Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - August 2012
Several rejected Chinese applicants for P.E.I.�s immigrant nominee program are coming forward to express their dissatisfaction with the government�s delay in refunding their investments.
The applicants were rejected over two years ago when the province of Prince Edward Island halted its nominee program because it was not in line with federal regulations on Provincial Nominee Programs. Over 2,000 files had built up into a backlog at that time.
�P.E.I�s mismanagement of the provincial nominee program affected the integrity of Canada�s immigration system,� said CIC spokesperson Alexis Pavlich. �But hopefully it hasn�t caused irreparable damage to Canada�s reputation overseas for prospective immigrants.�
Under the old PNP, immigrants applying to P.E.I. often paid upwards of $150,000 dollars to provincially-approved intermediary firms who advised them on where to invest the funds. Despite being rejected at the federal end, many of these applicants have not had their funds returned yet and are expressing increasing frustration.
A spokesperson for the P.E.I. immigration department says that they do plan on issuing the refunds, but must first ensure that they have ample funds in place to do so. They will not be able to determine this until the remainder of the backlogged applications are processed.
In the meantime, Chinese citizens will have no choice but to wait, which has many people questioning Canada�s handling of newcomers.
�I think the way that Canada does things is cumbersome, demanding whatever they like,� said QiuChuanbo, who says he is still owed approximately $90,000 in fees. �They seem not to care about ... Chinese immigrants.�
Source: Globe and Mail
