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Appeal ARC Application Decline (with Permanent Residence)

CANADAMEXICO

Member
Mar 26, 2010
14
2
My husband and i have been together for 4 1/2 years, married for 2.
In November 2006, After 1 ½ years of dating and living together my husband was deported for overstaying. He overstayed to be with me, not realizing the consequences of his actions.
We officially married in Mexico in March 2008.
Submitted our very strong and indepth application for spousal sponsorship and ARC together in Sept 2008.
Received a response that i was a valid sponsor in December 2008.
File sent to embassy in Mexico City.
Received Permanent Residence interview letter for April 2009.
Husband flew to interview in Mexico City and was not allowed in the building. We sadly found out the embassy was closed due to H1N1 and the embassy did not ensure we received word that interview was cancelled. Husband flew back to his home in Quintana Roo.
Received Permanent Residence interview letter #2 for May 2009.
Husband attended interview successfully.
Interviewing officer stated she believed in our relationship and was recommending approval.
Received request for Canadian police clearance June 2009.
Document requires 4 months to obtain.
Received Canadian Police Clearance October 2009.
Received ARC interview letter for November 2009.
Purchased non-refundable last minute ticket due to short notice, for interview.
Received ARC interview cancellation letter days before interview as officer was “out of town”.
Received new ARC interview letter December 2009.
Interviewing officer stated he had already thought it through before my husband arrived for interview, and was declining application. Being married to a Canadian citizen was not “compelling enough”. He also suggested that I, (a canadian born and raised, with roots dating back to the settlers of the Prairies) move to Mexico instead. So our Canadian Officials are encouraging the loss of our most desired Canadian citizens, the young, vibrant, easily employable, tax paying ones, who pay their bills and desire lots of little Canadian children.....to leave Canada.
Husband flew back to his home.
We waited for response letter.
Received “out of the blue” email mid-January that “the response letter was sent 2 days after interview in December, to Mexican address, to be patient for arrival. This was out of the blue because we had not contacted them to inquire about our case.
Advised embassy immediately that all communication was to be forwarded to lawyer in Canada as our file stated and embassy knew Mexican address was no longer valid as it had been over a year and they were also told at interview. Embassy had always sent communication to lawyer in Canada before.
Embassy forwarded via email the response letter for ARC only. It was declined due to “no compelling reason for re-entry on file.”
I asked the embassy what the fate of the permanent residence application was, and they stated that the letter did not exist, only that because the ARC was declined, the PR application was automatically declined.
I asked embassy about appeal. They cited several times in writing NO APPEAL allowed.
I submitted appeal request directly to Immigration Appeal Division in Canada.
I asked 2 different MP representatives to inquire with immigration as to the “REAL” reason our application was denied and why we couldn't appeal.
Both MP's spoke with immigration and responded that only a Judicial Review was allowed (which takes years). NO APPEAL ALLOWED.
I read through all of the federal court of Canada cases, the entire immigration and refugee protection act, and a 3” stack of papers obtained via the access to information act specifically regarding my husband which included FOSS notes and emails between immigration officials.
My husband has no criminal record, no health issues, is a healthy vibrant, brilliantly minded individual who speaks perfect English and Spanish and graduated from highschool in Canada with a very bright future ahead of him.
Received response from Immigration Appeal Division. NO RIGHT OF APPEAL.
I submitted a 26 page document including facts, immigration law, and compelling reasons about our case in March 2010. Copy to Minister's Councel.
Received response from Minister's Councel (the opposition) admitting....I HAVE THE RIGHT OF APPEAL!!!!! Within the letter they cited the law which applies that I am allowed to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, and that we were never given the PR decline letter as we should have been. They attached a copy of the letter the embassy previously said didn't exist. And, we were never given any information about our right of appeal in the letters, by the officer who declined our application.
5 Government Officials told us we could not appeal!!! And they were wrong!!! 

Have faith!
Right now we are just waiting for the “blue book” from the embassy with our entire case. And for the Appeal Division to get the process rolling....after sooo much waiting...now that our right of appeal is being recognized.
We are appealing the refusal of our total application (PR and ARC). Our 4 ½ year relationship is not the subject of debate. We have argued that the officer has breached his duty of fairness and that he approached our file with bias based on 3rd party unverified information.
Immigration has caused so much damage to our lives with so many unnecessary hardships. There has to be a better way, a better system, and much better communication. .
 
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Reactions: Usr1997

Asta

Hero Member
Jan 20, 2010
590
21
Category........
Visa Office......
Vegreville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-02-2010
Doc's Request.
05-10-2010
Med's Done....
18-01-2010
Interview........
-
LANDED..........
01-03-2011
thats the spirit! congrats with the recognition of appeal. and best of luck at court :)
 

racoon

Star Member
Feb 8, 2010
81
2
Visa Office......
Vagerville
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Hello there,
I have a similar (but not exactly the same story). In our case, the CIC website said one thing, but the actual law says another; thus, when I was gathering all the proof I can to prove our relationship, I actually proved myself wrong according to the law. I went to immigration office and showed them the discrepancy between their website and the actual law, the guy in the immigration office said :"Oh, that has to be changed, but we cannot do anything about it now" (pathetic ... palm-head). So, we went to our MP, so far we have not heard anything.
And I think you are right about them being against people who speak 4 languages fluently and plan to have cute kids haha =)

On the more serious note (just slightly so): we probably should bring all this crap to the public attention, as there so many stories that are simply heartbreaking, all because of immigration being .... (insert anything). Probably will make a great book or an even better case in court.

Cheers and best of luck to you, Raccoon.

PS: for those who were reading my story: when I went to the MP, he told us that they just had a similar case, except, a couple applied for PR, and while waiting adopted a baby girl. Baby girl (!!!) was refused to came to Canada with her new parents because of the same thing (parg 125(1)(d)) .... seriously disturbing.
 

RobsLuv

Champion Member
Jul 14, 2008
1,838
127
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Original:14Mar2007; Reprocess began after appeal:26Apr2010
Doc's Request.
Original:9May'07; Reprocess:7May'10
AOR Received.
Original:28Apr'07; Reprocess:26Apr'10
File Transfer...
n/a
Med's Request
Reprocessing:7May2010
Med's Done....
Jun2010
Interview........
n/a
Passport Req..
30Nov2010!!
VISA ISSUED...
31Dec2010!!
LANDED..........
31Jan2011
If you guys find a way to start making some serious noise, count me in. We have our own immigration nightmare that we're just itching to make a stink about - when the time is right.

CANADAMEXICO - Congrats for not giving up. Your situation is very different from ours, but the principle is much the same. When love is true, though, they can't break us - no matter how hard they might try. What I can't figure out is why they're trying.
 

homesoon

Star Member
Nov 27, 2009
185
4
Toronto
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Oh dear! This is horrible. I am so sorry for your situation and what you're going through.

I am (well my husband) is in the midst of the ARC process. Your story scares me! I pray that your appeal will see you granted ARC and reunited with your family.

Stay strong and keep moving forward!
 

edgarsitow

Hero Member
Sep 11, 2008
431
7
Category........
Visa Office......
Mexico City
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 19 2009
Doc's Request.
April 26, 2012, ARC Request on August 31, 2012
File Transfer...
14 October 2009 to Mexico City (Original) April 04, 2012 (re-processing after appeal allowed)
Med's Request
April 26, 2012
Med's Done....
September 07, 2009 (Original) April 30, 2012 (After appeal allowed)
Interview........
March 23, 2010 DENIED, Filed appeal September 2010
Passport Req..
November 05, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
November 06, 2012
LANDED..........
November 17, 2012
I'll be following this thread closely as I too might need an ARC from the embassy here in Mexico City. They have a terrible reputation, but I'm not gonna let them put me down, I'm prepared for everything, did you guys know that a bonafide marriage with PR approval is automatically a compelling reason and they HAVE to authorize the ARC? the IAD is getting fed up with officers refusing the ARC when there is a bonafide marriage that they just approve those cases right away, I don't know why they haven't told some of these incompetent officers already. Maybe we do have to make some noise for somebody to actually bring attention to this, heck writing to a newspaper or something.
 
F

Fernandita

Guest
Yes we should do something, So they can heard us and maybe they do something , here everybody is having problems with immigration... Is unbelieveble that you have to wait 4 years or longer to processs your file... You cant do anything in the meantime.... not even study cause you are not approbed yet.... They have to change the system to 1 or 2 years to wait....
 

homesoon

Star Member
Nov 27, 2009
185
4
Toronto
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Hi there,

I think (don't shoot the messenger) that you 'may' be mistaken about the fact that a Bonifide marriage should automatically ensure an ARC.
I've done a lot of reading through the cic.gc.ca documentation for officers.
First off, they won't move forward with your PR application without processing the ARC request first. So the comment about an ARC must be granted with an approved PR application isn't correct.
In fact, the documentation clearly states that a Bonafide marriage alone is not reason to approve an ARC. It use to be the case, but it's well known now that they are cracking down on these cases.
Think about it - if everyone overstayed in Canada only to go back home and apply for an ARC - they wouldn't be setting a good standard for those cases.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against you guys. As mentioned, I'm in the same boat.
But the documentation is very clear that you need a compelling reason - and to be able to explain how the circumstances have changed since you made the mistake of not attaining the appropriate approvals to stay in Canada.

So like I said, don't shoot the messenger - but marriage is NOT a guarantee for an ARC.

In my case, I hope the IO and the embassy understand why my husband made the stupid judgement he did when we were younger. We're also hopeful that they will see that a 14 year old daughter who's only ties are to Canada - is a compelling enough reason to not suggest that we move to his country of birth.

Good luck. Just prepare yourself that when you're presenting your case that you're focusing on what's changed in your circumstance, how you feel about your past errors ..... and your appeals/application should be fine

I know that in all of our eyes we just want the IO's to grant our cases. BUT we have to keep in mind that they are doing their jobs and, as a Canadian, I appreciate that they aren't just stamping everyone who comes through their doors. I would hope that they are processing in fairness - and even if it takes an appeal that you'll all be with your families soon.

All the best, Homesoon
 

CANADAMEXICO

Member
Mar 26, 2010
14
2
I guess the big lesson in all this is...no one cares about one's case except the person submitting it. And even your MP can be wrong and lead you down the wrong path. And, i wonder if this is how it goes for almost all cases regardless of bonafide marriage or not because they want to see how hard you fight, because if you don't fight very hard, then you mustn't be in love "enough"....i guess.
I appreciate that there is a system. I appreciate that things take time, and i appreciate that we married knowing there was this obstacle to face (obtaining an ARC), but it should not be unreasonably withheld.
What really bugs me is the inaccurate misleading information that caused unbelievable emotional trauma (being told my husband could never be with me in Canada forever)...when they were wrong. And the wasted time (months and months).

And FYI...For anyone obtaining a Canadian Police Clearance, this document really does take up to 4 months (my husband's took 4 months to the day and he does not have a criminal record). I'm upset because our lawyer knew the details of our case and that a police clearance would be 100% requested, yet he waited until they asked for it and our case was stalled the entire 4 months. Had he sent it with the application, we would be dealing with all of this 4 months sooner!!! I think it costs $25 or something, so i would recommend sending it in with or soon after you submit your application regardless (especially if applying outland).
And FYI...as far as i have read, a spouse may appeal the officer's decision not to issue a permanent residence to the other spouse (AS LONG AS IT IS NOT DECLINED BASED ON CRIMINAL/SECURITY REASONS). This is cited directly under section 63 in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
The part regarding the ARC decline is actually cited in the operations manual. I was not able to find it in the IRPA. They go hand in hand so when you are appealing, you appealing a "failed sponsorship".

Homesoon is right about the operations manual citing that a bonafide marriage is not necessarily an automatic approval. In our case, we had every compelling reason legitimately listed that one could ever have (except for "children" because we don't have those yet).

I will definitely be looking into the legal accountability side of the misinformation though. Looks like things are getting a little outofhand and freewheeling, especially in the embassy in Mexico City. And the fact they cancelled the interviews twice without any regard for the inconvenience to the people, when their own interview letter states the interview CANNOT be cancelled or changed.

Also, immigration lawyers/consultants can be so sketchy. We had an extremely expensive lawyer and he told us our case was so strong but he kept mentioning "appeal"...he never loses an "appeal", which makes me wonder if he set it up like this. We submitted 4-5" of paperwork to him and he skimmed out 2/3rds of it, including my own emotional statement with an abundance of "compelling reasons" as to why my husband needed to return. In the end, his submission was declined because there wasn't "enough" compelling documentation which i hold our lawyer responsible for 100%. I finally got to submit it with the appeal (now that he is no longer our council) and he was going to charge us double what we had already paid for the submission part, to do the appeal....with a strategy he described as walking into the panel of judges and saying "commonnnn....approve it.". I think i will save my $10,000 and buy a winter vacation house in Mexico instead because i could do a heck of a lot better argument than that!

People have to be very careful with whom they seek advise from. and the #1 thing Canada could do for immigrants or pending immigrants is set up an education system about "obeying the law" and to take immigration matters very seriously because a lot of people come from countries where you HAVE to do whatever it takes to survive, which isn't exactly something that is going to fly in Canada. If people knew that the consequences were as serious as a "life ban" from Canada...it might open their eyes. But making examples out of people before the education system is in place, isn't going to do anything except cause a lot of disproportionate pain and suffering for families.

Good luck to everyone!
 

CANADAMEXICO

Member
Mar 26, 2010
14
2
Oh, another thing. What is with this "asking for documents one piece at a time" thing that immigration has going on.
Even in positive decisions, they ask for one document one month, then another document the next month, then another document the next month. Why don't they just ask for it all at once.

In one woman's thread about her successful PR/ARC decline appeal, she timelined how it all happened...and i saw that after the decline was overturned and the application was sent back to the visa post for processing, they asked for an updated medical form.....she sent it in. then a month later, they asked for an updated police clearance from the originating country...she sent that in, then a month later, they asked for travel documentation.....sent it in....then the next month, the passport request.

GOOD LORD! How can they do that to people.

So when my case gets overturned one day...i'm not going to wait. Thanks to her, now i know how it all goes down. I'm going to get every document they could possibly ask for, i don't care how much it costs (although it's just updated things, so a few hundred $)....and send it all in so that it's there before the application even arrives for further processing. It's just nuts! That's 4 more months wasted with such a ridiculous system.

I don't know why i'm so mad right now, but it just makes me so mad :( ha ha

I just don't want someone else to go through the same thing.
 

edgarsitow

Hero Member
Sep 11, 2008
431
7
Category........
Visa Office......
Mexico City
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 19 2009
Doc's Request.
April 26, 2012, ARC Request on August 31, 2012
File Transfer...
14 October 2009 to Mexico City (Original) April 04, 2012 (re-processing after appeal allowed)
Med's Request
April 26, 2012
Med's Done....
September 07, 2009 (Original) April 30, 2012 (After appeal allowed)
Interview........
March 23, 2010 DENIED, Filed appeal September 2010
Passport Req..
November 05, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
November 06, 2012
LANDED..........
November 17, 2012
How is it that your husband had to get a Canadian Police Clearance? It clearly states in the forms that you do not have to get one from Canada, just from the countries (other than Canada) where you have lived for more than 6 months after the age of 18. I'm confused here.
 

PMM

VIP Member
Jun 30, 2005
25,494
1,950
Hi

edgarsitow said:
How is it that your husband had to get a Canadian Police Clearance? It clearly states in the forms that you do not have to get one from Canada, just from the countries (other than Canada) where you have lived for more than 6 months after the age of 18. I'm confused here.
Go back read the instructions closely, it says

"Canada

Do I need to provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence?

Only in certain cases. The Canadian visa office will tell you if you need a Canadian criminal record check while your application is being processed.

How and where do I obtain one?

If the visa office asks you to complete a criminal record check, visit the RCMP website for instructions."

PMM
 

CANADAMEXICO

Member
Mar 26, 2010
14
2
Ironically, that was exactly what i was about to say (and post).

PMM you are exactly right :)

In my case, my husband lived in Canada for over 3 years since he was 18/19 years old.

He was also involved in a well documented incident of prejudice by a police officer, when he first arrived in Canada. (we've been hearing a lot about that lately in the newspapers). But, that is another matter altogether which deals with human rights and the law. It may also be why they are making it so hard for him to come back, because one of many many many police officers would yet again be under investigation for contraventions of the law. The exaggerative and misleading statements from the police officer are well documented in the emails between the immigration officers which were obtained via the access to information act and submitted with my appeal.

That is why i say, our lawyer SHOULD HAVE HAD THE FORESIGHT to send the Canadian Police Clearance ahead of time. There is no way they WOULDN'T have asked for it.
 

edgarsitow

Hero Member
Sep 11, 2008
431
7
Category........
Visa Office......
Mexico City
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
September 19 2009
Doc's Request.
April 26, 2012, ARC Request on August 31, 2012
File Transfer...
14 October 2009 to Mexico City (Original) April 04, 2012 (re-processing after appeal allowed)
Med's Request
April 26, 2012
Med's Done....
September 07, 2009 (Original) April 30, 2012 (After appeal allowed)
Interview........
March 23, 2010 DENIED, Filed appeal September 2010
Passport Req..
November 05, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
November 06, 2012
LANDED..........
November 17, 2012
Woopsie!

Well thanks for clearing that up :p
 

CANADAMEXICO

Member
Mar 26, 2010
14
2
Today, the MP inquired regarding the "blue book" being sent from the embassy to the appeal board for our case. The embassy in Mexico has not and is still reiterating we have no right of appeal and apparently asked if we had filed for judicial review yet.

I sent the embassy the letter we had received about the fact that we DO have the right of appeal and it came from THEIR side (Minister's Council). I also said, in light of all the negligent information they had sent regarding our case, that expediting our file to the appeal board would be a good gesture.

They will probably tell me to sod off. Which is fine. More evidence for the lawsuit i guess.