Ministerial Instructions on Spousal and Dependent Child Sponsorship Application Intake Simplification

Policy effect

Introduced modernized intake completeness conditions and standardized document checklists under IRPA subsection 87.3 for Family Class spousal, common-law, conjugal partner, and dependent child permanent residence and sponsorship applications, returning non-conforming applications. Phase scope: Full national implementation for applications received on or after December 15, 2016

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: Phase scope: Full national implementation for applications received on or after December 15, 2016

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

Department of Citizenship and Immigration (the Department) as of December 15, 2016. Condition In order to be processed, any application referred to in these Instructions that has not been returned under section 12 of the IRPR for not meeting the requirements of sections 10 and 11 of the IRPR — for example by not using all the applicable forms provided by the Department in the application package published on the website of the Department at the time the application is received by the Department or by not including all information, documents and evidence referred to in paragraph 10(1)(c) of the … IRPR — must meet the condition of being accompanied by the following documents: (a) as amended from time to time, as the case may be, (i) the document entitled “Document Checklist — Spouse” [IMM 5533], (ii) the document entitled “Document Checklist — Common-Law Partner” [IMM 5589], (iii) the document entitled “Document Checklist — Conjugal Partner” [IMM 5629], or (iv) the document entitled “Document Checklist — Dependent Child” [IMM 5534]; and (b) the documents required in Part B of the applicable Document Checklist referred to in paragraph (a). Disposition of applications Any application referred to in these Instructions that does not meet the condition established in these Instructions will be returned, except the application made in accordance with the previous application package published on the website of the Department that is received by the Department during the period commencing on the day on which these Instructions take effect and ending on January 31, 2017. Coming into effect These Instructions take effect on December 15, 2016. Ottawa, December 12, 2016 John McCallum Minister of Citizenship and Immigration [52-1-o] DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION …

Review method

Two separate automated exact-claim source reviews

Other Canada changes operative in 2016

• 2016-02-27Parents and grandparents sponsorship cap doubled for the 2016 intake year
• 2016-03-11Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-37)
• 2016-03-11Revised passenger reservation information privacy regime
• 2016-03-15Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
• 2016-04-01Canada restores equal basic, supplemental and prescription coverage under the Interim Federal Health Program
• 2016-05-07Employer-sanction grounds for work permit revocation updated
• 2016-11-19Ministerial Instructions Amending the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, 2016-1
• 2016-11-19Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Skilled Worker) (SOR/2016-298)
• 2016-12-01Temporary Resident Visa Exemption for Citizens of Mexico (SOR/2016-293)
• 2016-12-16Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2016-316)