Immigration paperwork stands to separate Harvey newlyweds

Matthew Clark of Harveyhas run into paperwork difficulty trying to obtain a work permit and landed immigrant statusand says unlessCanadian Immigration and Citizenship straightens thingsout, he will have to decide to either not work until next summer, or leave behind his Canadian bride Katherine to return to work in England.

""It's just a beautiful country, but if they won't give me a work permit, I will be forced to leave, because I can't go two years without working," said Clark, 26."I don't think anyone would want to go without working. It's not on."

Last November Clark paid $550for a physical, got a security check through London, and filled out the many documents required to apply for an open work permitand landed immigrant status. He had to do it before his visitor's visa ran out on Jan. 9, 2016.

Receipt for Dec. 11 package

He has a receipt showing he sent off the package on Dec. 11. Another receipt for Jan. 29, 2016, indicatesthe day CIC sent his package back to him, saying he was missing a signature.He signed it, and sent it back to them the same day.

The problem is, it appears CIC has decided his application wasn't received before his visitor's visa ran out. That means instead of getting a work permit in around four months, it will be around August of next year. The Clarks didn't find that out until they contacted MPKaren Ludwig's office in June out of frustration.

Clark is livid.

"At the moment, I feel like, by letting immigrants coming into the country and going through the process, you're also giving immigrants a bad name, because we can't work, and we can't contribute, and it's not our fault at all. I'm trying my utmost to work."

'Implied status'

"It's my understanding he [Matthew]should have had 'implied status,'"from the time the application was first received by CIC in December, said Janet Blair, who workedfor Citizenship and Immigration from1991 to 2005.

"Asking for further payment for his work permit in Marchsuggests they [CIC] didn't close the file in January."

Blair says Citizenship and Immigration Canada should have told him if they were denying his work permit.

Blair helped the Clarks check over their submissions, saying everything looked in order. She says the department should review the process it followed.

MP's office calling

David Hickey works in MP Karen Ludwig's office and has been calling CIC to make enquiries on behalf of the Clarks.

Hickey says he has been told that 'no matter how big, no matter how small the infraction the original application was incomplete.'

He says "every sympathy falls with Matt," but had no comment about whether or not Ludwig will bring up the case with ImmigrationMinister John McCallum.

Clark believes he is not alone with his frustration with the bureaucracy of immigration. He has started a Facebook site called 'Immigration Struggles' to hear from others.

"It could affect my chances, [being outspoken], but I'm a firm believer that if nothing's said, and no one stands up to this, then nothing is ever going to change," says Clark.