Follow-Up Petition


Request to Extend Iranian Public Policy Work Permits, Establish a Family Reunification Visa, and Create a Permanent Residency Pathway for Iranians Affected by the Ongoing Crisis

To:
The Government of Canada
The Honourable Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

 
[1] Executive Summary
This petition is respectfully submitted as a formal follow-up to our previous request urging the Government of Canada to implement emergency immigration measures for Iranian nationals and their family members.

Despite earlier submissions and limited facilitative measures, the situation in Iran has not improved. Rather, it has continued to deteriorate, resulting in heightened risks to civilian safety, systemic repression, economic collapse, and prolonged humanitarian harm.

In light of these worsening conditions, we urge the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to exercise discretionary authority under section 25.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) to implement renewed and expanded public policy measures to:

1-Extend and expand the Iranian public policy open work permit measures for Iranian nationals currently in Canada

2-Establish a dedicated fast-track family reunification visa for immediate family members of Iranian permanent residents, international students, and workers lawfully residing in Canada

3-Create a permanent residency pathway for Iranian nationals whose lives have been directly affected by the current situation in Iran

These measures are urgently required to prevent forced returns to unsafe conditions, loss of lawful status, prolonged family separation, and continued uncertainty for thousands of individuals with strong ties to Canada.

 
[2] Current Situation in Iran –Worsening Conditions 

Since the submission of our previous petition, conditions in Iran have significantly worsened. The current environment is characterized by:

Continued regional conflict and military escalation impacting civilian safety
Arbitrary arrests, detentions, and state-sanctioned violence
Severe restrictions on internet access, communications, and banking systems
Economic collapse marked by currency devaluation and widespread unemployment
Heightened risks for women, youth, activists, and ethnic and religious minorities
Substantial barriers to lawful exit, documentation access, and international travel
These conditions render return to Iran unsafe, unreasonable, and impracticable, while simultaneously preventing affected individuals from meeting standard Canadian immigration requirements that presuppose stability, access to documentation, and functional state institutions.

 
[3] Policy Gaps and Ongoing Harm

[3.1] Limitations of Existing Measures
While Canada previously introduced limited in-Canada facilitation measures for Iranian nationals, including temporary work permit extensions, these measures:

Are time-limited and approaching expiry
Do not provide long-term status stability
Do not allow overseas family members to reunite with loved ones
Do not offer a permanent solution for individuals unable to safely return
As a result, thousands of Iranian nationals in Canada—including students, workers, and visitors—continue to face:

Imminent loss of lawful status
Continued separation from spouses, children, and parents
Psychological distress, financial instability, and long-term uncertainty
 
[4] Legal Authority

[4.1] Ministerial Authority under IRPA Section 25.2
Section 25.2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides the Minister with discretionary authority to grant exemptions from legislative or regulatory requirements on the basis of public policy considerations.

This authority has been exercised in response to comparable international crises and is equally applicable in the context of the ongoing and worsening situation in Iran.

 
[5] Requested Public Policy Measures

[5.1] Extension of Iranian Public Policy Open Work Permits
We respectfully request:

Immediate extension and renewal of Iranian public policy open work permits
Eligibility for:

Iranian nationals currently in Canada with valid or expired temporary status
Former permit holders who lost status due to inability to extend
Fee waivers and simplified renewal requirements
Continued exemption from employer-specific restrictions
Rationale:
Requiring Iranian nationals to transition back to employer-specific permits or leave Canada disregards the reality that safe return is not possible and undermines both humanitarian considerations and Canada’s economic interests.

 
[5.2] Fast-Track Family Reunification Visa
We request the establishment of a dedicated fast-track family reunification visa for immediate family members of Iranian nationals lawfully residing in Canada.

Eligible Canadian Hosts

Canadian citizens
Permanent residents
International students
Work permit holders

Eligible Family Members

Spouses or common-law partners
Dependent children
Parents and grandparents

Facilitative Measures

Waiver or relaxation of requirements related to:

Intent to leave Canada
Proof of ties to Iran
Financial documentation unavailable due to crisis conditions
Expedited processing timelines
Waiver of application and biometric fees where appropriate
Emergency travel authorization where standard documentation cannot be obtained

Rationale:
Requirements designed for stable peacetime conditions are incompatible with the current crisis and continue to result in unjustified refusals and prolonged family separation.

 
[5.3] Permanent Residency Pathway for Iranians Affected by the Crisis
We respectfully request the creation of a dedicated permanent residency pathway for Iranian nationals whose lives have been directly affected by the current situation in Iran, including:

Iranian nationals currently in Canada as students, workers, or visitors
Immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Individuals unable to return to Iran due to safety, persecution, or instability

Proposed Features

Humanitarian and Compassionate-based public policy stream
Simplified documentation requirements
Prioritized processing
Exemptions from criteria that cannot reasonably be met due to crisis conditions

Rationale:
Temporary measures alone are insufficient. Many Iranian nationals have established long-term residence in Canada, contributed economically and socially, and face ongoing risk if forced to return.

 
[6] Safeguards and Oversight
All security, criminality, and medical screening requirements remain fully in effect
Annual policy review and reporting mechanisms
Clear eligibility parameters and sunset clauses
Ongoing monitoring to maintain program integrity
 
[7] Conclusion
This petition is submitted as a follow-up to our previous request, in recognition that the situation in Iran has not improved and has, in fact, worsened.

We respectfully urge the Minister to act without delay to:

• Extend Iranian public policy open work permits
• Establish a dedicated fast-track family reunification visa for affected families
• Provide a permanent residency pathway for individuals whose lives have been directly affected by the current situation in Iran
  
  
  These measures are legally justified, humanitarian in nature, and fully aligned with Canada’s immigration objectives, including family reunification, protection of life, and fairness in the administration of immigration law.

We submit this petition with respect for the Minister’s discretionary authority and in recognition of Canada’s longstanding commitment to humanitarian leadership.