Urgent: Immigration Delays Leave Couples in Limbo, Awaiting Clearance

UPDATE: Couples seeking permanent residency in Canada are facing **indefinite delays** as security clearance processes stall, leaving their futures uncertain. Hesam Tajbakhsh and his wife, Sara Najafi Alishah, who have lived in Canada for over **five years**, are among those alarmed by the sudden requirement for extensive security screening from the Immigration Department.

The Iranian couple, who applied for permanent residence in **October 2023**, were shocked to be flagged for security checks in **April 2024**. “Our life is on hold,” Najafi Alishah stated, expressing frustration about the lack of communication regarding the reason for the screening or an estimated timeline for resolution. The couple highlights a broader issue, as the number of immigration applications subjected to security screenings has surged from **9,125 in 2020** to **21,835 in 2022**, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

Tajbakhsh, who arrived in Canada in **2020** to pursue a PhD, and Najafi Alishah, a trained physician, both fear the impact of prolonged waiting periods on their careers and lives. The couple is currently on a bridging work permit, but the uncertainty looms large. “If it’s not discrimination, what would you call it?” Najafi Alishah questioned, noting friends from other countries who received residency in a fraction of the time.

Legal experts are raising alarms about the growing number of flagged applications, which they believe are often unjustified. Toronto lawyer Vakkas Bilsin, representing a group of Chinese postgraduate students, stated, “There’s no transparency in the decision-making process.” He emphasized that many applicants are not connected to military or governmental roles, typically seen as red flags.

The Immigration Department has reported that annual referrals for permanent residence have skyrocketed, with **9,140 applications flagged** in just the first half of **2025**. The surge has affected applicants from countries including **China, Iran, and India**, leading to concerns about the motivations behind these increased screenings.

Critics argue that geopolitical tensions are influencing immigration policies, causing delays that hinder the lives of those waiting for residency. Immigration lawyer Lev Abramovich pointed out that if security was a priority, expedited screenings would be more logical. Last year, **8,505** applications were cleared out of the **21,835** flagged, indicating that while many do get approved eventually, the process can cause significant disruption for applicants.

Another couple, Ayeh Darooeizadeh and her husband, have also found themselves in this troubling predicament. They applied for permanent residence in **July 2023**, but their application remains stalled. Darooeizadeh questioned the rationale behind the delay, asking, “If I wanted to do any harm to Canada, I would have done it by now.”

As concerns grow, the Immigration Department maintains that all applications are treated equally. They stated, “Protecting the safety and security of Canadians remains our highest priority.” However, the lack of clarity and the long processing times are raising questions about fairness and the future of those caught in bureaucratic limbo.

The anxiety is palpable among applicants. Aleksandr Vasin, a software developer in Vancouver, shared his struggles with the ongoing wait since being referred for security clearance in **November 2023**. “This delay is messing with my mind,” he lamented, expressing concern over his family’s future and the expiration of his work permit in **2026**.

As the situation develops, many applicants are urging the government to establish clear timelines for security screenings. They argue that without such measures, thousands of lives will continue to be put on hold, contributing to rising levels of anxiety and uncertainty.

This urgent situation highlights the human impact of immigration policies, as couples like Tajbakhsh and Najafi Alishah find their dreams and aspirations on hold in a country they hoped to call home. With the stakes high, many are left wondering when they will finally receive the clarity they desperately seek.