EXCLUSIVE: Cancer-stricken and exhausted, Calgary couple hope for end to immigration ordeal of stepsons

A few years ago, Calgary’s Mike Soukeroff was enjoying life in Bangkok, after meeting his now-wife Sompis Boonard in 2007 and her two children.

Today, Soukeroff is being treated for cancer and while his wife is by his side in Calgary, the boys are still across the Pacific, waiting to be approved to come home.

“It’s broken and nobody will look at it,” Soukeroff said of his experience with the immigration system. “How am I supposed to plan my life, when you can’t give me the simple courtesy to tell me what is the problem?”

The 61-year-old Soukeroff met his now wife Boonard, 45, eight years ago and the two eventually moved in together along with her two sons Phantakan, 12, and Pitchayes, 11.

The longtime oil and gas worker got an infection while working in Africa after being examined by a doctor in Bangkok, was encouraged to come back to Calgary to get a proper diagnosis.

In September of 2015, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, along with hepatitis C and cirrhosis.

As he began his treatment, Boonard stayed behind in Bangkok with her children, in a home Soukeroff helped build.

After visiting Soukeroff for Christmas, she returned again in the spring and on April 25th, 2016 the two were married in Calgary.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Her first application as a permanent resident was in June 2016 and a few months later in October, she received a work permit and got a job in January 2017.

As Soukeroff’s health started to improve and Boonard was gaining an income, they began the process in June of that year of bringing their boys to Canada with temporary visitor visas, who had been staying with family back in Thailand.

Part of their application was a letter saying they wanted the boys to visit for August and September, however it wasn’t until October that they heard back.

In the fall, they were told Boonard’s PR had been approved, but when they arrived at the Harry Hays building to sign off for her form, they inquired about the boys.

Soukeroff said they were told that if Boonard signed the PR form at that time, they would have to begin a brand new application process for the children.

“We just couldn’t believe it,” Soukeroff said.

The couple was also told in a letter dated October 13th, that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada required a legal document proving the boys were under the sole guardianship of the biological mother, which they had from the Thailand government.

After speaking with immigration staff at Harry Hays and providing the required form, they opted not for Boonard to sign and instead sent in paperwork for all three together, with Soukeroff adding they were told the three applications would be expedited.

But two weeks later on October 28th, they found out the claims for both children had been denied.

“You keep telling me that I’m making the mistakes, I’m not making mistakes,” Soukeroff said.

The reasons for why the applications for both boys were rejected also aren’t the same.

Phanthakan’s rejection reasons include: travel history, family ties in Canada and in country of residence, length of proposed stay in Canada, purpose of the visit and insufficient funds.

However, Pitchayes’ letter only lists the family ties and purpose objections.

They restarted the application process and in December, were shocked when they found out for the second time, that IRCC was requesting they provide the same information about the legal guardianship form.

That’s despite the fact that according to IRCC, information from any previous applications will be used as reference to a new one.

“For you to tell me there’s a form to fill out, then tell me it’s wrong, then make me fill out the form, I paid three times for the thing and I got it right the first time,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about it.”

Meanwhile, the couple was being assisted by a visa consultant and in March, it finally appeared they had gotten the news they wanted: that their files had finally been processed in Missisauga.

Boonard packed up and headed back to Bangkok, with the expectation the boys would finally see their stepfather again.

But the consultant delivered a devastating blow, that their file would now be under further review, this time by the embassy in Singapore.

Boonard eventually returned to Canada on April 29th alone and the family has been informed they may get an update on the boys file this summer.

“When I visited two months ago, when he saw me (one of Boonard’s sons), he said ‘mom, can I go with you?’” she said.

FEDERAL RESPONSE AND MEDICAL ENDORSEMENTS

Ironically, the Liberal Government brought in changes earlier this year to speed up foreign spouse reunions.

In February, IRCC announced the average wait time had been reduced to one year in 80 per cent of spousal cases and that they had brought down the backlog from 75,000 cases down to roughly 15,000 in just over a year.

Frustrated with previous inquiries to IRCC, Soukeroff decided in May to write a letter to Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen explaining his situation.

Five days later, an official with the Ministerial Enquiries Division responded, saying while the decision to refuse the applications came as a disappointment, the office couldn’t provide any more of an explanation other than the reasons provided in the original refusal letters.

“Once a decision is made, the file is closed,” the letter says. “Under IRPA (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act), there is no formal right of appeal on TRV decisions.”

Soukeroff has also recently obtained medical references in the hopes the applications will finally be approved, not only from his doctor, but multiple specialists.

“I support the provision of a visa for his sons,” writes Dr. Petra Grendavora, from the Dept. of Radiation Oncology at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. “Any assistance you can provide in expediting this process is greatly appreciated.”

“Mr. Soukeroff has made gains in his health despite ongoing medical and immigration issues,” writes Dr. Michelle DeLisle, a psychologist at the Chronic Pain Centre. “A timely resolution to this issue is needed in order for him to progress further with his pain, mood and relationship concerns.”

Requests for comment to IRCC have not yet been received and at this point, Boonard said she just wishes someone would contact her and her husband to speak face-to-face.

“I’d tell them, what is your point?” she said. “Tell me, what are you looking for?”

For Soukeroff, he said he’s tired of automated responses.

“If you’re telling me that this is right, why is it working for everybody and why not me, tell me,” he said. “This is not right, there’s something wrong here. This can happen to anybody and it shouldn’t happen in Canada.”