A family of Iranian immigrants living in Montreal are calling on the Quebec government to reunite their family that has been apart for years.
Azam Jabbari, her husband and daughter were awarded visas by the Canadian government in 2014.
Prior to being granted residency status, the family adopted Paiman, a young homeless boy that had been living on the streets since he was about five-years-old.
The family moved to Canada, but Paiman had to stay behind until the adoption was finalized. Until then Paiman's adoptive father traveled between Iran and Canada to care for the boy.
The Iranian government approved his adoption in 2015 and Jabbari applied to sponsor Paiman to come to Canada as a family member.
The request was accepted by the Canadian government, but not by Quebec officials.
Blocking the family from being together is a provincial law that only recognizes international adoptions if the family of origin gives up its legal rights.
"In many countries including Iran that's not a requirement. There still is a level of affiliation and it allows adoption so that is why Quebec is not able to recognize legally, give the title of adopted child," said MNA Amir Khadir.
Khadir is helping the family with their case and is asking Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil to intervene on humanitarian grounds.
Weil's office told CTV Montreal she is aware of the case, but has no comment.
The deadline for Paiman's immigration application is March 17, 2017. If the government does not act before time runs out the family will have to start the entire process over again, or move to another province.