Call for Justice and Transparency in the Processing of Permanent Residency Applications for Iranians in Canada
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/
ICC Granted Standing at Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes
We are pleased to inform you that the ICC has been granted standing at the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes in Canada. This is a crucial opportunity for us to actively participate in ensuring the transparency and fairness of our electoral system.
As an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and interests of Iranian Canadians, this is a pivotal moment for us to contribute to safeguarding the democratic process in our country. However, we cannot do this alone.
In order to effectively represent our community's concerns and interests at the inquiry, we need your support. We are reaching out to our members, donors, and supporters to ask for your assistance in this matter.
Here's how you can help:
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Financial Contributions: Your donations will enable us to cover legal expenses, research costs, and other necessary expenditures related to our participation in the inquiry. No amount is too small, and every contribution makes a difference.
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Spread the Word: Please share this news with your networks and encourage others to support our efforts. The more people we have standing with us, the stronger our voice will be.
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Volunteer: If you have expertise or skills that could be valuable to our efforts, we welcome your volunteer assistance. Whether it's legal expertise, research skills, or outreach support, your contribution can have a meaningful impact.
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Stay Informed and Engaged: Keep up to date with developments related to the inquiry and participate in relevant advocacy efforts. Your engagement is vital in ensuring that our community's concerns are heard and addressed.
We are committed to representing the interests of Iranian Canadians and advocating for a fair and transparent electoral process. With your support, we can make a meaningful impact at this critical juncture.
If you would like to contribute or get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] .
Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to the Iranian Canadian community.
Educational documents and tools against Online harassment and cyberbullying
Since 2008, the Iranian Canadian Congress (ICC) has worked tirelessly with the interests of the Iranian Canadian community in mind, and with the core values of peace, solidarity, freedom, justice and transparency. It is unfortunate that the ICC and its board members have frequently been the target of cyberbullying by individuals who oppose our core values, who choose aggression over peace, bullying over freedom of speech, and trolling while cowardly hiding behind their -sometimes unknown- online identity.
The ICC board members, and the members of the public alike, have been targeted by such bullies on many social media platforms, who aim to create a toxic atmosphere or hoping to interfere with or to discourage the board members from their peaceful activities.
The ICC board members are and have been aware and prepared to face the trolls and the toxic environment that they wish to create, finding encouragement instead of being discouraged, and determination instead of distraction. After all, the harder the trolls try, the more we have reason to believe in the positive impacts of ICC’s overall strategies, giving us more reason and determination to continue working toward our peaceful ambitions.
Despite the above, we condemn the acts of cyberbullying, and encourage our members and the public to stay sensitive about such activities. Cyberbullying, especially when it involves physical threats, is a criminal activity and the ICC will assess such activities going forward and may choose to report them to the respective social media platform, or in more serious cases to the police. For further information about cyberbullying please consult the following resources.
https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-to-stop-cyberbullying
https://ssd.eff.org/module/your-security-plan
https://womensmediacenter.com/speech-project/tools-resources
https://www.datasociety.net/pubs/oh/Online_Harassment_2016.pdf
http://cdeacf.ca/boite-outils-cyberintimidation
https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/protecting-information-from-doxing/
Statement on horrific death of Mahsa Amini
Transparency in Governance & Finance
Finance
The ICC is committed to transparency in its finance and governance. The ICC members and donors provide financial support for the activities and initiatives of the organization.
In line with our commitment to transparency, our financial statements can be found below.
2020 audited financial statement (Previous draft statements can be found here and here.)
2019 audited financial statement