Deported as a child - Removal Fees

[Dvictor]

Hi, there.

First time poster here looking for some advice/experience.

I am currently representing my younger sister in the dependant child family class sponsorship (outside Canada) that she’s doing with my father.

Everything was going well, she recently passed her medicals and received the “prepare for your life in Canada” letter.
A week later, I receive another email from CIC. They’re stating she has to pay $1,500.00 CAD for removal fees, due to us having been deported in 2004 (which did happen, by the way).

She was 6 years old at the time. My older sister and myself were also children.
I was not asked to pay this fee when applying for my PR 5 years ago.
Neither was my father, who even evaded the removal order and stayed in the country.

Is this a new law/regulation?

I replied back to CIC explaining (with more detail) the above reasons why I found this fee ridiculous (what does “Her Majesty” need $1.5k for 17 years later?).

Have any of you been through the same? Is this worth the money/delay to bring it to a lawyer or immigration specialist?

Thanks so much!

 

[Buletruck]

It’s pretty much standard procedure and it’s been around forever, so nothing new. You and your family members that weren’t requested to pay should have been previously if the government paid for your removal (hence the reason your father didn’t have to pay).

 

[armoured]

Is this a new law/regulation?

Don't believe so, more likely it was an oversight in the other cases. Not certain though.

I replied back to CIC explaining (with more detail) the above reasons why I found this fee ridiculous (what does “Her Majesty” need $1.5k for 17 years later?).

That strikes me as a rather dubious approach. You and your family members cost the government quite a bit of money, and your response is to call it 'ridiculous'? Because it was a long time ago? I doubt that's going to endear you to whomever is handling your file. (And while it may be called a fee, it's really cost recovery - and the amount recovered is almost certainly much less than the actual costs - and they're not even charging interest). I wouldn't expect a whole lot of leniency going forward.

Is this worth the money/delay to bring it to a lawyer or immigration specialist?

Up to you. Imagine a lawyer would cost quite a decent proportion of the amount involved to discuss, more to look at it in detail, and even a letter's going to push costs up further - and possibly much more than the actual amount if it requires anything more than a letter.

And doesn't sound to me like you have a leg to stand on here, legally - arguably possibly your sister would as a minor when it occurred, but since she's now being sponsored as a dependent child, that seems a very weak argument.

 

[macrice]

Just pay the fee to avoid any further issues for your application.

 

[Hatcher64]

Family Class immigrants are people sponsored to come to, or remain in Canada by a relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

 

[scylla]

Hi, there.

First time poster here looking for some advice/experience.

I am currently representing my younger sister in the dependant child family class sponsorship (outside Canada) that she’s doing with my father.

Everything was going well, she recently passed her medicals and received the “prepare for your life in Canada” letter.
A week later, I receive another email from CIC. They’re stating she has to pay $1,500.00 CAD for removal fees, due to us having been deported in 2004 (which did happen, by the way).

She was 6 years old at the time. My older sister and myself were also children.
I was not asked to pay this fee when applying for my PR 5 years ago.
Neither was my father, who even evaded the removal order and stayed in the country.

Is this a new law/regulation?

I replied back to CIC explaining (with more detail) the above reasons why I found this fee ridiculous (what does “Her Majesty” need $1.5k for 17 years later?).

Have any of you been through the same? Is this worth the money/delay to bring it to a lawyer or immigration specialist?

Thanks so much!

As others have said, this is not a new policy. This has been the policy for decades. IRCC somehow missed this in your application which is very unusual. You should have been required to pay this fee as well to be approved for PR.

You should pay the fee for your sister. It is mandatory and trying to fight it will almost certainly just delay the processing of the application.

You can certainly hire a lawyer to fight this. However I expect you'll just end up paying the extra money for the lawyer and waiting much longer, only to be forced to pay the $1,500 all the same. Not even remotely worth it IMO but obviously your call.

 

[Hatcher64]

Family Class immigrants are people sponsored to come to, or remain in Canada by a relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi, there.

First time poster here looking for some advice/experience.

I am currently representing my younger sister in the dependant child family class sponsorship (outside Canada) that she’s doing with my father.

Everything was going well, she recently passed her medicals and received the “prepare for your life in Canada” letter.
A week later, I receive another email from CIC. They’re stating she has to pay $1,500.00 CAD for removal fees, due to us having been deported in 2004 (which did happen, by the way).

She was 6 years old at the time. My older sister and myself were also children.
I was not asked to pay this fee when applying for my PR 5 years ago.
Neither was my father, who even evaded the removal order and stayed in the country.

Is this a new law/regulation?

I replied back to CIC explaining (with more detail) the above reasons why I found this fee ridiculous (what does “Her Majesty” need $1.5k for 17 years later?).

Have any of you been through the same? Is this worth the money/delay to bring it to a lawyer or immigration specialist?

Thanks so much!

Then don’t pay it , if you find it ridiculous. The case is closed and the officer moves onto the next one in their case load .