A special education teacher of French origin lost her job because she could not obtain a new permanent residence card. This precious piece of plastic is necessary so that she can prove that she is actually a resident and thus receive a new social security number (SIN) paid for by her school.

“Everything is fine: I have a job, I have legal status, but I don’t have the card I need to get a new SIN [exigé par] payroll accounting,” he explained Duty Charlotte Biélitzki-Sacré, a French woman who has lived in Quebec for 10 years.

While waiting for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to send her the proof of residence requested a few months ago, this mother living in the Quebec region has to stay at home with no income. “It takes all my energy and mental balance not to give up hope that my situation will improve,” she says.

Even a simple letter confirming his residency status and allowing him to apply for a new SIN seems impossible to obtain. The one she had in the beginning while waiting for her first card has now expired. “I called everywhere, immigration, Service Canada. I’ve written emails but no one has answered me yet,” she breathes discouragedly. “Nobody can deliver it to me. It’s just doors closing on me. »

Trouble with IRCC

Just like her husband Mrs.^Me Biélitzki-Sacré received permanent residency in 2021 and the identity card some time later. But after being pickpocketed while traveling, she applied for an extension in December 2022 to get a new one. However, not only has there been four months of silence, but she has just been told by an officer at Canada’s Immigration Service that there is nothing in her file on the matter. “My request was out of place or, in her words, ‘never received’. »

In order to follow up on her application, she made numerous calls and sent several emails to the responsible immigration authorities. Vain. “When we arrived ten years ago it was possible to talk to someone, but now robots on the phone are telling us to do option 1, option 2,” she regrets. Crazy is asking questions, getting pushed around and not getting answers. It alienates. »

Accompanied by The duty, IRCC notes that it cannot comment on specific cases, but confirms that the time limits for extending a permanent residence card are currently 63 days, or around 2 months. “Inquiries are processed on a first come, first serve basis. However, if a request is complex, it may take longer than normal processing time,” said spokeswoman Julie Lafortune.

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Worried about her job

That doesn’t reassure Charlotte Biélitzki-Sacré, who doesn’t want to wait all that time to get her card back and settle her situation with her employer. “It takes 63 days to get a card, but I do [plusieurs] months without salary. It’s still amazing when I have a job. »

She and her husband have both found new jobs and recently relocated to Quebec with their two children, ages 4 and 1. “I got this position as a special education teacher in Quebec because there is a need,” she says. After a month in this new job, still without proof of permanent residence and even less a SIN, the HR department of the school service center, although very sympathetic, had to thank her. “I can’t be held. It sure is stressful. »

It takes 63 days to get a card, but I did [plusieurs] months without salary. It’s still amazing when I have a job.

“I’m willing to put my salary on hold to pay later, but I want to work,” she continues. I’m one on one with an elementary school student who has nonverbal autism. If I’m not there I don’t know what will happen to him because they have such a hard time recruiting. »

M^Me Biélitzki-Sacré repeatedly requires only proof that she is a permanent resident, a status duly obtained two years ago. “I already had my residence card and my SIN. It must be noted somewhere that I am a permanent resident! She says. I feel like I’ve been the little rock in all the gears of the system and nothing works anymore. At the end of the day, after everything I’ve done, I’m just a number like any other. »

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