A Quebecer denounces the federal government’s bad faith as he and his wife, a woman China to whom he has been married since 2018, the refusals of permanent residence applications are multiplying for reasons he considers dubious.
Pierre-Michel Fortin, who lives in Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, met his wife Ying Wang through a dating site in 2017. The following year they married in China.
“I was in China for two weeks and the wedding was attended by his family and friends, which was wonderful,” recalls Mr. Fortin.
But the honeymoon didn’t last long as the couple were first denied permanent residency as part of family reunification in 2019.
Despite an impressive file, including 800 pages of communications between Mr Fortin and Ms Wang testifying to the relationship, multiple interviews, health checks and a clean criminal record, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada refuses to believe in the authenticity of the marriage. which unites them and suggests that Ms. Wang’s aim is more to obtain her Canadian citizenship.
The couple fear a decades-old divorce between Ms. Wang and a man of German descent is undermining claims and leading to believe that Ms. Wang’s real desire is to leave their country.
“These are suspicions,” complains Mr. Fortin. You have no proof. My wife doesn’t want to come to Canada, just to her husband.
Catherine Bouchard
Pierre-Michel Fortin and his wife Ying Wang. Photo: Pierre-Michel Fortin, submitted on June 9, 2023
“Disheartening and exhausting”
They suffered another rejection in 2021 and recently for the same reasons. With the pandemic keeping them from seeing each other for a long time and the cost of the procedures approaching $20,000, the couple is starting to run out of money.
“It’s daunting and also financially draining,” says Mr. Fortin. Despite everything, nothing changes and our life plans are getting thinner and thinner, because I will soon be 70 years old and Ying is 54 years old.
Mr Fortin also fears Canada-China relations will explain the refusal to grant residency to his wife.
He adds that facing a serious shortage, Ms. Wang could help meet the labor needs since she is a home appliance salesman.
A love that endures despite everything
May 2017: The couple met through a dating website
January 2018: They get married in China
2019: First rejection of an application for permanent residence. Mr. Fortin travels to China for two months to visit his wife and they honeymoon in Zhangjiajie.
2020–2021: The couple is no longer able to see each other due to the pandemic.
2021: Second rejection of an application for permanent residence.
2022: Another rejection of the application for permanent residence.
Officials who are relentless, says an immigration attorney
A lawyer specializing in immigration issues believes government officials are showing “intransigence” over the filing of Pierre-Michel Fortin’s spouse, but hopes the minister’s recent announcements will be to the couple’s advantage.
“We can hope that Minister Fraser’s will to facilitate family reunification will lead to the success of this motion,” remarks Me Maxime Lapointe on the situation of the Fortin-Wang couple.
Me Lapointe has had to manage immigration files for applicants from China. These files have been approved. He doesn’t think the difficult relations between Canada and China explain the rejection of some applicants.
“We don’t necessarily have to accuse the government of bad intentions because the application is rejected,” he argues, adding that the government’s stance in this particular case raises eyebrows after three refusals.
“It means the officers are adamant,” Me Lapointe estimates. We can question the will of the minister regarding the rigidity of the agents.”
demanding process
Me Lapointe explains that the residency application process can be very stressful and far from always working.
“The minister is sometimes taken aback when he says everything is fine, but refusal rates remain high in Canadian visa offices around the world,” he said.
“Sponsorships outside of Canada often lead to an interview, and then that interview is really about destroying the credibility of the sponsored person,” explains the lawyer. The agents’ tone during the interview is extremely negative. You’re not trying to establish the veracity of the application, you’re trying to destroy it,” the lawyer regrets.
However, he remains optimistic about the couple’s reunion as they are determined to win the case.
“What’s good for them is that time flies and they’re still together. We can conclude that this is a real relationship,” concludes Me Lapointe.
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