Immigration officials admit error after rejecting Ottawa family reunification

JaberMufarrehsays heis ecstatic after Canadianimmigration officialsreversed a decision to reject hiswife's travel documents to Canada.

For five years, Mufarreh'sefforts to reunite with his family in Kuwait hasbeen bogged down in delays and set-backs overhis wife's application for permanent residency. The most recenthurdle revolved around getting legitimate travel documents for his stateless wife,Farah Ghodian.

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GhodianisBidun,a traditionally nomadic people Kuwait regardsas illegal within its borders. This stateless statuspreventsher from obtaininga passport.

The Canadian embassy in Kuwait also would not recognize her Red Cross travel documents given frequently to recognize stateless individuals.

As the latest deadline of Jan.16 loomed, Muffarrehwent to Kuwait to shepherd the paperwork, but hopes were dashed when Canadian immigration officials rejected the document suggesting it is only useful in refugee cases.

"When they told me [the document was rejected], it was like a stab in the heart. I almost cried," saidMufarreh.

Happy ending finally

Mufarrehhad been travelling back and forthto seehis wife and twochildren;his five-old-daughter and 18-month old son have Canadian passports but lived with their mother in Kuwait. He saidhe didn't want to separate them from the mother they have lived with their entire lives.

But this week, following a CBC News story on the immigration issue,officials reversed the decisionand spokeswomanNancyCaronwrote the below statementin an email.

"After conferring with the visa office in Abu Dhabi, we have determined that a Red Cross travel documentis an acceptable document in this case," the statement read.

Mychildren have never seen Canada. I'm going to bring the whole family back, together, finally.-JaberMufarreh, father

"We apologize for any problems the delay in making this determination may have caused."

Mufarreh said he was extremely happy and relieved to hear the news.

"My children have never seen Canada. I'm going to bring the whole family backtogether, finally," he said over the phone fromKuwait.

Mufarreh came to Canada in 2000 when he was 14 years old, and he is now a Canadian citizen.

"I have been in Canada half my life, and now we can all end this story," said Muffareh.

Government needs to learn from this: lawyer

ArghavanGerami, an Ottawa lawyer who had been working to help unify the family,said the Canadianembassy had been insisting, until last Sunday, the Red Cross travel documents are for refugees only, even though she says theynormallyprovide a bridge for stateless people, as well.

Gerami said she hopesthe embassy re-examines what happened with this case,particularly since the Red Cross document is the only tool available for stateless people "who are alreadyincredibly vulnerable," she added.

"The suspense and anxiety this has caused for this one family is something I hope doesn't happen again,"said Gerami.

There are still a few hurdles to retrieve the children's paperwork in order to travel, but Mufarrehsaid, in the coming weeks,he hopestobring his familytogether in Canada for the first time.