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A Day in the Life of a Foreign Affairs Immigration Officer

"I arrive at the High Commission at 8:00. I check my email and voice mail to deal with any urgent matters. Fortunately, only one requires my attention. I email my program assistant for action. This morning, I am assigned to make decisions on applications from workers, students, visitors, and returning residents. It is high-pressure work because we see the applicants, face to face and make decisions on the spot. ««Yes»» decisions are taken very well, but ««no»» decisions might be problematic. Some applicants take ««no»» stoically, others are more argumentative. This work sharpens decision-making skills through interview, a skill which all Foreign Affairs Immigration Officers must have. It also enhances our analytical ability simply by inspecting the documentation and interviewing the applicant. After lunch, I sit down to draft correspondence to Members of Parliament, lawyers, and applicants. Then, I review new and on-going immigrant cases. Judgement is very important when processing immigrant files, as it has long-term impact. My colleagues and I deal with the ««person on the street»» and understand well the social, political or economic conditions that affect that country's residents. We interact with local staff and with other colleagues. There are always impromptu policy discussions in the hallway, and ««can you believe this case?»» or ««how would you proceed?»» talks in each other's offices. Again, before leaving, I check my email one last time to ensure that there are no urgent messages."

"Another routine day in my life as a Foreign Affairs Immigration Officer. As the only Canadian Foreign Affairs Immigration Officer at this Embassy, each day is full of the unexpected. Get to work about 7:45. Check emails and phone messages. Open the doors to the public at 8 am. Waiting room is filled beyond capacity by 8:15 and will stay that way until we close the doors at noon. Had three urgent cases of parents being sponsored by family in Canada. Could we please issue the visas today? Call local police contact regarding person being held in Canada. Are there any outstanding warrants? Problems with the visa printer. Fixed. Complicated case with numerous convictions for criminal acts outside of Canada. Will need to determine if person is inadmissible to Canada. 2:00 p.m. Time for a quick lunch. Call colleague from Australian Embassy to set up meeting and make travel arrangements to neighboring country. Plan another trip, to interview applicants this time: last one had to be cancelled due to security concerns. Finally, time to go home. 11:30 p.m. A call from Air Canada at the airport. A person is trying to board the flight to Toronto with a possible fraudulent passport, can I drive to the airport? Give me half an hour and I will be there... Looks like this routine day is not quite over yet..."

"This morning, amongst other cases, I interviewed a family of Afghan refugees who had tried to return after the fall of the Taliban only to be victimized again by local warlords. In the afternoon I interviewed another Afghan refugee who turned out to be a high-risk case. Liaising with fellow immigration officers, the United Nations, other international agencies, HQ in Ottawa and relying on knowledge built up from months of interviews I was able to accept the first applicant and refuse the second. Besides the interviews there was a presentation to prepare on our new Immigration Act, a speech to draft for the High Commissioner and replies to the Minister's office and members of Parliament to be sent. The balance between humanitarian impulses and security concerns takes on a very human face in the immigration section. While the pressures of time and volume of work can sometimes seem insurmountable the interaction with people of different backgrounds is truly enriching. When I think that, as an immigrant myself, I now might be some people's first (and sometimes only) impression of Canada and Canadians, I am struck by the responsibility that comes with being an immigration officer."