Hi,
I am a Canadian (male). My fiance is pregnant and we are getting married soon. This joyful time for us is overshadowed by a seemingly difficult situation, and we require some help. We are in Alberta.
Her current work permit expires Feb/2011. She has submitted an extension application with an approved LMO, so things are in-process, giving her implied status. However, there are great troubles with her job (a sexual harassing employer who has threatened her to be quiet about it). But, if she leaves her job for fear of further abuse, there is no compassionate aid from Canada (apparently - according to a CIC phone agent). With no job, there is no valid work permit, and no permit means 'leave the country' - pregnant and alone. It seems the 'reward' for being a victim of a crime is 'yeah-that-is-real-sad -- now get out of our country'. We are also worried the employer might entice CIC to deny her work permit application, thus she would have to leave immediately after receiving notice she has been denied. We thought of waiting out the application process (i.e. endure possible continued abuse) until approval is received. BUT, that is taking a chance on (A) her immediate safety and the safety of an unborn child and (B) ability to stay in Canada.
After reporting the Catch-22 with her job to a telephone agent with CIC, we were directed to file for a change of status to 'visitor' as the only solution (no matter the circumstance of job loss) in order to stay in Canada. Well, then she loses health care, S.I.N., E.I and Maternity leave benefits because this is what a visitor status entails. Again, is a solution to sexual abuse stripping a human being of a support system, let alone when it involves pregnancy?
And what about another LMO as a solution? Well, who is going to hire a pregnant woman ? And since filed too late, she - again - would have to leave the country because she'd have no valid status. I am seriously disappointed in my own country's treatment of victims of sexual crime, and being pregnant. In fact, I am truly disgusted that seemingly no special circumstance affects the process of who can stay and who must go. 'File for visitor status' they say. Are you kidding me ?
1. Should we go ahead with the status change to visitor, OR have her possibly endure more abuse just so she can stay and receive health care support for our child ? Are these the only options ?
2. When we marry, what health care support do we have ? I will have applied for Sponsorship, but what does Sponsorship cover? Does our marriage install spousal coverage of health care?
3. Can I marry someone who is on visitor status ?
4. If on visitor status, and get married, can she stay in Canada while the Sponsor application is being processed ?
5. Can applying under humanitarian and compassionate grounds be seed as a valid alternative ? If available, how long is the processing time, i.e. would she have to leave the country while this is being processed, enduring childbirth alone ?
I am afraid of losing the woman I love and the child given to us in grace -- all due to apparently contorted and confusing rules that reward employer abuse and not the employee's circumstance. Can anyone help us? Please ?
I am a Canadian (male). My fiance is pregnant and we are getting married soon. This joyful time for us is overshadowed by a seemingly difficult situation, and we require some help. We are in Alberta.
Her current work permit expires Feb/2011. She has submitted an extension application with an approved LMO, so things are in-process, giving her implied status. However, there are great troubles with her job (a sexual harassing employer who has threatened her to be quiet about it). But, if she leaves her job for fear of further abuse, there is no compassionate aid from Canada (apparently - according to a CIC phone agent). With no job, there is no valid work permit, and no permit means 'leave the country' - pregnant and alone. It seems the 'reward' for being a victim of a crime is 'yeah-that-is-real-sad -- now get out of our country'. We are also worried the employer might entice CIC to deny her work permit application, thus she would have to leave immediately after receiving notice she has been denied. We thought of waiting out the application process (i.e. endure possible continued abuse) until approval is received. BUT, that is taking a chance on (A) her immediate safety and the safety of an unborn child and (B) ability to stay in Canada.
After reporting the Catch-22 with her job to a telephone agent with CIC, we were directed to file for a change of status to 'visitor' as the only solution (no matter the circumstance of job loss) in order to stay in Canada. Well, then she loses health care, S.I.N., E.I and Maternity leave benefits because this is what a visitor status entails. Again, is a solution to sexual abuse stripping a human being of a support system, let alone when it involves pregnancy?
And what about another LMO as a solution? Well, who is going to hire a pregnant woman ? And since filed too late, she - again - would have to leave the country because she'd have no valid status. I am seriously disappointed in my own country's treatment of victims of sexual crime, and being pregnant. In fact, I am truly disgusted that seemingly no special circumstance affects the process of who can stay and who must go. 'File for visitor status' they say. Are you kidding me ?
1. Should we go ahead with the status change to visitor, OR have her possibly endure more abuse just so she can stay and receive health care support for our child ? Are these the only options ?
2. When we marry, what health care support do we have ? I will have applied for Sponsorship, but what does Sponsorship cover? Does our marriage install spousal coverage of health care?
3. Can I marry someone who is on visitor status ?
4. If on visitor status, and get married, can she stay in Canada while the Sponsor application is being processed ?
5. Can applying under humanitarian and compassionate grounds be seed as a valid alternative ? If available, how long is the processing time, i.e. would she have to leave the country while this is being processed, enduring childbirth alone ?
I am afraid of losing the woman I love and the child given to us in grace -- all due to apparently contorted and confusing rules that reward employer abuse and not the employee's circumstance. Can anyone help us? Please ?
