13 Year Old to study in canada alone! - fees / absent parent / general advice

[Hockey Mom]

My 13 year old son is off to Canada from Sept to join an Ice Hockey Academy in British Columbia.
I have a couple of questions that I would really appreciate some advice on.
ONE: As we aren't going with him and therefore he is a non resident of BC, he isn't entitled to free schooling, so his school and billet fees (on top of the ice hockey fees) are some $17,000. I have not been able to find any help with funding anywhere, either in Canada or the UK. Does anybody know of anywhere I can get funding at all ? I have also sent out so far 60+ letters for sponsorship to firms etc, but all have so far come back negative as I cannot find anybody who will sponsor an individual.
TWO: My son's biological father has been absent for around 5 yrs now having split when he was just 2. He was violent and locked my son up againts his will twice and has only an indirect contact order allowing him to send letters etc - altho he never has done. The Courts also ordered that he should seek psychological therapy. Not hearing from him has been bliss. But I have now been told that I need his permission for my son to enter Canada as a student, which I really can't do. Apart from the fact that I don't want to search for him, have him lie thru hos back teeth and decline my son being allowed to go, assuming the Courts still say yes (which I am told they will) it means he will then know my son is in Canada alone, and that scares the living daylights out of me. WHat I need to know is, when my son enters Canada having completed the study permit stuff over here, what will the Canadian authorities need in order to be happy that he can enter from a "parental resonsibility" point of view? He is known by by surname following re-marriage but his passport is still in his biological father's surname which cannot be altered until he is 16. Can I give permission alone ? Will the Canadian authorities want ex's permission? Will it be ok that his school acceptance is not the same name as his passport even tho I have a deed poll but can't use it for his passport?
I would really appreciate anybody's help. Thanks loads and loads. Hockey Mom

 

[PMM]

Hi

My 13 year old son is off to Canada from Sept to join an Ice Hockey Academy in British Columbia.
I have a couple of questions that I would really appreciate some advice on.
ONE: As we aren't going with him and therefore he is a non resident of BC, he isn't entitled to free schooling, so his school and billet fees (on top of the ice hockey fees) are some $17,000. I have not been able to find any help with funding anywhere, either in Canada or the UK. Does anybody know of anywhere I can get funding at all ? I have also sent out so far 60+ letters for sponsorship to firms etc, but all have so far come back negative as I cannot find anybody who will sponsor an individual.
TWO: My son's biological father has been absent for around 5 yrs now having split when he was just 2. He was violent and locked my son up againts his will twice and has only an indirect contact order allowing him to send letters etc - altho he never has done. The Courts also ordered that he should seek psychological therapy. Not hearing from him has been bliss. But I have now been told that I need his permission for my son to enter Canada as a student, which I really can't do. Apart from the fact that I don't want to search for him, have him lie thru hos back teeth and decline my son being allowed to go, assuming the Courts still say yes (which I am told they will) it means he will then know my son is in Canada alone, and that scares the living daylights out of me. WHat I need to know is, when my son enters Canada having completed the study permit stuff over here, what will the Canadian authorities need in order to be happy that he can enter from a "parental resonsibility" point of view? He is known by by surname following re-marriage but his passport is still in his biological father's surname which cannot be altered until he is 16. Can I give permission alone ? Will the Canadian authorities want ex's permission? Will it be ok that his school acceptance is not the same name as his passport even tho I have a deed poll but can't use it for his passport?
I would really appreciate anybody's help. Thanks loads and loads. Hockey Mom

1. It is unlikely that you will find funding anywhere.
2. As you don't wish to contact the father, you should see a solicitor and get a court order allowing the child to leave the UK and travel to Canada.

 

[Hockey Mom]

Thanks for advice but I'm afraid I have sought Solicitor's advice and I cannot get a court order without the ex being present. He is named on my son's birth certificate and so has parental responsibility and has rights (!)

I am way to fearful to find him and let him know where my son is going to be all alone - it is way too risky.

I am now looking at finding him and taking him to court (as an absent parent) to get my son's name changed on his passport - he is known by my new married name anyway and not his old name (his own choice).

If I changed his name to the same as mine, could I then sign his study permit and custodian authority on my own as if I had sole custody? Would the Canadian border ask to see he birth certificate or just his passport ?

 

[Momoftwo]

Dear Hockey mom

Has there been any update on your case? I am curious since I would like to immigrate with my two daughters. I got divorced 4 years ago and have sole custody and guardianship. Unfortunately the ex's signature is required on the consent as he has visitation rights although he does not visit and is busy with his new family.
He has delayed the signing on the "declaration of non accompanying parent" for over a year just out of vindictiveness to see us suffer. He was a bully and abusive, unfaithful person so I had to get out of that marriage.
So I approached the court for justice and he does not even appear the court hearings.
My advocate has asked for a document that states that a court permission to immigrate is sufficient in the absence of the above declaration IMM5604E. I searched all over the website, but could not find any such clause.
Any advise from you and other forum members would be welcome.