If Randy Quaid is doing it, why can't we!?

[melaniefc]

Hi all,
I am a Canadian citizen married to an American citizen, we have lived all our married life (7.5 yrs) in California. I am a permanent resident of the U.S. soon to be a citizen. But we want to move back to Canada (Alberta specifically) we have 3 American born children who have Canadian citizenship through me.

The Family Class Permanent Residency route may take too long for our situation ( my husband's facility is closing down and he faces lay off which may lead to foreclosure on our home)

Maybe we can't wait a year for the PR application to go through, maybe we want to go back this summer so...
*Can we just show up and claim him as a refugee (remember I'm already a citizen) from the economic Crisis!!??
*Can he work as a refugee and if so how long to get a work permit?
*If denied Refugee status can you then apply for permanent resident status once you are already in the country working?
*If denied refugee status will you be deported?
*If denied Refugee status will you be unable to apply for PR status in future?

Just want to speed things up a bit!!!

 

[Leon]

He wouldn't be able to work as a refugee right away and although he might be able to get some welfare in order to survive until he gets first stage approval as a refugee which he wouldn't because he is not a real refugee anyway, you should also keep in mind that if you as a family are taking social assistance, you can not sponsor him. I am also sure that a bogus refugee claim would do nothing to help your case. Remember that refugee status is reserved for people who are persecuted in their homelands and economic refugees need not apply. Otherwise we would have a lot more refugees around.

As a citizen, you can start your sponsorship of him now while you are still in the US and if you are lucky it is done within 6 months.

 

[melaniefc]

mmm, i suppose that is only logical...I am only fearful that I start the PR app bc the possibility of needing to move anyway is going to come up, but then if it doesn't and we want to have more than a year bc of wanting to sell our house for more etc...then the PR visa will expire and we have to start over. It is not a process very open to contingencies and I wondered if there was a way to cut through all the red tape, I guess that would be too good to be true!
Thanks for your post!

 

[Leon]

If he gets the PR visa at a time you are not ready to move yet, he can just go quickly and land before the visa expires.

 

[melaniefc]

You mean just go there and then he can leave and come back to the States again until we are ready to go? If he can come back...for how long at a time? and how long woul dhe need to stay in Canada to land? And me and the kids wouldn't have to land too...bc we already have citizenship...thanks so much for your help!

 

[kelKel]

Your husband can come to Canada, land and return to the States immediately to tie up loose ends, job ect. He doesn't have to stay in Canada for any specific time but he will need to provide a Canadian address (a friend, parent) for his PR card to be sent too. You can all return to Canada when you're ready. In order to maintain his residency he will have to be present in Canada for 2 years out of 5. So he has some time before he needs to return

 

[Leon]

A PR usually has to be present in Canada for 2 years out of 5 but if he is accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse in another country, that time also counts as time within Canada.

 

[kelKel]

A PR usually has to be present in Canada for 2 years out of 5 but if he is accompanying a Canadian citizen spouse in another country, that time also counts as time within Canada.

True.

 

[Baloo]

BTW Randy Quaid is very likely to be refused

 

[patiently_waiting]

BTW Randy Quaid is very likely to be refused

And shipped to a room with padded walls....

 

[Baloo]

And shipped to a room with padded walls....

At least he can keep his wife company in that room

 

[patiently_waiting]

At least he can keep his wife company in that room

SOOOOOOOOO true.

 

[Patricksgirls]

Refugee from the economic crisis. Love that! I wonder if I can claim refugee status based on my need for more help with the kids!

 

[Karlshammar]

Hahaha, I'm not sure if the original post was serious or a joke, but there is no way an American would ever qualify for refugee status.

 

[scylla]

Randy Quaid tried and was denied. Although I have to give him points for originality (i.e. fear of murder by "Hollywood Star Whackers"):

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/randy-quaid-still-seeking-refugee-status-in-canada/article1775483/