By Tyler Marr

Federal frustrations

‘They’re devastated’: Online applications to sponsor family members to Canada fills in minutes

Jan 31, 2019 | 10:00 AM

For over two weeks, Annette McGovern, Mathew Cyriac and staff at the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre held workshops and provided information to families wanting to apply for a chance to bring their parents and grandparents to Canada.

The applicants gathered the necessary paperwork in preparation for the opening of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) online 2019 Parent and Grandparent Program.

At 11 a.m., those wanting a chance to sponsor a family member sat down at computers and started to type in their information.

But just seven minutes later, when they hit submit, a message popped up indicating IRCC had already filled their annual quota — 27,000 spots — and the form was closed.

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“It was horrifying for us to see,” McGovern told battlefordsNOW. The executive director said she was surprised it was over so quickly. “They were trying so hard and it was really frustrating for us to watch actually. I am sure they are devastated.”

As others met similar fates, they turned to social media to voice their frustration. Some likened the process to purchasing tickets for a Metallica concert.

The program opened at 12 p.m. ET, and just 11 minutes later, IRCC tweeted that it had closed.

The Liberal government scrapped the controversial and unpopular lottery system for reuniting immigrants with their parents and grandparents this summer, in the hopes of increasing the number of accepted sponsorship applications in 2019.

The new system sees families fill out an ‘interest to sponsor’ form online, which are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Sponsors must prove finical eligibility, among other criteria. Applications were previously chosen at random.

Cyriac came to Canada over seven years ago from India to study. He is as a settlement advisor at the centre and worked closely with many of the interested sponsor families. Some, he said, have tried for two or three years to be accepted.

“Some people who had a high computer literacy and high typing speed, they were able to make it through,” he said. “Others couldn’t do it because they were slow or were making errors.”

He said the would-be applicants are “disappointed” and they will likely try again next year.

After the ordeal, federal immigration minister Ahmed Hussen took to Twitter in a lengthy thread. Following a few ardent swipes at the former Conservative government’s process, said there was “no technical issues” with the website and that over 100,000 individuals attempted to access it.

“We remain committed to reuniting families with their loved ones and will continue to ensure client service remains at the centre of all our programs,” he wrote.

Both Cyriac and McGovern admitted it is now very much a wait and see situation for all involved.

“Either you got in or you didn’t,” McGovern added. “You got your hopes up and then they were dashed.”

— With files from the Canadian Press

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr