Visa processing error by IRCC forces Halifax international student to stop studying, working

An international student at Dalhousie University in Halifax is raising issues with Canada’s immigration process after she had to stop studying and working because of a visa processing error.

Chihiro Kondo still cannot understand what happened when her application for a study permit extension was turned down in October, when she was told a document that had been submitted as part of the paperwork was missing.

“I did everything correctly. I paid so much attention. I asked a lot of friends to review my documents. I was really overwhelmed,” Kondo, 25, said.

In a letter to Kondo on Oct. 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said her application had not been accepted and had been closed because a key document known as a provincial attestation letter, or PAL, was not included.

Because of Canada’s cap on international students, the document is required to confirm study space has been approved by the province.

Kondo said the oversight led to a stressful situation because she could no longer study or continue working as a teaching and research assistant since her previous study visa had expired.

“I cried a lot. That was really hard,” she said, adding she has lost income and valuable time in class.

Professor, MP and MLA all help out

Kondo, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 2021 and is now doing a master's degree in health promotion, sought help from a number of people, including her academic supervisor.

“It was just awful when she came into my office on the Monday morning in floods of tears,” said Prof. Sara Kirk, who described Kondo as an “excellent student” and said the decision has also impacted her research.

“I have funding that is from the federal government actually to do some research that Chihiro was supporting. And so I'm left without a member of staff.”

Grants come with deadlines, Kirk said, so delays to projects can mean money going back to funders.

“It's a system issue. There's no face behind the mistake that's been made. You're dealing with this bureaucratic mechanism,” Kirk said.

Kirk contacted Halifax Chebucto MLA Krista Gallagher and Halifax MP Shannon Miedema for help and also reached out to CBC News after reading about issues in other high-profile immigration cases in the province.

After being contacted by CBC, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in an emailed statement on Dec. 24 that "IRCC can now confirm that the PAL was on file at the time of submission.”

It said immigration officers individually assess applications to make certain specific requirements are met, but "on occasion, human error may occur."

The statement said Kondo submitted a “request for reconsideration as applicants should if they are concerned with a decision.”

The study permit has now been approved.

“I think they could have done it sooner but it's a good thing that they admitted it was their mistake,” she said.

Kondo, who had been worried she would have to leave Canada, is now getting back to her studies and work.

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