SOWPs, significantly affecting spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers:

1. International Students: From March 19, only spouses of students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs (or certain professional degrees like medicine and engineering) are eligible for SOWPs.

2. Temporary Foreign Workers: IRCC plans to limit SOWP eligibility to spouses of workers in highly skilled professions, such as engineers, scientists, and C-suite executives.

These changes aim to manage the volume of SOWP applications and address labor shortages strategically.

Use Case: A temporary foreign worker employed as an IT professional can sponsor their spouse for a SOWP, enabling the spouse to contribute to the Canadian workforce. Conversely, spouses of general laborers may need alternative pathways, such as study permits, to join their partners in Canada.

Updates to Quebec’s Family Sponsorship Programs

Quebec’s immigration policies saw major changes in 2024, with efforts to address long processing times for family reunification. Notably:

• Federal intervention allowed up to 20,500 family applications to bypass Quebec’s annual cap of 10,000.

• A new cap, effective June 2024 to June 2026, limits family sponsorship applications to 13,000 over two years.

Cap Allocation:

• Spouses, common-law partners, and dependent children: 10,400

• Parents, grandparents, and other eligible relatives: 2,600

Use Case: A family in Quebec facing delays in reuniting with relatives can benefit from the federal intervention, while those submitting new applications after the cap is reached may need to explore alternative routes or wait for the next application window.

Advanced Automation for Family Sponsorship Applications

IRCC introduced advanced automation tools to expedite the processing of routine family sponsorship applications. These tools utilize machine learning to streamline initial reviews, reducing manual workload and wait times.

While these tools cannot independently approve or deny applications, they are expected to:

• Accelerate spousal and partner sponsorship processes

• Improve efficiency for common-law and conjugal partner applications

Use Case: A Canadian sponsoring their spouse may experience shorter processing times if their application meets standard criteria, thanks to automation. This development particularly benefits straightforward cases with complete documentation.

Reopening of the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP)

In 2024, IRCC reopened the PGP with 35,700 invitations to apply (ITAs). Key highlights include:

• Only sponsors who submitted an “Interest to Sponsor” form in 2020 were eligible.

• The deadline for submitting complete applications was August 2, 2024.

Despite these efforts, the demand for PGP sponsorship remains high, and applicants are encouraged to monitor future intake windows closely.

Use Case: A Canadian citizen who received an ITA in 2024 successfully sponsors their elderly parents, ensuring they have access to healthcare and settlement support in Canada.

Temporary Resident Pathway for Families in Gaza

In response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Canada introduced a Temporary Resident (TR) pathway for extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This program includes:

• Temporary visas valid for up to three years

• Access to settlement services and health coverage

• Fee-exempt study or work permits

This initiative will remain active until April 2025 or until the cap of 5,000 applications is reached.

Use Case: A Canadian citizen sponsors their sibling from Gaza, allowing them to escape conflict and rebuild their life in Canada temporarily, with the option to transition to permanent residency.

New Pathway for Sudanese Family Members of Canadians

To address the conflict in Sudan, IRCC launched a temporary family sponsorship pathway. Key features include:

• Eligibility for open work permits, study permits, and temporary resident permits

• Permanent residence options for spouses, children, and dependent relatives

• Valid until October 2025

Use Case: A Sudanese family member already in Canada on a visitor visa transitions to an open work permit, ensuring financial stability while their permanent residency application is processed.

Conclusion

The updates to Canada’s family class immigration pathways in 2024 highlight the government’s efforts to balance humanitarian needs with immigration targets. While some changes have introduced stricter eligibility criteria, others aim to support families affected by global conflicts.

Declaration: The information provided in this blog is accurate as of 2024. Readers are encouraged to consult official IRCC resources or legal professionals for personalized advice.