DEPORTED: Canada Will Send You Back For The Following Reasons -Avoid Deportation Now. Canada is known around the world as a welcoming country that embraces diversity and immigration. However, even Canada has its limits on who can stay and strict rules regarding deportation. There are several reasons why both temporary and permanent residents may face deportation from Canada.
Overstaying Your Visa or Violating the Terms
One of the most common reasons for deportation from Canada is overstaying your visa or violating the terms under which you were admitted to the country.
For example, if you enter Canada as a visitor, you will be given a certain amount of time that you can legally stay, such as 6 months. If you remain in the country longer than the period authorized without applying for an extension, you can face deportation. Violating other conditions, such as working without a proper work permit, can also lead to removal from Canada.
According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), over 50,000 people are removed from the country every year for overstaying or violating their visa terms.If you realize you need more time in Canada or need to change your status, be sure to apply for an extension or permanent residency before your current status expires. Otherwise, you risk being flagged for deportation.
Committing Crimes
Committing a crime while in Canada, whether you are a visitor, student or permanent resident, can potentially get you deported.
Section 36(1) of Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act gives the government the authority to deport foreign nationals and permanent residents who commit an act outside of Canada that would be considered a crime within Canada. Some of the criminal acts that may lead to deportation include:
- Violent crimes like assault, sexual assault, murder
- Drug-related offenses like trafficking and possession
- Fraud like identity theft and immigration fraud
- Driving under the influence
In some cases, even a single drunk driving conviction can get you deported from Canada if deemed “serious criminality.” Other offenses may lead to deportation after multiple convictions.
Permanent residents can lose their status and be removed after committing certain crimes, while visitors and students may simply be barred from re-entering Canada in the future.
Providing False Information
Whether you are applying to visit, study, work or immigrate to Canada, you must be completely truthful in your application. Providing false information to an immigration officer is considered misrepresentation and could get you deemed inadmissible to Canada.
Some things that could be considered misrepresentation include:
- Lying on your visa or immigration application
- Presenting fraudulent documents like fake degrees or employment records
- Failing to disclose medical conditions or criminal convictions
- Entering into a fraudulent marriage to gain status
Under Section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, providing false statements or withholding information can result in a removal order and being barred from returning to Canada for 2 to 5 years, or permanently.
If you require a visa or permit to enter Canada, be sure to disclose any issues that may impact your application to avoid misrepresentation.
Medical Reasons
Canada takes public health and safety very seriously. Foreign nationals may be denied entry or deported for certain medical conditions under Section 38 of the Immigration Act. Medical conditions that can get you deemed inadmissible and removed from Canada include:
- Communicable diseases – This includes things like tuberculosis, COVID-19, chlamydia, gonorrhea and others.
- Physical or mental disorders – Applicants must prove they won’t place excessive demand on Canada’s healthcare system. Even minor health issues could be considered grounds for removal.
- Danger to public health – Individuals with diseases like infectious syphilis, acute psychosis and drug addiction may be denied entry or deported.
In some cases, individuals with medical conditions can appeal the decision or seek rehabilitation to overcome inadmissibility. However, removal orders are immediately enforceable unless a delay is granted.
Financial Reasons
Canada does not want new residents becoming a strain on its social services programs. Therefore, visa and immigration applicants may need to prove their financial self-sufficiency.Some financial situations that could get you denied entry or deported include:
- Inability to support yourself financially while in Canada temporarily
- Failure to meet minimum income requirements for Canadian immigration
- Going on social assistance like welfare when not in financial distress
- Defaulting on debt obligations like taxes and child support
If you lose your job or experience financial difficulties after becoming a permanent resident, you aren’t automatically deported. However, you must make reasonable efforts to exhaust all financial options before resorting to social assistance.
Residency Obligation Non-Compliance
To maintain your permanent resident status in Canada, you must comply with residency obligations under Section 28 of the Immigration Act. This means you cannot spend too much time abroad in a 5-year period.
Specifically, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days during every 5-year period. Failure to meet this requirement could result in losing your permanent resident status. Exceptions are made in certain cases like employment abroad or accompanying a Canadian spouse or parent. You can also appeal a residency obligation removal order if there were special circumstances like medical illness.
In some cases, it may be possible to restore your permanent resident status if you lost it due to residency non-compliance. However, restoration is complex and not guaranteed.
Security Reasons
Individuals who are deemed threats to Canada’s security are not welcome in the country. Section 34 of the Immigration Act gives the government broad authority to deport:
- Spies and foreign agents
- Terrorists or members of terrorist organizations
- Criminals involved in organized crime like the mafia, gangs or cartels
- Anyone believed to endanger the security of Canada
Even if you have already obtained permanent resident status, being flagged as a security risk almost always leads to immediate deportation. Appeals are rarely successful in these cases.
How to Avoid Deportation From Canada
Here are some tips to keep in mind to avoid deportation once you are legally living in Canada as a temporary resident, student or permanent resident:
- Obey all laws – As a non-citizen, you are a guest in Canada and must obey all federal, provincial and municipal laws and regulations. Committing any crime puts your status at risk.
- File taxes – Even non-residents must file Canadian income taxes every year. Failure to file taxes can indicate you do not intend to live in Canada long-term.
- Renew status before expiry – Do not let your work permit, study permit or permanent resident card expire. Make sure to apply for renewal well in advance to avoid losing legal status.
- Comply with visa terms – Make sure you do not overstay your visa or violate any conditions like working without authorization. Doing so can get you removed.
- Avoid misrepresentation – Always provide complete and accurate information in any immigration application or process. Even minor lies could see you deported.
- Seek help when needed – If you experience financial difficulties, medical problems or other hardship, seek help through appropriate channels. Depending on social services should only be a last resort.
- Credit check – Run periodic credit checks to ensure no issues are reported that could impact your immigration status, like outstanding taxes or fraud.
- Travel wisely – As a permanent resident, avoid traveling abroad for extended periods to ensure you meet your residency obligation. Most aim to spend no more than a few weeks at a time out of the country.
Nobody wants to go through the ordeal of deportation. Being removed from Canada can permanently impact your ability to return. It also carries the weight of failure and feeling like you don’t belong.
However, Canada has every right to deport those who violate its laws and regulations, or who pose threats to its society. By following the advice above, you should be able to avoid this worst-case scenario and continue living safely and successfully in Canada.
Conclusion
Canada may have a reputation as a welcoming land of opportunity for newcomers. But immigration is a privilege – not a right. There are strict rules regarding who can enter and remain in Canada long-term. Over 50,000 people face deportation from Canada every year for reasons like overstaying visas, committing crimes, providing false information in applications, financial problems, medical inadmissibility, residency non-compliance and security issues.
For both temporary and permanent residents, it is essential to obey all laws and regulations at the federal, provincial/territorial and municipal levels. Violating the terms under which you are authorized to visit, study, work or live in Canada can have severe consequences.
Likewise, permanent residents must be cautious not to spend too much time abroad so as not to violate their residency obligations. Permanent resident status can be revoked if you do not meet the physical presence requirement.
While deportation is usually mandatory in cases involving criminality or misrepresentation, other grounds like financial difficulty may be appealed if there are humanitarian & compassionate considerations. By following proper protocols and seeking help when needed, it is possible for most foreign nationals to avoid deportation and continue living legally in Canada either temporarily or permanently. No one comes to Canada expecting to be deported so being informed is key.
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