Canadian Govt's Immigration Service Racism Towards Sikhs

[sikh supreme]

A Calgary woman waiting for her husband to arrive in Canada is upset by a long-standing immigration policy that forces people with the surname Singh or Kaur to change their last names.

Tarvinder Kaur, who is pregnant, said her husband Jaspal Singh's application to become a permanent resident has been delayed for well over a month because of his last name.

He has no choice but to legally change his name in India so he can get to Calgary before she gives birth next month, she said.

CBC News has obtained a copy of a letter sent from the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi to Singh's family stating that "the names Kaur and Singh do not qualify for the purpose of immigration to Canada."

"Why are we needing to make a different last name?" said Kaur. "You choose what your last name is going to be and if it's always been a certain way, then why should you have to change it?"

Traditional Sikh names

Singh and Kaur are common names in the Sikh community. In a tradition that began more than 300 years ago, the name Singh is given to every baptized male and Kaur to every baptized female Sikh.

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The names are used differently by different people. Some use Singh or Kaur as middle names, while others use them as their last names.

Karen Shadd-Evelyn, a spokeswoman with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, said the policy preventing people from immigrating to Canada with those last names has been in place for the last 10 years.

"I believe the thinking behind it in this case is because it is so common. [With] the sheer numbers of applicants that have those as their surnames, it's just a matter for numbers and for processing in that visa office."

Citizenship and Immigration Canada says there is no such policy against other common last names.

Kaur, who was born in Canada, says that's unacceptable.

"If it's going to be a standard policy it should be standard with all common last names. Why is it that it's only Singh or Kaur that's being attacked by this?"

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/2541/ca...anracismdr3.png see document here

[Mutheeaa]

thats the plain stupid policy really require a large sum petition................. :<Edited>:

[mophlrkb]

Isnt there a Sikh organisation in the states that deals with discrimination?

I cant remember their name but they are really involved in discrimination against Sikhs in the states and worldwide I think...SALDEF?

Also its stupid because names such as Jones and Smith (in the UK anyway) are very common so if they are worried about the surname issue they should have a wider list of names to alter before being allowed stay.

What about Ali? And Patel...

Damned stupid if you ask me

[nanosecond]

I dont know why Sikh orgs wont take this issue......I dont know why they r so active when a turbaned man is denied entry to a bar, whereas they are lying dormant when a person with Singh or Kaur as last name are denied entry into a country

[KKV]

Canadian government are tight about EVERYTHIN!! they wont win in this case anyways

[Bored]

chill out homes

canadas a cool place :wub:

this will get cleared out :TH:

world sikh organistation took care of the CBC documentry issue, mayb there doing this case as well :wub:

p.s. mophlrkb,ur talking about sikh coalition

[torontosikh]

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/240030

Its taken care of guys, no more policy in place to change your last name

[Akaali]

Thanks! :nihungsmile:

[Guest Narinder Singh]

Can you imagine an issue being resolved this quickly in our beloved Bharat Mata?

Come to think of it, i cant even imagine imagining it!

...chalo shado, it is the worlds largest democracy.

Fateh.

[Bored]

I dont know why Sikh orgs wont take this issue......I dont know why they r so active when a turbaned man is denied entry to a bar, whereas they are lying dormant when a person with Singh or Kaur as last name are denied entry into a country

so...god bless Canada now EH