The Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) stands in full solidarity with members of the Iranian community across Canada who gathered peacefully in Ottawa on September 22 to highlight the prolonged processing of permanent residency (PR) applications, particularly the lengthy pauses during background checks, and to call for immediate reforms.

The ICC is deeply concerned about the increasingly difficult path to permanent residency faced by Iranians in Canada. What should be a fair and efficient immigration process has, in recent years, become one of the most pressing challenges for Iranian applicants.

Many who first arrived on study or work permits now face extraordinarily long and complex procedures when applying for PR. Too often, applications remain stalled for months—or even years—at the background check stage without any clear response from immigration authorities.

These prolonged delays impose serious psychological and financial hardship. Students are left in limbo regarding their academic and professional futures, while temporary workers are deprived of job security and the ability to plan long term. The burden is worsened by high processing costs, the need for legal counsel, and banking restrictions linked to international sanctions.

Constant changes in Canada’s immigration regulations and the lack of transparent communication have only deepened confusion and uncertainty. Many Iranian applicants are left feeling unstable, with some even considering migration to third countries or seeking alternative, faster routes to obtain permanent residency.

In light of these challenges, the ICC calls on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to act with justice, fairness, and transparency by:

• Providing clear timelines and regular updates for applicants stuck in prolonged background checks;
• Simplifying and streamlining permanent residency procedures for those already contributing to Canadian society;
• Ensuring that policy changes are communicated openly and in a timely manner to all applicants.

The ICC urges the Government of Canada to respond swiftly and uphold the principles of justice and transparency that Canadians expect and deserve.

Join the email campaign to support Iranian PR Applicants: https://iccongress.good.do/justicetransparencyintheprocessingofprapplicationsforiraniansincanada/

On October 26, 2017 during the debate on Bill S219 (Non-nuclear Sanctions Against Iran Act) Senator Linda Frum said the following about Iran and Iranians:"Bill S-219 is grounded in a moral and ethical purpose, and that is to monitor one of the most maligned nations in the world and to calibrate our nation’s sanctions accordingly."

Global Affairs Canada states its position that Bill S-219 (Non-Nuclear Sanctions Against Iran Act) would hinder the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Iran.

338 Members of Parliament and 101 Senators receive Nowruz greeting cards from the Iranian Canadian Congress.

A brief report about the meeting between ICC representatives and Parliamentary Secretary Omar Alghabra on :

We would like to invite our members, supporters and the general public to participate in the following online public consultation:

Here is a report about the teleconference the President of the Iranian Canadian Congress, Bijan Ahmadi, had with MP Omar Alghabra, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs), about the cases of Prof. Homa Hoodfar and Saeed Malekpour:

Paid Internship Position.                                                                                   

June 2016- end of August 2016 (3 months)

As a policy research intern you will provide research, analysis and administrative support to Policy Department and will report to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Department. The Iranian Canadian Congress is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-religious organization that aims to uphold the interests of Iranian Canadian community in the social, economic, political and cultural spheres, promoting and celebrating Iranian culture, Iranian languages, and Iranian history. We also seek to build mechanisms for cooperation between Iranian-Canadians and other segments of Canadian society to promote cross-cultural harmony and to advance understanding and goodwill within Canada’s multicultural society. ICC values its interns for their strong sensibility and promotes their professional development during the internship. You’ll be an integral part of the team, involved in doing the following:

• Preparing policy briefs

• Exploring and finding policies for the ICC to endorse

• Monitoring legislative developments relevant to ICC priority issues

• Perform Desk research,  Fact checking, and Data collection

• Design relevant charts, graphs and tables

• Provide administrative support to the Policy Department

• Prepare progress reports and presentations for the work of the Policy Department.

You need to have the following:

• Full-time student status both during previous and next academic year

• Strong organizational skills and interpersonal skills

• Interest in policy research and ethnic issues

• Experience with statistics, economics or social sciences through coursework

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Skills & experience for qualitative research

• Proficiency in English – written and verbal

• Familiarity with Farsi (Persian) is a plus

• Educational background in policy (required), specialization in immigration, ethnic & equity issues (preferred).

We’d love to have you join the team. To apply, send your resume to [email protected]; include the job title in the subject line of your email. Due to time constraints, only candidates who meet our requirements will be contacted.

Paid Internship Position.                                                                                   

June- end of August 2016 (3 months)

As a graphic designer, you know the power behind dynamic visual design. Here’s your opportunity to take your creative talent to the next level. You’ll help us define our brand strategy, interpret our mission, and convey our message, in terms of lines, colors, and typography.

This position requires a good deal of thoughtful analysis and independent judgment, as well as flexibility to perform a variety of duties. We are looking for a passionate, self-driven and positive individual who can work independently and as part of a team.  

The Iranian Canadian Congress is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-religious organization that aims to uphold the interests of Iranian Canadian community in the social, economic, political and cultural spheres, promoting and celebrating Iranian culture, Iranian languages, and Iranian history. We also seek to build mechanisms for cooperation between Iranian-Canadians and other segments of Canadian society to promote cross-cultural harmony and to advance understanding and goodwill within Canada’s multicultural society. ICC values its interns for their strong sensibility and promotes their professional development during the internship. You’ll be an integral part of the team, involved in doing the following:

Create graphics & design layouts for print ads, flyers, e-newsletters, homepage, blog, & social media

• Incorporate UI/UX in web design & layout, and adapt them for mobile formats

• Design the “overall” look for use in all our promotional material.

• Meet deadlines (daily, weekly, and long-term), and urgent matters, consistently.

You need to have the following:

• Full-time student status both during previous and next academic year

• Prior experience creating graphics and a solid grasp of design concepts

• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign

• Enthusiasm for the design process and attentiveness to different project goals

• Knowledge of Farsi (Persian) language is a plus.

We’d love to have you join the team. To apply, send your resume and three samples of your design work to [email protected]; include the job title in the subject line of your email. Due to time constraints, only candidates who meet our requirements will be contacted.

Paid summer internship.                                                                                 

June 2016- end of End of August 2016 (3 months)

We are recruiting a copywriter to support our Communications Manager at the Iranian Canadian Congress with writing content for our communications team. You’ll help in defining our brand strategy, interpret our mission, and convey our message, in terms of excellent communication and effective interaction.

This position requires a good deal of thoughtful analysis and independent judgment, as well as flexibility to perform a variety of duties. We are looking for a passionate, self-driven and positive individual who can work independently and as part of a team.  

The Iranian Canadian Congress is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-religious organization that aims to uphold the interests of Iranian Canadian community in the social, economic, political and cultural spheres, promoting and celebrating Iranian culture, Iranian languages, and Iranian history. We also seek to build mechanisms for cooperation between Iranian-Canadians and other segments of Canadian society to promote cross-cultural harmony and to advance understanding and goodwill within Canada’s multicultural society. ICC values its interns for their strong sensibility and promotes their professional development during the internship. You’ll be an integral part of the team, involved in doing the following:

• Researching, writing, and distributing press releases to targeted media

• Collating and analysing media coverage

• Writing and editing Speeches, articles and annual reports

• Assisting with planning and writing for the organization’s media presence

You need to have the following:

• Full-time student status both during previous and next academic year

• Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills  

• Understanding of basic principles of marketing and communications

• Strong  research skills

• Attention for details, professionality and sensibility in writing

• Knowledge of Farsi (Persian) language is a plus.

We’d love to have you join the team. To apply, send your resume and three samples of your written work to [email protected]; include the job title in the subject line of your email. Due to time constraints, only candidates who meet our requirements will be contacted.