Canadian concerned for family’s safety while waiting to hear about immigration status
Immigration delays are far too common, and cause stress for both the sponsors and the families involved—especially if those affected are refugees fleeing from dangerous countries. Canadian immigration lawyers can help families immigrate and reunite in Canada. Here is an account of one Canadian man who has been trying to get his family to Canada for the past three years:
According to a recent CBC News article, a Moncton man has been trying to get information on the immigration status of his family in Lebanon, but has yet to hear anything from the Canadian government. Elian Elias is a successful Canadian businessman who immigrated to Canada from Syria in 2010. Elias has been trying to get the rest of his family to Canada for the past three years, but he hasn’t heard anything from Citizenship and Immigration Canada regarding the status of his application.
With his Canadian citizenship, and his ability to sponsor and employ his family once they arrive in Canada, Elias is frustrated that the immigration process is taking so long. He is concerned for his family’s safety in Lebanon, especially since they don’t have jobs.
It took Elias months to complete the application process because he wasn’t receiving any response from the Canadian embassy in Lebanon. Elias had to contact the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Lebanon to finally get the application moving. The IOM helps immigrants, like Elias’s family, to complete the immigration application, which includes completing interviews and medical exams. His mother-in-law is awaiting official confirmation for her approved application status, but his brother still hasn’t heard anything. If his brother doesn’t get approved, then his brother’s wife and five-month old son could be separated from his brother if they get approved immigration status.
The hardships families face when separated are difficult enough. But not being able to reunite with family—especially when the resources are available—due to delays and red tape is frustrating and needs to be fixed. Immigration lawyers in Canada are able to give refugee families a voice when their own voice isn’t being heard. Immigration lawyers are well-versed in the delays and their causes that many people face during the lengthy immigration process.
Three years is a long time to wait to hear whether or not your family is coming to Canada. Being expected to wait that long (and longer) is also being expected to worry for that long—to worry whether your family has shelter, is getting enough to eat, and is safe from threats.
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.