My sister was denied a visitor's visa to Canada...again

My 41-year old sister was denied an entry visa to Canada on May 31st, 2011 for the second time. We Cuban-Canadians have to find a way for the Canadian government to stop doing this. It is always a gamble at the Canadian Embassy in Havana; we have the right to be visited by our dear ones. I have decided that I'll do whatever it takes to find  a way for this to stop.

Step 1. I created a Facebook group. 'Let my sister visit Canada'
Step 2. I sent a message to my local MP, Mr. Stephen Woodworth. I am requesting an interview to discuss the matter. Here is the message:


Dear Sir,

I would like to have an interview with you. My sister in Cuba was denied a visitor's visa on May 31st, 2011; this is the second time. Cubans are routinely denied visitor's visas to Canada on the grounds that they are 'possible immigrants' . This is an issue that has been affecting the Cuban community at length. The visa officers base their decisions on items like age, marital status, ownership of property locally (Sick joke when it comes to Cubans) and whether the applicant has children as it's clear from the forms the applicants have to fill out at the Embassy when applying for a visitor's visa. Sometimes the applicants are not even given a reason for the denial. This is wrong. We Cuban-Canadians have the right to be visited by our relatives. Canada has to come up with a different policy when it comes to visitors from countries like Cuba. I am planning to take this issue as far as necessary and I am not giving up.

I do hope we can find a way for this issue  to be resolved for once and for all. I, for one, had enough of the inefficiencies of the system.

I am at your disposal for an interview, any day, any time.

My very best regards,

Lucia Gonzalez

Step 3. I created this blog.