Iranian family living in Ottawa faces homelessness after falling out of status
An Iranian family living in Ottawa is desperately pleading for help and struggling to stay in Canada with their two young kids, after falling out of status and losing their jobs.
Hamid Ahmadpanah and his wife Shohreh Aghababaei arrived in Canada nine years ago; but now failed work permit extension applications have them falling through the cracks and running out of options.
A series of pictures hanging on the wall of their Vanier apartment tell the story of a happy family, with two young girls - 15-month-old Kayla, who just wants to play with her toys, and five-year-old Amelia, who is in Kindergarten.
But mom and dad are quietly struggling, desperate to stay in Canada.
"We started selling our stuff to help spend for our life," Ahmadpanah said.
"We cut the corners as much as we can, but now since yesterday I got terminated from employer."
The couple have been confused by Canada's immigration rules. Their work permit extension applications have failed, they were told in January they lost their status, and now they can’t work.
"I don't know what should I do. I got education, I got my engineering degree, I wanted to be a normal family, at least have a facility for my children," Ahmadpanah said.
Immigration lawyers say this is a common problem.
"Sometimes it can even be a mistake from the government," immigration lawyer Chantal Desloges told CTV News Ottawa.
"But more often than not it's the applicant who has misunderstood some small little obscure exception to the rule and, unfortunately, the system is not forgiving and requests for some sympathy often fall on deaf ears."
Ahmadpanah said they both lost their jobs and are now preparing to live on the street.
"Next month, I don't have any money. I can't pay anything; I have to be homeless with my two children on the street," he said.
Aghababaei said they are their taking steps to prepare the kids.
"Spending more time outside with your kids to get them used to, in case we have to be homeless with two kids in the summer, in the hot weather," she said.
Even though their daughters are Canadian citizens, their five-year-old cannot even register for school next year.
"They asked us to upload status, but we don’t have status, we don’t have any documents," said Aghababaei.
A permanent residency application was started two years ago but that’s still being processed. A new work permit application would take until 2024, they’ve been told.
"Every day she's crying," Ahmadpanah said about his wife, who said, "We came here to have a better life."
"Every day if someone, friends call and ask what happens, she starts just crying. In fact, we get a deep depression now," added Ahmadpanah.
A return home to Iran, under a dangerous regime, isn’t an option either. The family fears what could happen to them there.
"I'm trying my best to be strong for our daughters, because we have to, but it's not easy," said Aghababaei.
So this family is left in limbo with no work, no help, and maybe, next month, no home.
The family says they have contacted Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier. CTV News Ottawa reached out to Fortier's office, but the Treasury Board president wouldn't comment.
Immigration Canada says it cannot comment on specific cases.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Tornadoes tear through southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead
Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could wash over parts of the South early Thursday, a day after severe weather with damaging tornadoes and large hail killed at least three people in the region.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.