Returning immigrants face losing residency By TOM GODFREY, SUN MEDIA Last updated: 17th April 2009, 3:04am Immigration officers are targeting landed immigrants who were living and working abroad for years before returning to Canada to find jobs in the wake of the global economic meltdown. Immigrants like Toronto’s Carla and Joe face deportation after being nabbed by Border Services officers as they arrived at Pearson airport from the Azores last year. They face having their permanent resident card, also known as Maple Leaf Cards, revoked for being outside Canada for longer than two years out of the last five. Card holders must spend three years out of five in Canada. RENEWED EVERY 5 YEARS The cards were issued to 1 million immigrants in 2002 and have to be renewed every five years. “We left Canada to look after my sick father,” Carla said yesterday. “We lost our jobs in the Azores and came back to Canada because of the opportunities.” The couple didn’t want their identities made public since they’re appealing to get their cards back. They’ve since found jobs in the construction industry. “We love Canada and we always wanted to come back,” she said. Avvy Go, of the Metro Toronto Chinese and South Asian Legal Clinic, said there’s been complaints from community members facing deportation. ‘COMMON ISSUE’ “This is a common issue for Chinese immigrants,” Go said. Go said many members of her community return to China to work, run companies or look after ailing relatives. Toronto lawyer Richard Boraks said a number of his Portuguese clients were nabbed returning to Canada after working abroad for more than the two years required. Federal immigration spokesman Danielle Norris said action to revoke a Maple Leaf Card can begin if the holder has been away from Canada for 730 days, or two years, of the last five. Norris said immigrants can appeal the removal of their cards. http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/04/17/9140411-sun.html [em03] |