Here is the letter I wrote to CHC & sent a copy to the minister of Immigration. But they have not responded as yet and now I have a better plan for the near future, which I will post on this site later on.
The High Commission of Canada
P.O. Box 1042
Islamabad, Pakistan
ATT: Visa Office
RE: File # xyz
Dear Sirs;
As per the above captioned file, I commenced a spousal sponsorship of my wife "xyz" in September, 2010 when the stated time line for an Immigrant Visa was 16 months.
By caips/gcms, I have learned that my wife is in an "interview queue" and that according to the record posted through public forum (CHC,Islamabad Spouse Sponsorship Timeline 2009-2010), this interview will not take place for at least one year; and, this process is not according to FIFO as applications are submitted. In fact a number of 2011 applicants have received their visas.
I am quite aware that the time line was increased by 10 months since the filing of my application and now stands at 26 months even though many new applicants from 2011 are receiving their visas earlier than that.
For me and my wife this delay is most distressing, especially since according to the time line when I began these proceedings, my application should have been completed by now and that my wife should have received her visa. I now understand that Canada has one of the slowest processes for spousal sponsorships from Pakistan.
I appreciate that there are administrative issues that cause such delays.
However, it is difficult to comprehend how students, entrepreneurs, skill workers and even visitors are able to receive visas in comparatively short times; on occasion in as little as two months. These applicants have to undergo various background checks not unlike sponsored spouses who have already submitted their medicals, police clearance certificates, marriage certificates, etc. So why are sponsored spouses put through the long and torturous process that they now face?
Many foreign spouses are being supported by their Canadian spouses which result in significant outflows of domestic capital. That would not be the case if those foreign spouses were in Canada either being supported domestically or in our labour force. In my case, my spouse would be in the work force helping me in my business.
It seems that there is a two tier immigration system in place; one tier for foreign spouses and one for all other categories. Perhaps it is simply a matter of administrative resource allocation. In any event, keeping spouses apart for so long is unfair and not in keeping with Canada's humanitarian traditions. American or British nationals in similar situations appear to have significantly less waiting periods. The spousal sponsorship situation is such that there are now websites where applicants can air their grievances (for example: www.canadavisa.com). It is disturbing that it has come to that. This website indicates that some 2011 applicants have been accepted while many 2010 applicants are still waiting to be interviewed - such as my wife.
Although, I am not inquiring for the first time, I again implore you to examine my wife's file with a view of expediting the matter. That my wife has been in line to be interviewed since Dec., 2011, is causing me considerable grief and aggravation. I consider myself to be a hard working, tax paying Canadian who does not deserve to be put through such an elongated immigration process.
I thank you in advance for your consideration.
Yours truly,
xxxxxxxxxxxx
647-692-9903
c.c. The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
e-MailMinister @ cic.gc.ca.
