Atamanenko throws his support behind Visitor Visa Fairness campaign
CASTLEGAR – BC Southern Interior NDP MP, Alex Atamanenko, is joining the efforts of his NDP caucus colleague and immigration critic, Olivia Chow, to demand change to the current visitor visa system – a system that includes an arbitrary approval process and no viable recourse for unsuccessful applicants.
“My riding offices have been contacted on countless occasions by those whose family members or friends have been denied entry,” said Atamanenko. “Whether they’re invited to celebrate at weddings, remember loved ones at funerals, or to help when a new baby arrives, the cruelty of those denials is often compounded by the fact that no reasonable explanation is given.”
Fellow MP Denise Savoie (Victoria) recounted a recent case in which eleven Burmese participants in an annual Anglican faith exchange were refused visitors’ visas, in spite of a commitment by the Anglican Diocese of BC and a 12-year record of all participants returning home without incident. Savoie appealed directly to the Minister’s office but was refused.
“Recently a constituent of this riding tried on at least two different occasions to sponsor her cousin from Russia for a visit, “said Atamanenko. “In spite of financial guarantees and evidence that the Russian gentleman had no intention of applying for refugee status once in Canada, he was refused.” According to the MP’s office, this happens frequently to members of the Indo-Canadian community in the Southern Okanagan as well.
“I personally have relatives in Russia. What this means is that I and others with roots in certain countries such as Russia or India are treated as a second-class citizen when it comes to inviting visitors to Canada. This is wrong and unfair,” concluded the BC Southern Interior MP.
Chow is asking the government to establish a free and fair appeals process, and a transparent process for refusals.
“Decisions appear to be made on a whim, and refusals seem to be more likely for applicants who are not from European countries,” said Chow. “Without a free appeals process, like in the UK and Australia, applicants are left high and dry. They don’t have their visa and they don’t have their money.” Application fees are not refunded when visas are denied.
Atamanenko calls upon all those who have experienced unfair temporary residents visa (visitor visa) denial to post their stories on Chow’s Facebook Group “Calling for Visitor Visa Fairness”
FACT SHEET
VISITOR VISAS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Every year, approximately 200,000 applications are turned down.
Some who wish to attend family weddings or funerals are turned down while hate speech promoters are allowed in.
The usual reason for denial is: “I am not satisfied that you are sufficiently well-established and/or have sufficient ties in your country of residence to motivate your departure from Canada at the end of your authorized period of stay.”
Denied applicants cannot appeal the decision, no matter how flawed it may be. Their only recourse is to re-apply, or hire a Canadian lawyer which increases the burden on the Federal court system.
The lack of transparency, the lack of a clear standard, and most importantly, the lack of a fair and free appeals process similar to what already exists in the UK and Australia is unacceptable in a country like Canada.
WHAT WE PROPOSE:
A formal and free appeals process modeled on the U.K. and Australia.
A clear standard denial procedure.
A protocol to provide more information on the reasons for the denial and ways to address the concerns listed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
OUR PAST ACTIONS
In 2007, New Democrat Critic Olivia Chow appealed to then Immigration Minister Diane Finley to address the issues mentioned above.
Chow has highlighted the absurdity of denying entry to award-winning artists and peace activists; of denying friends and family the opportunity to attend important events such weddings, funerals, or celebrating the birth of a child.
Chow have also called on our government to recognize the undue financial burden placed on applicants of limited financial means whose only available recourse is to re-apply and have their file go through the same deeply flawed system.
A CALL TO ACTION
We encourage all Canadians who have experienced unfair temporary resident visa (visitor visa) denials to post their stories on http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=146820607390