Times of India Feature Interview with Kubeir Kamal
Canada’s immigration system is currently witnessing an unprecedented surge in visa and permit refusals, sparking serious concern among experts and applicants alike. The situation has become so severe that thousands of people are now turning to judicial reviews to challenge what they believe are unfair and “templated” decisions.
In an interview with The Times of India, Kubeir Kamal, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and founder of Ask Kubeir Immigration, called it a “seismic shift” in processing.
“Refusal rates have crossed 50%. Many decisions now read like templates with no reference to the applicant’s unique case,” Kubeir said.
Between January and August 2025, Canada saw 278,000 fewer temporary residents, with study permits down nearly 60%. This has also led to a 47% jump in federal court filings for judicial reviews, as applicants challenge generic and unreasonable refusals.
Kubeir advised that those facing refusals should first obtain their GCMS notes to understand the reasoning and consider a judicial review if clear unfairness is evident.
“Automation can make things efficient,” he added, “but it should never replace fairness and individual assessment.”
As Canada prepares to release its 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Kubeir emphasizes the need for transparency, accountability, and a return to human judgment because behind every file is a real story that deserves to be heard.