Dual intent
Statutory definition
Section 22(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27, provides that an intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from being authorized to enter Canada as a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay.
Explanation
Dual intent means it is not automatically a ground of refusal that a temporary resident applicant has applied or intends to apply for permanent residence. The key question is whether the applicant will comply with the terms of temporary stay if their permanent residence application is refused.
Factors relevant to dual intent assessment include: strength of ties to the home country, financial stability, travel history, the type of permanent residence application pending, and the genuineness of the stated temporary purpose.
How this term is used
Dual intent is most commonly raised when a spouse of a Canadian citizen or PR applies for a visitor visa while a spousal sponsorship is pending. The visitor visa officer may still refuse if not satisfied that the applicant will depart if required to do so — s 22(2) does not require officers to approve all dual-intent applicants.