CANADA IMMIGRATION NEWS AND TIPS

Dear Ms Powell, I am living in a very difficult situation and I need to escape. Can I seek asylum in Canada? I have a friend living in Toronto who said she went to Canada on a visitor’s visa and stayed, and is applying to stay as a refugee. Another friend said it won’t work. I want to know if I qualify before I make the move. Please tell me how I can qualify to seek asylum in Canada. – BN Dear BN, You did not provide details of your ‘difficult situation’ and the reason you feel the need to escape from your current location. This information is critical to assess whether or not you would qualify as a refugee and be granted asylum in Canada. A refugee application is not to be taken lightly, and you must ensure that you are able to satisfy the requirements before you put in an application, as this could have profound effect on whether or not you are able to come to Canada in the future, if your application fails. Asylum claimants will be put though a very rigorous process t...

Immigration Corner | How Do I Fix This Misunderstanding? Dear Ms Powell, About three years ago, I visited my aunt who was ill in Canada. I had a return ticket but my grandmother had surgery, so I stayed an extra 10 days to help out. I bought a one-way ticket back home. My aunt has recently passed away and I would like to attend the funeral. I tried to visit her last year and I was turned back. What can I do? - E.E.  Dear E.E., When an individual stays longer than the time granted, this could lead to a removal order and you will be deemed inadmissible to Canada. In order to overcome this hurdle, you may need an Authorisation to Return to Canada (ARC). The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) 52 (1) states that if a removal order has been enforced, the foreign national shall not return to Canada unless authorised by an officer or in other prescribed circumstances. There are three types of removal orders and whether you need to apply for an ARC depends on the ...