A French nurse, who has worked at Granby hospital since 2021, is struggling to renew her work permit. Anaïs Terka and her partner sent their application to Immigration Canada in due form last January, but they now risk being deported from the country.
“Imagine: you are given three months to plan your life elsewhere… I challenge anyone to remain calm in such a situation,” says Frédéric Laurent, the spouse of Anaïs Terka, on the phone with The Press.
The couple left France to settle in Granby three years ago, after Recrutement Santé Québec (RSQ) called on Anaïs Terka to help fill the labor shortage in the network of health. “We wanted to experience an adventure, so we jumped at the chance,” continues the thirty-year-old.
Anaïs Terka and her partner have built a happy life in their host city. “We have a home that we love very much, two kittens, a social network, we have our whole life here,” lists Frédéric Laurent, who works in the motor racing industry. In January, the couple decided to make the fun last and apply for a work permit renewal.
Anaïs Terka and Frédéric Laurent renewed their lease in March, just in time to learn that their application had been refused by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a few days later. “We were given three months to leave the country,” says Frédéric Laurent.
“We are completely helpless”
IRCC claims that Anaïs Terka and Frédéric Laurent did not provide their Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ), a mandatory document. “But I did upload it when asked again in January! » says the nurse astonished, who describes this impasse as an “administrative nightmare”.
With the support of the office of their federal MP, Andréanne Larouche, the couple made a request for reconsideration of their decision to Immigration Canada the same day. Three weeks later, no news. “We are completely helpless,” says Anaïs Terka.
Without a work permit, Frédéric Laurent and Anaïs Terka have been unemployed for a month. “Revenues are falling, we are very worried,” laments Frédéric Laurent.
The couple has two options: wait for Immigration Canada to respond to them, or resubmit a new application entirely. “But that means 3 to 6 months of waiting, during which we cannot work,” laments Anaïs Terka. Perhaps this is the end of a dream for the nurse. “We really wanted to continue our journey here, to continue to discover other beautiful corners of the country and to share other moments with the network we have built here. »
IRCC did not immediately respond to request for reaction from The Press.