CAIRO VISA OFFICE

[Ana_Mo]

this what i am planning to do Am Canadian resident and Egyptian too and in the past i had bad experience with the Cairo visa office i just need other people who are in same situation like me people who had problems with the Cairo visa office so we can file complain together this will make it very strong and we will get the attention from the minister this can not happen in Canada its just there at Cairo office from the Egyptian employees in the embassy trust me guys we can always do something if we are all together by filling one complaint against the government agency which is Cairo visa office by the way my status update still waiting for my Egyptian wife until they issue her visa 2 months now after interview no respond and i am preparing my self to appeal the decision because i know Cairo visa office is not fair at all and they depend on employees who get hired by mediation .

 

[Dr Eng X]

this what i am planning to do Am Canadian resident and Egyptian too and in the past i had bad experience with the Cairo visa office i just need other people who are in same situation like me people who had problems with the Cairo visa office so we can file complain together this will make it very strong and we will get the attention from the minister this can not happen in Canada its just there at Cairo office from the Egyptian employees in the embassy trust me guys we can always do something if we are all together by filling one complaint against the government agency which is Cairo visa office by the way my status update still waiting for my Egyptian wife until they issue her visa 2 months now after interview no respond and i am preparing my self to appeal the decision because i know Cairo visa office is not fair at all and they depend on employees who get hired by mediation .

Appeal the decision! Did you have desicion on your case? Feel free to pm if you wish ... I know the Canadian Embassy in Cairo has nothing to do with Canadian system...not to say the Canadian system is good but by all means it is better!

 

[Dr Eng X]

Ana Mo


I hope you sent this to minister Kenny, My husband too was denied visitation to Canada to see me and I a Canadian citizen was refused to go inside the Cairo Embassy and talk to a immigration officer to get the correct reason for the refusal.I was told to go to the other side and complain there lol I wrote a letter to them I might as well flushed the letter in the toilet lol no response from that. I did put a formal complaint in about many things that happened to me as a Canadian with that embassy and I have no clue if anything was ever done but I feel there wasn't.

I totally agree with you. I went their once and never gone back. I insisted on meeting the Canadian ambassador only then the agent spoke to me. This is not an embassy sorry but that is the truth.
I have been to the US embassy in Cairo and there are Egyptian empolyees but things are run properly there. I have not seen an embassy where the security guard permit people to meet immigration agents! Just like the rest of Egypt, the security guard asks why are you here and what documents do you have? This is not their job. Then the time these agents (was about to say a**holes) meet public at few hours from 8 to 10 twice a week!!! I am not happy about many things in Canada but the Canadian Embassy in Cairo is full of....

 

[Dr Eng X]

The Canadian Embassy in Cairo



Those who check the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship will see lots of images for smiling people including an image of a smiling Muslim woman wearing the traditional headscarf. But many of those who had to deal with the visa section of the Canadian embassy in Cairo know that there is absolutely nothing to smile about! Your experience with the embassy will only leave you feeling humiliated, insulted, and angry.

Many Egyptians have to apply for a temporary visitor visa to visit their family members in Canada for one reason or another. Canada is home to around 300,000 Egyptian Canadians.

It is only natural that many parents would like to visit their children. In other cases, someone is having a surgery or going through tough health time and needs a family member to arrive from Egypt. In other cases, young children would like to visit their cousins in Canada and spend some time with them. In all these cases, the relative in Canada initiates the process by sending an invitation letter in which he vows to cover all the expenses of the visiting family member.

The first thing to get such a visa is to fill an application and attach to it a money order. You are not usually allowed to enter the embassy. Egyptians are left to line up in the street under temperature as high as 50 Celsius for hours. An embassy employee picks the paper and the money order and tells you that you will hear from them soon. In most cases, the next thing you get is a rejection letter with no logical reason. You are not allowed to speak to anyone on why you were rejected. The only thing you can do is apply again and pay that same substantial amount of money one more time only to get another illogical rejection!

Some of these cases really make you feel angry. One such a case is that of a woman who has a daughter and is expecting twins. She suffers from a medical condition and she needs her mother to arrive in Canada to take care of her and her kids while she recovers from the delivery. She attached a note of her medical condition to the invitation letter. Her mother got rejected for no logical reason. In that specific case, the MP representing her riding was able to have the embassy reverse their abusive decision through his contacts. Many were not so lucky.

Another case is for another woman who needed her parents to be with her during her delivery. She has 3 children and is about to deliver the 4th. Her husband is a busy person and may not be available for a long time. So they invited her parents to visit them vowing to cover all expenses. Her parents visited Canada before with no problem.

Unfortunately, they got also rejected for no reason. Her parents are relatively wealthy and they proved proof of their assets in Egypt. The husband tried to get his MP's help. The MP sent several communications to the embassy but they simply ignored him. This family do not know how to take care of the three kids until the mother is home again and capable of caring for them. The wife simply feels angry and betrayed by our Canadian embassy in Cairo.

In the past, Egyptians who held a visa to the US would get the Canadian visa easily. The US does not give its visa without carefully checking every applicant.

Only recently, having a US visa became a reason for rejecting an application for a Canadian visa!

An Egyptian woman who works for an American company in Egypt wanted to visit her brother who is a Canadian citizen. She has a multiple entry visa to the US as she routinely travels to the US to visit the company branch there. She got rejected recently for no reason. The immigration officer indicated in the letter that she was rejected because of the US visa! She was given no chance to understand what this means. The same story was repeated with many who applied for a Canadian visa while holding a US visa.

Even spouses of Canadian citizens did not escape this abuse. A Canadian woman married to an Egyptian man wanted to visit Canada with her husband and spend some time with her brother who is a Canadian citizen. The embassy denied him visa because he “holds no sufficient ties to Egypt”. He showed them that he have a prominent job and have a large sum of money in Egyptian banks in addition to owning an expensive condominium. This all did not matter to the embassy officials.

This abuse also extends to visitors who are entitled to student visas. One Egyptian lady received a scholarship from a Canadian university. The university, in the admission letter, vowed to pay her a sufficient income to live and study. In the past, she would get her student visa immediately. This woman was rejected 4 times! Every time, she had to pay the same application processing fee to get an illogical rejection.

One time she managed to meet the agent and asked her why she was rejected. The agent responded by yelling at her and kicking her out! This Muslim woman who wears a headscarf was about to pay the fees for the 5th time when a nice employee in the embassy recognized her face and asked her why is she there again for the 5th time. She informed him of what happened. He then advised her not to apply that week and wait for one more week until some of the embassy employees who are known for abusing certain applicants will go on vacation! She did exactly that and she received the visa.

The most interesting part is that Egyptians who are residents of other countries receive the Canadian visa in a normal way when they apply from their country of residence. I am aware of many cases where Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait for example were able to get a temporary visitor visa to visit relatives in Canada. It seems that the issue is only localized to the Canadian embassy in Cairo. The applications for immigration to Canada seem to be also processed in a normal way. It is only the temporary visitor visas that have been almost completely blocked!

I call on the minister of Immigration and Citizenship to investigate the abuse of power in the Canadian embassy in Cairo. This issue is very serious because of its social impact. Many complaints were received by Canadian MPs and by provincial governments. This issue can simply escalate into a full blown diplomatic conflict between the two countries given the accusations of discrimination and humiliation. I call on Mr. Jason Kenney to show that the Canadian government does not target Egyptian Canadians and that Canada is indeed friendly to the people of Egypt.

P.S. I can connect anyone interested to many of the families whose loved ones were subject to this abuse in Egypt.

I did not read this but that is true. I am with you

 

[shamsuannahr]

I totally agree with you. I went their once and never gone back. I insisted on meeting the Canadian ambassador only then the agent spoke to me. This is not an embassy sorry but that is the truth.
I have been to the US embassy in Cairo and there are Egyptian empolyees but things are run properly there. I have not seen an embassy where the security guard permit people to meet immigration agents! Just like the rest of Egypt, the security guard asks why are you here and what documents do you have? This is not their job. Then the time these agents (was about to say a**holes) meet public at few hours from 8 to 10 twice a week!!! I am not happy about many things in Canada but the Canadian Embassy in Cairo is full of....

I 100% agree!!! This was also my experience when I visited the embassy with my Egyptian husband. At that time we didn't know whether we really needed the qaid el aeli for our application, and thought it would be relatively straightforward to ask the embassy. The first time I went on my own as the embassy was closing, and I was stopped by the security guards at the front desk. I assumed they would point me to an immigration officer but instead one of the guards took all the sponsorship papers out of my hands and started rifling through them. He pulled out my marriage certificate, showed it to another guard, and told me I was "helwa." Then he handed me a tourist visa application. In my poor Arabic, I said no, I am SPONSORING my HUSBAND (which should have been obvious from the marriage certificate and various PR sponsorship forms!) and I just wanted to talk to an officer. I got my husband on the phone with them and they told us to come back the next day, early in the morning. This time I came back with my husband, and again we were stopped by security at the door. Again both people we spoke to pushed tourist visa applications on us. The woman we were speaking at the entrance kept ignoring our questions and requests, giving us the tourist visa app, and turning to other people in an extremely rude fashion (I had to start basically yelling at her, with my husband holding me back, before she took us seriously). In the end we were told that we had to call a phone number to make an appointment with an officer (don't know why the previous day's guards couldn't have told us that), BUT we were *also* told that "even if they know the answer to your question, they probably won't tell you." !!!!!!!!!!!??????????? At that point I totally gave up on the embassy. It's a waste of taxpayer's money, and a total joke. I feel very blessed that we're in a much better position that the heartbreaking stories Ana_Mo described, but still, this is ridiculous.

 

[Dr Eng X]

I 100% agree!!! This was also my experience when I visited the embassy with my Egyptian husband. At that time we didn't know whether we really needed the qaid el aeli for our application, and thought it would be relatively straightforward to ask the embassy. The first time I went on my own as the embassy was closing, and I was stopped by the security guards at the front desk. I assumed they would point me to an immigration officer but instead one of the guards took all the sponsorship papers out of my hands and started rifling through them. He pulled out my marriage certificate, showed it to another guard, and told me I was "helwa." Then he handed me a tourist visa application. In my poor Arabic, I said no, I am SPONSORING my HUSBAND (which should have been obvious from the marriage certificate and various PR sponsorship forms!) and I just wanted to talk to an officer. I got my husband on the phone with them and they told us to come back the next day, early in the morning. This time I came back with my husband, and again we were stopped by security at the door. Again both people we spoke to pushed tourist visa applications on us. The woman we were speaking at the entrance kept ignoring our questions and requests, giving us the tourist visa app, and turning to other people in an extremely rude fashion (I had to start basically yelling at her, with my husband holding me back, before she took us seriously). In the end we were told that we had to call a phone number to make an appointment with an officer (don't know why the previous day's guards couldn't have told us that), BUT we were *also* told that "even if they know the answer to your question, they probably won't tell you." !!!!!!!!!!!??????????? At that point I totally gave up on the embassy. It's a waste of taxpayer's money, and a total joke. I feel very blessed that we're in a much better position that the heartbreaking stories Ana_Mo described, but still, this is ridiculous.

1st when the security asked me why I am here. I said for such ... when he began taking my papers to read them I was surprised ...then he said something is missing I had to come back later I said no I want to meet my embassader, they let me in...I spoke to an agent and I basically told her this is not a Canadian embassy. It is not personal but we have a system in Canada and system is flexible. You can not tell people to go back when there is a form missing if it has to be filled by a computer ...computers should be available inside with people serving them if they have a question...just like Canada services... if someone can not find an answer online they have to be able to get it from an agent...
2nd I spoke to CIC about Kash Elahl and they told me this is a regional requirement we can not answer that. The Canadian embassy should...I emailed the Canadian Embassy and after weeks I got a reply to check CIC site...instantly I emailed them back you have not read my email. In the email I stated I spoke to CIC agent and was referred to you. Few weeks later they send me an email to contact CIC....Is this some sort of a sick game? People there should be held responsible and the Canadian Embassador should run it like an embassy...
3rd I really do not know if I were you what would I have done...but "halwa"... then handing you visitor applications ... in the first place secuirty guards are for security...I would have insisted on meeting a responsible figure immediately...I would have considered it an insult....everyone in the embassy works for us Canadian citizens...let us try to change this...

 

[mroliveland]

this what i am planning to do Am Canadian resident and Egyptian too and in the past i had bad experience with the Cairo visa office i just need other people who are in same situation like me people who had problems with the Cairo visa office so we can file complain together this will make it very strong and we will get the attention from the minister this can not happen in Canada its just there at Cairo office from the Egyptian employees in the embassy trust me guys we can always do something if we are all together by filling one complaint against the government agency which is Cairo visa office by the way my status update still waiting for my Egyptian wife until they issue her visa 2 months now after interview no respond and i am preparing my self to appeal the decision because i know Cairo visa office is not fair at all and they depend on employees who get hired by mediation .

Abo Mo

I wonder if you heard from them. It does not usually take that long with the sponsored spouse is a girl...

 

[Ana_Mo]

i did not get decision on my wife visa yet its two months now after interview more abuse of course my case is clear but i am preparing myself to appeal because i know they will refuse for analogical reason like usual i study criminal law here in university of British Columbia i am looking to file a big complain against them in Cairo visa office i need help from you guys with stories then i will put the complain in official act and i will apply some rules from the officer obligation act section 16 and sub section 1 to 20 from the immigration act i talk to my professor about it and she said if i can get 20 story documented i can make big change with big attention from Ottawa lets talk and document Avery thing bad happen to you with the Cairo visa office then we have two many ways to complain

 

[mroliveland]

If everything was straightforward in your case, why the concern? If refused -God forbid-, what reason you think? What area of weakness was in your application?

I am really surprised because they usually make it harder for men spouses, not for women.

 

[Dr Eng X]

If everything was straightforward in your case, why the concern? If refused -God forbid-, what reason you think? What area of weakness was in your application?

I am really surprised because they usually make it harder for men spouses, not for women.

If I were him I would have filed a complaint evenif I did not go through abuse. The way things are run in the Canadian embassy is pathetic.
I went there once and I have seen things that I have mentioned; the Canadian embassy should be a good representation of Canada. Things should be better in the Embassy than they are here in Canada.

 

[maybenot]

She told me in the interview 4 weeks

and now its more than 5 weeks no news yet ?!
doesn't sound good. maybe they looking so hard for any reason to refuse.

 

[sonia5555]

hello everyone does anyone know whether if it's possible to American citizen to enter Canada without invitaion or should to go through TR as usual and how it can be make

 

[fadi pal]

hello everyone does anyone know whether if it's possible to American citizen to enter Canada without invitaion or should to go through TR as usual and how it can be make

yea all Americans citizens can enter Canada only you need the American passport. you don't need any invitation or what so ever.

 

[Dr Eng X]

hello everyone does anyone know whether if it's possible to American citizen to enter Canada without invitaion or should to go through TR as usual and how it can be make

A US citizen can enter can not by just a passport without any Visa for a visit.

 

[Dr Eng X]

The Canadian Embassy in Cairo



Those who check the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship will see lots of images for smiling people including an image of a smiling Muslim woman wearing the traditional headscarf. But many of those who had to deal with the visa section of the Canadian embassy in Cairo know that there is absolutely nothing to smile about! Your experience with the embassy will only leave you feeling humiliated, insulted, and angry.

Many Egyptians have to apply for a temporary visitor visa to visit their family members in Canada for one reason or another. Canada is home to around 300,000 Egyptian Canadians.

It is only natural that many parents would like to visit their children. In other cases, someone is having a surgery or going through tough health time and needs a family member to arrive from Egypt. In other cases, young children would like to visit their cousins in Canada and spend some time with them. In all these cases, the relative in Canada initiates the process by sending an invitation letter in which he vows to cover all the expenses of the visiting family member.

The first thing to get such a visa is to fill an application and attach to it a money order. You are not usually allowed to enter the embassy. Egyptians are left to line up in the street under temperature as high as 50 Celsius for hours. An embassy employee picks the paper and the money order and tells you that you will hear from them soon. In most cases, the next thing you get is a rejection letter with no logical reason. You are not allowed to speak to anyone on why you were rejected. The only thing you can do is apply again and pay that same substantial amount of money one more time only to get another illogical rejection!

Some of these cases really make you feel angry. One such a case is that of a woman who has a daughter and is expecting twins. She suffers from a medical condition and she needs her mother to arrive in Canada to take care of her and her kids while she recovers from the delivery. She attached a note of her medical condition to the invitation letter. Her mother got rejected for no logical reason. In that specific case, the MP representing her riding was able to have the embassy reverse their abusive decision through his contacts. Many were not so lucky.

Another case is for another woman who needed her parents to be with her during her delivery. She has 3 children and is about to deliver the 4th. Her husband is a busy person and may not be available for a long time. So they invited her parents to visit them vowing to cover all expenses. Her parents visited Canada before with no problem.

Unfortunately, they got also rejected for no reason. Her parents are relatively wealthy and they proved proof of their assets in Egypt. The husband tried to get his MP's help. The MP sent several communications to the embassy but they simply ignored him. This family do not know how to take care of the three kids until the mother is home again and capable of caring for them. The wife simply feels angry and betrayed by our Canadian embassy in Cairo.

In the past, Egyptians who held a visa to the US would get the Canadian visa easily. The US does not give its visa without carefully checking every applicant.

Only recently, having a US visa became a reason for rejecting an application for a Canadian visa!

An Egyptian woman who works for an American company in Egypt wanted to visit her brother who is a Canadian citizen. She has a multiple entry visa to the US as she routinely travels to the US to visit the company branch there. She got rejected recently for no reason. The immigration officer indicated in the letter that she was rejected because of the US visa! She was given no chance to understand what this means. The same story was repeated with many who applied for a Canadian visa while holding a US visa.

Even spouses of Canadian citizens did not escape this abuse. A Canadian woman married to an Egyptian man wanted to visit Canada with her husband and spend some time with her brother who is a Canadian citizen. The embassy denied him visa because he “holds no sufficient ties to Egypt”. He showed them that he have a prominent job and have a large sum of money in Egyptian banks in addition to owning an expensive condominium. This all did not matter to the embassy officials.

This abuse also extends to visitors who are entitled to student visas. One Egyptian lady received a scholarship from a Canadian university. The university, in the admission letter, vowed to pay her a sufficient income to live and study. In the past, she would get her student visa immediately. This woman was rejected 4 times! Every time, she had to pay the same application processing fee to get an illogical rejection.

One time she managed to meet the agent and asked her why she was rejected. The agent responded by yelling at her and kicking her out! This Muslim woman who wears a headscarf was about to pay the fees for the 5th time when a nice employee in the embassy recognized her face and asked her why is she there again for the 5th time. She informed him of what happened. He then advised her not to apply that week and wait for one more week until some of the embassy employees who are known for abusing certain applicants will go on vacation! She did exactly that and she received the visa.

The most interesting part is that Egyptians who are residents of other countries receive the Canadian visa in a normal way when they apply from their country of residence. I am aware of many cases where Egyptians living in Saudi Arabia or Kuwait for example were able to get a temporary visitor visa to visit relatives in Canada. It seems that the issue is only localized to the Canadian embassy in Cairo. The applications for immigration to Canada seem to be also processed in a normal way. It is only the temporary visitor visas that have been almost completely blocked!

I call on the minister of Immigration and Citizenship to investigate the abuse of power in the Canadian embassy in Cairo. This issue is very serious because of its social impact. Many complaints were received by Canadian MPs and by provincial governments. This issue can simply escalate into a full blown diplomatic conflict between the two countries given the accusations of discrimination and humiliation. I call on Mr. Jason Kenney to show that the Canadian government does not target Egyptian Canadians and that Canada is indeed friendly to the people of Egypt.

P.S. I can connect anyone interested to many of the families whose loved ones were subject to this abuse in Egypt.

Sorry earlier I meant I read this.