Broken Official Assurances

Prior to the IRGC’s designation, Canadian officials publicly assured that forcibly conscripted individuals would not be affected by the listing. These assurances were critical for applicants who relied on Canada’s stated position and complied fully with immigration requirements.

However, immediately following the designation, former conscripts who had honestly disclosed their mandatory service during their application process began receiving procedural fairness letters (PFLs) explicitly referencing their mandatory conscription as a basis for putting them at the risk of inadmissibility.

In practice, conscription itself, despite being forced and involuntary, has become a primary trigger for heightened scrutiny, refusals, and prolonged delays. This outcome stands in direct contradiction to the assurances provided and penalizes individuals for transparency rather than misconduct.

The resulting gap between official statements and real-world application has caused serious legal, emotional, and familial harm to individuals who relied on Canada’s commitments in good faith and sought only a fair and lawful assessment of their cases.