Yellowknife newcomer says his family's in the lurch while he waits for immigration papers
When Yousef Alshayeb moved to Yellowknife, his goal was to get a job at Stanton Territorial Hospital and help fill staffing shortages in health care.
Now, a year later, he's frustrated by what he feels is an arduous immigration process. He's also out of work and anxious about how he'll feed his family.
Formerly a medical technician in Amman, Jordan, Alshayeb first immigrated to Ontario in October 2022 on a study permit. He said he immigrated for stability and was on track to become certified to work as a medical tech in Canada too.
But Alshayeb soon met his wife, an immigrant from Morocco, and moved to Yellowknife to be with her, in April 2023.
He said he didn't realize that would cause so many challenges.
No longer on a study permit, Alshayeb decided to apply for permanent residency in Canada. He also planned to drive for DoorDash in Yellowknife while he waited for his permanent residency.
As of Wednesday, however, Alshayeb's N.W.T. driver's licence is expired, and he can't renew it until he has Canadian permanent residency. That means he can no longer drive for DoorDash.
"Now, I can't do anything because of this paper," he said.
All of Alshayeb's Canadian documents have also expired so he says he can't get another job.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said it can take two years to get a permanent residency. That would mean Alshayeb might not get his residency until August 2025 — which is too long to wait, he says.
"No job — meaning no money, meaning no milk for my baby, no Pampers for my baby, no pay rent for my house... yeah, nothing," he said.
Alshayeb's wife Houyame Elkhatri is a permanent resident in Canada. She's currently on maternity leave receiving $1,160 a month. The couple says that's not enough to pay their monthly rent — $1,890 — or other costs, like food and care of their nearly three-month old baby.
Elkhatri is a permanent resident in Canada. She's currently on maternity leave, receiving $1,160 a month. That's not enough for the young family to make ends meet. (Natalie Pressman/CBC)
Elkhatri is eligible for social assistance because of her permanent resident status. The couple said they're not clear on how much that would offer, or how for how long.
Alshayeb says that will help temporarily to pay the bills, but he doesn't want to accept welfare. He wants to work and set up his life.
"I need just help me with my paper, because after this I can complete my life," he said.
'Rooting for Yousef'
Alshayeb has met with federal and territorial politicians to see about expediting the immigration process and ask if there's anything else he can do.
Alshayeb said N.W.T. MP Michael McLeod told him there wasn't anything he could do.
McLeod declined an interview with CBC. In an emailed statement a spokesperson from his office said that their staff in Yellowknife are "dedicated to assisting" anyone who comes to them with immigration-related questions, "and have helped countless constituents successfully resolve their case files."
Alshayeb's permanent residency application is still processing. IRCC estimates it's a 2-year wait. (Submitted by Yousef Alshayeb)
Alshayeb's MLA, Kate Reid, said that she's sympathetic to his case but that there also isn't much her office can do.
"We're really rooting for Yousef but unfortunately my office is just one of advocacy, and this is hinging on a federal process," she said.
Reid's office is how the couple learned that social assistance is an option.
The MLA said it would be "so excellent" to see Alshayeb working in health care in the N.W.T.
"Obviously our health-care system needs a lot of support, and we are finding it very hard to retain workers," Reid said.
She said it's important "that we're both attracting people here who have those skills and are ready and willing to work, and making that as easy as possible, especially for newcomers and from folks from outside of the territory here in Canada.
"Mr. Alshayeb is a DoorDash driver and, you know, that's definitely one way to feed your family in the interim. But if you have that background and you're a medical tech, obviously you would love to practice your profession."
IRCC confirmed that Alshayeb has applied for permanent residency, and did not respond about whether his application will take the full two years.
A spokesperson for the department also said the two-year timeline is an estimate, and how fast an application is processed depends on the complexity of the application, how difficult it is to verify provided information, and how quickly applicants respond to IRCC's requests for more information.
