Family in danger...

[scarycemetery]

Hello everyone

I am a Canadian citizen, and my husband is now a PR. He is from Lebanon and we are currently visiting his family. Yesterday beside their house there was a huge explosion, and it ruined everything...my brother-in-law's shops are completely destroyed. It is a dangerous situation here, and I just need to know if there is any way my husband and I can bring his family (mother, father, sister, two brothers, sister-in-law and her baby) to Canada. I know it's a long shot and there aren't many (if any) options but we can't leave them behind. My husband's mother is a British overseas citizen if that makes any difference.

 

[scylla]

The options are very limited.

Your husband cannot sponsor them for PR. He will be able to sponsor his parents only once CIC begins accepting applications in January. However the processing will take years for these application. So this won't facilitate an immediate move.

His mother can visit on her British passport. But not stay permanently.

The rest of the family will need tourist visas to visit Canada. My guess it's unlikely they will be approved since CIC will likely suspect they are interested in remaining in Canada long term due to their family ties in Canada and the situation in Lebanon.

In case you're wondering about refugee status, the family would first have to be recognized as refugees by the UN and then identified for resettlement in Canada. Also, his mother won't qualify since she already holds British citizenship.

Good luck - hope they find a way out of this situation.

 

[scarycemetery]

Thank you for your reply. I know it's a long shot, but we still have to try. I will look into visitor visas for them for now, and hope for the best.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your reply. I know it's a long shot, but we still have to try. I will look into visitor visas for them for now, and hope for the best.

Good luck. Keep in mind that the strike is still on affecting processing of all applications. So the processing times for TRVs posted on the CIC web site currently don't apply (i.e. expect it will be quite a bit longer).

 

[maina]

very sad to read ur story