Prolonged Security Screenings: Lives in Suspension

For many families, the hardship does not come from a final refusal; it comes from years of silence.

Security screenings tied to alleged association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have left some families waiting for years, with no clear timeline, no meaningful updates, and no predictable end. During this time, lives are effectively placed on hold.

1. Endless Waiting, No Certainty

Families who have lived in Canada for years – working, paying taxes, raising children, and contributing to their communities – find themselves trapped in administrative limbo.

The absence of timelines creates:

• Constant uncertainty
• Chronic stress and mental pressure
• Inability to plan long-term
• Financial instability
• Professional stagnation

Life decisions are postponed indefinitely because everything depends on a file that does not move.

2. Real Families, Real Consequences

Behind every delayed file is a disrupted life and real personal stories from affected individuals illustrate just how deep the impact runs (refer to link (insert link to personal stories) for further personal stories shared by affected individuals).

• Nazi’s daughter, now of university age, cannot begin her studies. Without permanent residency, she faces international tuition fees and cannot access provincial student aid such as OSAP. After years of waiting for PR, her education — and future — remain on hold.
• Ali, on a valid work permit with his PR in process, has been under security screening since 2023. He cannot safely leave Canada while his file is pending. During this time, he was unable to travel to see his father before he passed away. Administrative delay became a permanent personal loss.
• Yalda, a high-achieving graduate of one of Canada’s leading universities, remains stuck without PR after years of screening. Despite her qualifications and competence, she cannot apply for certain promotions or secure long-term career advancement because her status remains uncertain.

These are not abstract policy effects. They are lost opportunities, missed milestones, and irreversible moments.

3. Psychological Toll

Prolonged security screening creates a unique form of hardship: indefinite suspense.

Families describe:

• Living in constant anxiety
• Checking emails daily for updates that never come
• Avoiding major commitments such as buying a home
• Postponing career moves
• Delaying children’s educational plans

Children grow up in uncertainty. Parents feel powerless. Years pass without clarity.

4. A System Without Proportionality

Security is important. But when screenings extend for half a decade or more without transparency or timelines, the process itself becomes punitive.

Families who followed the law, disclosed information honestly, and integrated into Canadian society are left in prolonged limbo, not refused, not approved, simply suspended.

The humanitarian cost of indefinite security screening is not theoretical. It is measured in stalled educations, frozen careers, family separations, mental strain, and years of life that cannot be recovered.