Liberian radio host Gboko Stewart thought he would finally be able to travel to Squamish next month and start at Quest University in September, but that appears a distant dream once again.
Stewart had barely finished celebrating the thawing of the Canadian freeze on visas to Liberians in May when his visa was denied June 25.
“I’m just so disappointed they have all these hurdles to keep someone at bay so their dreams can’t be pursued,” Stewart said from his home in Liberia. “I’m not giving up, but there’s nothing more I can do – maybe some things are just not meant to be.”
According to Stewart, Canadian Citizen and Immigration (CIS) claimed he was a risk of not returning to his home country, something Stewart said is unfair.
“I’ve been to Europe and back on time with no intention on staying there. The same would have applied to Canada,” he said.
“I found it incredulous that they arrived at that decision, including travel history, because I was never granted an interview.”
Stewart had intended to get a degree at Quest University and then return to help those in his homeland, he told The Squamish Chief.
Although he was accepted to start at Quest last fall, Stewart was unable to enter Canada because the federal government had paused visa processing for areas including Liberia that were heavily impacted by the deadly Ebola virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia May 9. Canada announced it would resume processing Liberian visas a few days later.
“Gboko displayed tremendous perseverance throughout the visa ban on Ebola-affected countries, but the study permit application process is ultimately a matter between the applicant and Citizenship and Immigration Canada in which universities cannot intervene,” said Quest University’s Bradley Klees, senior admissions counsellor, who added that Stewart’s acceptance at the university will be honoured if the visa is eventually granted.
Stewart said he finds it strange that he was denied around the time the first Ebola case in months was reported in Liberia. Since then, two more cases have popped up.
CIS representatives would not comment on Stewart’s case, citing privacy concerns, but provided an emailed statement.
“It is up to the applicant to satisfy the visa officer that they are coming to Canada on a temporary basis and that they are admissible. Visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis on the specific facts presented by the applicant in each case,” read the statement from Nancy Caron, CIC spokesperson, who said the total number of Liberians granted visas since May is not available to the public.
