Bashar Kassir, a Toronto resident, applied to sponsor his parents to Canada in the midst of Syria’s civil war so he could be with them and ensure their safety, security, and overall well being. Months later, he received notice that the application had been refused, citing a lack of supporting documents that were allegedly requested by the CIC.
Kassir maintains that the CIC had never asked for the documents and that, if they did mail a letter, the destruction in Syria has made it nearly impossible for a postal service to operate.
Kassir’s case, along with others like it, highlights the tenuous process of immigrating to Canada and the high stakes that come with it. Since Kassir’s story has been made public, CIC has allowed for a reopening of the case that will let his parents provide the necessary documents and hopefully be approved.
The CIC has commented on the case stating that it corresponds with applicants via their preferred method and denies any blame for the miscommunication that left Kassir’s parents in immigration limbo.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
