Two-Thirds of Afghan Interpreters Denied Visa to Canada

Hey Afghans, thanks for all your help with the language thing in Kandahar, but it looks like you didn't quite follow our rules, so...

Afghan interpreters had until today to apply to emigrate to Canada on a special visa, but two out of three people who have applied to live in Canada have been turned down. All told, 550 Afghans will come to Canada as part of the program, with that number including translators and their families. But the hundreds who were rejected will now have to face a persistent threat to their lives from the Taliban, who routinely target interpreters and other Afghans seen helping out coalition forces. The rules for getting in to Canada stated that the interpreters had to demonstrate that their lives were at risk by staying in Afghanistan and that they had worked with the Canadian Forces for at least 12 months beginning in October 2007. However, the Canadian mission in Kandahar began in 2006, meaning many of the first interpreters to help Canadians find their footing in one of the bloodiest regions in the country weren't allowed to come to Canada because they started their work outside the eligibility period.