Political asylum, Canadian Citizenship, and travelling

[charlymoreno]

Hi, I arrived to Canada under refugee status. I ask for political asylum in Canada to be away from Colombia. Now I have a permanent residence, and I will be applying for my Canadian citizenship in March 23, 2013. I was wondering if I have the chance to travel to Colombia after applying for my Canadian citizenship for 4 months without damaging my chance of being a Canadian citizen.

Thank you.

 

[Leon]

In my opinion, you should wait until you get your citizenship.

 

[charlymoreno]

Thanks for your opinion Leon!

 

[Msafiri]

Hi, I arrived to Canada under refugee status. I ask for political asylum in Canada to be away from Colombia. Now I have a permanent residence, and I will be applying for my Canadian citizenship in March 23, 2013. I was wondering if I have the chance to travel to Colombia after applying for my Canadian citizenship for 4 months without damaging my chance of being a Canadian citizen.

Thank you.

For what reason would you be going back to a country where your life was in such danger that you sought and got protection from Canada? Surely this means you no longer have a problem back home so why do you need Canada's protection let alone Citizenship?

 

[charlymoreno]

For what reason would you be going back to a country where your life was in such danger that you sought and got protection from Canada? Surely this means you no longer have a problem back home so why do you need Canada's protection let alone Citizenship?

I want to go back because I need to see my father, and he cannot travel here. I could potentially be in no more danger anymore, I am not sure about that. It has been more than 5 years since I have not been back to Colombia. The reason why I want to stay here and get a citizenship is because I am doing my engineering degree here, and i want to have the chance of having a stable future.

 

[Msafiri]

I want to go back because I need to see my father, and he cannot travel here...

Why can he not travel to Canada...did you list him in your applications to CIC?

......I could potentially be in no more danger anymore, I am not sure about that. It has been more than 5 years since I have not been back to Colombia.

So you don't know what the risks are but are set to go anyway...many would read this as 'there is no danger'.

.......The reason why I want to stay here and get a citizenship is because I am doing my engineering degree here, and i want to have the chance of having a stable future.

And here I thought it was to be part of the great Canadian family with our shared traditions, identity, and values.....oh well good luck with the Engineering.

 

[ScubaC]

I came here as a refugee in 2010 and I must say I am fortunate that Canada has given me the right to stay here. As for EVER visiting my country of origin. FORGET IT.

I'm sorry to say it really surprises me when former refugees as soon as they get their PR go back to their home country! I'm sorry but as a former refugee myself it really leads me to question the validity of these people!

Anyway, the Canadian government will know how you came to Canada forever. I am not saying this is a bad thing, yeah I'm a refugee, so what? I have nothing to hide my story is true, so therefore....I will NEVER want to go back to that hell hole. Makes sense right?

I am sick of so many people saying being a refugee is a bad thing. Yeah it really wasn't a pleasant experience but I am SO grateful for CANADA. Why wouldn't I want to stay here? As far as I'm concerned Canada saved me and I love it.

Sorry for the small rant but this is what gives refugee's a bad name

 

[just_do_it]

Unfortunately, the bitter truth is that the really opressed people who would pass as genuine refugees do not normally have the means to go to Canada on their own unless helped by an organization. Normally these folks would have been accepted as refugees before they step foot on canadian soil.

more often than not, those who get here and claim asylum are refugees of convenience who take advantage of Canada's lenient refugee system. That's the problem right there, canada's "lenient" refugee system.

i sometimes envy the system Australia has and its effectiveness in weeding out refugees of convenience and at the same time acting as a deterrent. BTW, Australians have detention centres where all refugee claimants live untill a decision is made on their application.

 

[ScubaC]

I was a genuine refugee and I came here on my own means. Every case is different although I have seen the ones that want to travel right away to be the ones that seem to be suspicious :/

 

[Leon]

You can have genuine refugees who have money too. In some countries people are persecuted for their views, religion, sexual orientation etc. and that doesn't mean that they never had a job or that their family doesn't have money, it just means it may not be safe for them to live in the country they are living in.

However, I always get a bad taste in my mouth when I hear refugees ask how soon they can go "home" to visit without risking their refugee status. If you are really a refugee, you would be worried about your life and that it is not safe for you to go "home" to visit.

 

[ScubaC]

Leon, exactly! Well said.