So, I got a reply back from the Minister's office:
From: CIC - Ministerial Enquiries Division
Sent: April 5, 2012 11:53 AM
To: Rathgeber, Brent - Riding 1B
Subject: RE: brent.rathgeber.c1b @ parl.gc.ca
Dear *MP's assistant name*:
This is in reply to your e‐mail of April 2, 2012, addressed to the Office of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of
Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, concerning the processing of the application for permanent residence of
Dragoon's wife, *Spouse's name*.
We appreciate Mr. Dragoon's concern with the processing of his wife's application. Please be assured that Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC) reviews all applications objectively and consistently to ensure fair and equitable treatment of
all applicants. We assess each application on its own merit against the program requirements. CIC is committed to
providing the best possible service to all clients within the context of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
and its Regulations, and that decisions are neither discriminatory nor arbitrary.
Family reunification is a priority of CIC. Accordingly, every effort is made to complete the processing of partner and
spousal applications as quickly as possible. However, it is a 2‐step process. The sponsor must be assessed against the
requirements of sponsorship and the foreign national being sponsored must be assessed against the statutory
requirements of being in good health and of good character. In addition, the visa officer must be satisfied that the
applicant is admissible to Canada, and, in the case of spouses and partners, that the relationship is genuine and not
entered into for immigration purposes only.
Under IRPA, visa officers are authorized to interview applicants to confirm their identities and relationship to sponsors
and other family members. Interviews are generally conducted to:
• get information that is unavailable from the documents on file;
• clarify information (e.g., intentions of applicants);
• give counselling;
• provide applicants with an opportunity to respond to an officer's concerns regarding elements of the
application; and
• inform applicants about decisions.
Our records confirm that Mrs. *Spouse* application for permanent residence was received at the visa office in Singapore
on May 13, 2011, and an initial paper screening has been conducted. Although some notes have been entered on file, a
decision on the application has not yet been taken. The visa officer who reviewed the documents has determined that
an interview with the applicant will be required. Mrs. *Spouse* file is in the interview queue and she will be notified as
soon as an appointment can be scheduled. Mrs. *Spouse* can be assured that she will be given the opportunity to respond
to any concerns that the visa officer may raise.
We hope that this information is of assistance in responding to Mr. Dragoon.
Ministerial Enquiries Division
*Replaced my name with my forum name and wife's name with spouse
. As you can see they responded with a generic response. At least my MP helped with forwarding my concerns with how bias, prejudice, and unprofessional the VO was.
Immigration Forum
