Mohamed Ataya, a Lebanese citizen living in Montreal, has waited six years for a permanent residency permit in Quebec [1].
Ataya's situation highlights the systemic delays within the family-reunification category, which can leave legal residents and their families in prolonged instability. Because his wife and two young children are Canadian citizens, the delay prevents the father from achieving the same legal security as his immediate family [3].
Ataya is seeking to stay with his family in Montreal, but his application remains unprocessed [3]. The wait for permanent residency has been ongoing for six years as of May 2024 [1, 2].
This delay is not an isolated case. As of May 2024, approximately 42,000 people were waiting for permanent residency in the family-reunification category in Quebec [1]. The backlog creates a significant barrier for thousands of families attempting to unify under Canadian law.
Ataya's experience reflects the challenges faced by Lebanese citizens and other foreign nationals navigating the Quebec immigration system. The process for those in the family-reunification stream is often slower than other immigration pathways, leaving parents and spouses in a state of uncertainty regarding their long-term status in the province [2].
Local advocates and affected families continue to call for transparency regarding the processing times for these permits. With tens of thousands of applications pending, the administrative burden on the Quebec immigration system remains a critical issue for residents of Montreal and beyond [1].
“Mohamed Ataya has waited six years for a permanent residency permit in Quebec.”
The backlog of 42,000 applicants suggests a systemic failure in Quebec's ability to process family-reunification permits at a pace that matches demand. For individuals like Ataya, this creates a legal gap where a parent resides in the same city as their citizen children but lacks the permanent status necessary for full social and economic integration.
