After long struggle, family can stay in Canada
Immigration thought son with autism would strain health and social services
After an 11-year struggle to keep his family and autistic son in Canada, Sungsoo Kim was numb when an immigration worker he had to see last week unexpectedly congratulated him on becoming a permanent resident.
The family of four had been summoned to the Federal Building in Hamilton last Friday for an interview, and Kim, 49, thought it was yet another round of formalities and documentation of the kind that had gone nowhere in his more-than-a-decade-old quest.
But it turns out the day had finally come — the family no longer had to fear deportation to South Korea. They were granted permanent residency, setting the course to Canadian citizenship one day.
“I was numb. A bit shocked,” said Kim at his Mount Hope home Thursday. “But when friends, co-workers and neighbours all said congratulations, then it really sunk in for me.”
His colleagues at Pattison Outdoor Advertising in Mississauga rejoiced with him, Kim said. “I started to feel emotional. All of a sudden, I realized the power of friendship.”
He and his wife, Sunmi, 51, are beyond grateful for their support and that of so many others.
“I want people to know how much I appreciate their prayers, donations and help,” Sunmi said.
“We spent much time and money for immigration, but we got people who shared in my suffering and ordeal. We got many people’s love.”
Kim came to Hamilton on a student visa in 2003 to attend Mohawk College. Sunmi and daughter Lisa and son Taehoon, then eight and three years old, were allowed to accompany him.
His application for permanent residency in 2006, two years after Taehoon was diagnosed with autism, was denied in 2012 because the boy’s health condition “might reasonably be expected to cause excessive demand on health or social services.”
Kim felt if they had to leave, his autistic son would be discriminated against in South Korea and wouldn’t get help.
The family faced deportation, but Pattison got Kim’s work permit as a data analyst renewed until late 2014 and applied to extend it beyond that.
Meanwhile, Kim applied in 2012 for permission to stay on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
His situation became dire in February 2015 when he discovered his work permit had expired.
He left his workplace immediately to ensure he wasn’t doing anything illegal and the family survived with the help of donations from their church and from Pattison coworkers.
Kim was eventually granted another work permit, and Pattison welcomed him back immediately.
His daughter Lisa, now 22, graduated from McMaster University — donations covered her final year’s tuition — and she is a nurse at Juravinski Hospital. Son Taehoon, 17, is in Grade 12 at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School.
Kim’s friend and colleague, Ian Evans, said everyone at work, including top management, was rooting for Kim.
“We have about 420 employees and we’ve had fundraisers before, but in this case, it’s like nothing I’ve seen before. The amount of support was second to none.”
The workers organized fundraisers or simply donated money, Evans says.
“Everyone at work feels he’s an amazing guy” and always so helpful, he said. “He is held in high regard.”
Brian de Ruiter, vice-president of the company’s Prairie region, sent Kim a congratulatory email praising him for “being a model of persistence and optimism to all of us at such a difficult time in your and your family’s life.
“I only hope I would have the courage, determination, persistence and optimism that you displayed during such a challenging ordeal,” de Ruiter said. “Our country is lucky to have your family.”