Family's 2-year wait for grandmother's visitor visa finally ends

A second application, a $100 fee and more than two years later,an Ottawa woman who demanded to know why her 79-year-oldmother's visa application fell through the cracks says the family's wait is finally over.

Charlotte Clarke told CBC News this Julyherfamily was exhausted from wondering why her mother, Victoria, was left waitingso long for a visathatothers were getting within weeks.

Now, she'sfinally arrived in Canada for her long-sought visit to see her grandchildren.

"It seemed just unreal to me," Charlotte Clarke said, reflecting back on the journey."It was infuriating."

Clarke hadhelped her mother, who livesin the western African country of Gambia, apply for a temporary visa in October 2020 withImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the federal departmentthatprocesses immigration applications and visas.

Clarke's fatherMalcolmdied ofCOVID-19 in August of that year. Her mother had been his main caretaker for years, and Clarke said she wanted her to take a break and visither twochildren and grandchildren in Ottawa.

Earlier this month, shelanded in Ottawa having finally received her visitor's visa after reapplying this September.

This time, it took about fiveweeks for IRCC to process their secondapplication from start to finish.

"We were overjoyed, obviously, and everybody was happy for her because two years is a long time," said Clarke.

"I feel good ... But the journey to be with her was not exactly a pleasant one,"Victoria Clarke said, looking at Charlotte from the kitchen table in her Ottawa home.

"That sums it up relief."

Stuck applicants worried, 'baffled' about reapplying

In response to the Clarke family'sstory,IRCChad told CBCsome applicants can reapply for their visas, especially if theyhadnot received a response yet andapplied before Sept. 7, 2021 the date the Canadian government finallyopened its borders tofully vaccinated travellers.

Since publishing their story, CBChas heard from dozens of others who've also waited yearsfor their family members' visas from around the world. They'vewonderedif reapplying was the best route, as they'd bethrowing away time and money and starting from scratch.

Said Izawi, who lives in Montreal, is one of them.

He said he passed his "second anniversary" of waiting for his parents' super visa last Sunday, after helping them apply to come from Syria on Nov. 20, 2020.

It has no logic behind it whatsoever. Like, why?- Said Izawi

"I was very naive. I was hoping that they would come and spend Christmas 2020 with us," said Izawi, who hasn't seen his parents in five years. "Christmas 2021 came by and went ... now we're in 2022."

Izawi saidhis family is "baffled" by IRCC's suggestion that applicantsreapply.

"It has no logic behind it whatsoever. Like, why?" he said. "It doesn't make sense ...why somebody would need to do that.What about the other application?"

IRCC charges a $100 fee per person to apply for a visa. The medical insurance Izawi bought for his parents a requirement for a super visa costabout $4,000 andhas since expired.

"It's money being flushed down the drain," Izawisaid. "It's an application that I've been waiting on two years I'm going tohave to kill it now and start a new one? And only God knows how long it will take."

IRCC did not give a direct answer to CBC's question about the now-expiredmedical insurance, saying the family'sapplication has beenin the "background checks" phasesince February 2021.

IRCC explains why some visas were left behind

An IRCC spokesperson explained that betweenMarch 2020 and Sept. 6, 2021, the departmentprioritizedapplications from those who were exempt from COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Visa applications submitted before Sept. 7, 2021 were placed in a "queue for non-urgent processing,"the IRCC said.

That led to the "accumulation of a large inventory of visitor visa applications," according to the department.

IRCCbegan working throughthe backlog, but said most of those earlier applications would take longer due to their "complexity as a result of potentially outdated documents and information" and "changing circumstances."

That's why they are asking some people to reapply, the department said.

IRCC also said those who withdraw applications may be eligible for refunds only if the agency hasn't started processing them.

But its website says there is "no guarantee," and what's more, applicants won't get written confirmation that they've been withdrawn.

That's part of the issue, Clarke said.

"It seems unfair [for IRCC] to receive ...all of these payments ... [and] you're now saying your application is null and void," she said."How can you conscionably keep their money?"

While Clarke said she too worried about submitting a new application, even thoughit worked out quickly, it didn't come without challenges.

She warned thatIRCC's online portal isn't intuitiveand said she sought help from a family member "in tears."

Still, Clarke has an answer for any applicants unsure about what to do.

"My advice would be tofirstlyreapply."