Persian New Year is around the corner, and Canadian politicians will undoubtedly flock to broadcast their well wishes. However, it will not be a “happy” new year for more than 100 Iranians as Canada continues to cruelly separate them from their spouses.
Instead, they face the spectre of depression, fertility issues, and divorce. Not to mention the constant fear and frustration that comes with their partner being stuck under the thumb of a brutal regime simply because Canada can’t get its paperwork in order.
Sara, whose name I’ve changed to protect the identity of her husband in Iran, represents a group of Iranian international students and work permit holders who’ve been waiting months, if not years, for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to approve their spouses’ visas.
IRCC allows spouses of skilled workers and international students to join their partners in Canada on open work permits–– or at least they’re supposed to. Sara was originally told the process would take 14 weeks. She’s been waiting for almost a year. She says many in her group are past the 40-week mark.
Sara’s case is particularly infuriating, and representative of a government that doesn’t just fail to deliver on basic services, but increasingly does so in gobsmackingly careless ways.
Six months ago, Sara’s husband, despite being highly skilled and eager to work, was refused a visa. The reason given was that Sara represents a significant family tie in Canada. This makes no sense as, obviously, the entire reason spousal visas exist is that there’s a significant family tie in Canada.
It’s the bureaucratic equivalent of denying a dog access to a dog park because they’re, in fact, a dog.
So Sara reapplied, and continues to wait.
A potential explanation, not that it’s of any consolation to Sara: the denial notice said her husband’s application was processed by Chinook. This isn’t a person, but a “Microsoft Excel-based tool” developed by IRCC to “increase efficiency and improve client service.”
IRCC is adamant Chinook doesn’t qualify as artificial intelligence (AI) because an IRCC officer always makes the final call. However, some immigration lawyers argue otherwise and, even with a human technically involved, an officer’s decision is based on the assessment Chinook spits out.
“This has made it hard to focus on my studies and caused problems in our relationship,” says Sara. “Because of the situation back home, our spouses don’t have access to stable wifi for phone or video calls. When we wake up, we don’t know if they’re safe. We don’t know if they’re alive.”
Earlier this month, the Liberals patted themselves on the back for a new program that helps Iranians in Canada extend their temporary visas. “Our government is continuing to stand up for the people of Iran by making it easier for Iranians who wish to extend their stay here in Canada to be with their families and allowing them to continue to work and study in safety,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a statement.
“This is not enough to address the discrimination we are experiencing. How can I stay longer when my spouse is not here?,” asks Sara. “As young Iranians, we always thought Canada was a country that values justice and listens to the voice of its people. But now we’re facing a very real situation and being ignored. We are very disappointed.”
It’s by no means unusual for this Liberal government’s announcements to stop short of meaningful action–– but, in this case, the difference may very well cost lives. It’s already straining the mental and marital health of Iranians who want nothing more than to be reunited with their husbands and wives.
“We just hope that, in the new year, we can celebrate with our spouses,” says Sara. “Until then, we don’t want to hear ‘happy Persian New Year to the Iranian people’ on social media. We are not happy. We are sad here alone.”