sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 willing to go to any lengths to stay in my home.sa国际传媒�
The process is stressful and challenging, but thatsa国际传媒檚 what Josh Waters has to say about his experience trying to gain residency in Canada.
Waters has been living in Kelowna for the last nine years, starting with a series of work visas in order to stay. When he met someone and started a relationship with them, the two began the paperwork to get him his permanent resident status through the common-law spouse stream.
The process has been long, slowed down by the pandemic, but it all came to a stop when the relationship ended. Since he no longer had a sponsor, the government denied him permanent resident status.
His application was denied in September but because he couldnsa国际传媒檛 leave the country to go back to Australia then, he was given a further 60 days to leave voluntarily.
sa国际传媒淲ith being denied, I lost my status in Canada. So Isa国际传媒檝e lost my working status,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 work for the 60 days I have left here in Canada and I kinda have to just make due and get by on what I (money) had left.sa国际传媒�
Waters, who has been working for the Edgecombe Builders Group, said he was fortunate he was able to keep working throughout the pandemic. He has some money put aside, but having to pay his immigration consultant, lawyer, as well as trying to get his dog Rocky ready for the trip, the bills are adding up.
sa国际传媒淚 have a little backup behind me but as far as everything else, itsa国际传媒檚 going to be fiscally damaging for sure,sa国际传媒� he said.
A friend of his started a to raise funds to help him pay for Rockysa国际传媒檚 vet bills, paperwork and transportation to Australia.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 just grateful to my friend for wanting to help me and the community for donating so I can bring him with me. He has just been my rock this past year,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 corny and clich茅 but anything, hesa国际传媒檚 rescuing me. Isa国际传媒檇 hate to have to give him up or leave him behind because hesa国际传媒檚 my son, essentially.sa国际传媒�
Edgecombe Builders Group owner and president Kevin Edgecombe said theysa国际传媒檝e started the process of sponsoring Waters through a labour market impact assessment to show that Waters is the right man for the job. Edgecombe said hesa国际传媒檚 hopeful the sponsorship will go through this time, giving Waters another chance at making his stay permanent.
READ MORE: Kelowna man needs support to transport beloved dog to Australia
sa国际传媒淛osh is a key employee. Hesa国际传媒檚 second-in-command at a very large construction site that we recently completed, a large apartment building on Clement,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 done a great job for our company and hesa国际传媒檚 been with us for nearly five yearssa国际传媒� itsa国际传媒檚 certainly important for our company but more importantly, itsa国际传媒檚 important for Josh.
sa国际传媒淛osh wants to be in Canada; hesa国际传媒檚 a great contributing citizen, hesa国际传媒檚 paying his taxes, hesa国际传媒檚 building his credit rating. Hesa国际传媒檚 doing all the things that young people need to do in order to try to make it for themselves in a tough place to live.sa国际传媒�
Even though the sponsorship process has begun, Edgecombe said he doesnsa国际传媒檛 have a timeline on when Waters will be back in the country.
For his part, Waters said hesa国际传媒檚 willing to go through the process to come back.
sa国际传媒淲ith the outpouring of support and well-wishes and people wishing me luck, I just cansa国际传媒檛 thank everyone enough,sa国际传媒� he said.
sa国际传媒淭his huge blow, it makes it easier to have that backing and support. Isa国际传媒檓 blessed to be a part of a great community and I hope I can stay.sa国际传媒�
READ MORE: Kelowna airport at risk of losing $2.5M over stagnation of international travel
twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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