The COVID-19 pandemic brought a widespread slowdown in government processing, including delays in the immigration system.
OMNI shared the story of Obayda Al Zaher and countless others who have been separated from their family for months on end after the Canadian government paused citizenship testing back in March and slowed the spousal visa approval process. Weeks of protests took place outside of the office of Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino and other MPs across the country, calling for action. In mid-November, Immigration Canada launched their new virtual citizenship testing and promised to dedicate more staff towards processing spousal visa applications.
Meet Juana Rodriguez.
Though she submitted her husband’s sponsorship application over a year ago, Juana says she still hasn’t received a file number.
Hear her story and plea to immigration Minister @MarcoMendicino#PrioritizeFamilySponsorship pic.twitter.com/9aqN8YPRzE
— OMNI Television (@OMNITelevision) October 20, 2020
A cancer survivor forced to undergo treatment alone.
Katherine is rallying outside of @JustinTrudeau’s constituency office in Montreal to remove section 179B, something she says makes it impossible for anyone to come home. #PrioritizeFamilySponsorship #AgirPourRéunir pic.twitter.com/Ov9hNz7qBL
— OMNI Television (@OMNITelevision) October 20, 2020
Deena says her husband’s visa application was approved by the @IRCC…then revoked without explanation just 3 days later.
It’s been 35 months since they reapplied.
Deena says she won’t stop visiting @MarcoMendicino’s office until she gets answers.#PrioritizeFamilySponsorship pic.twitter.com/HrIaE6PzaE
— OMNI Television (@OMNITelevision) October 27, 2020
When it comes to reuniting families with members stranded abroad, Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau says immigration officers are continuing to work through a backlog of applications left by the previous government.#CDNPoli #PrioritizeFamilySponsorship pic.twitter.com/DoeabF06v2
— OMNI Television (@OMNITelevision) October 21, 2020
