want to stay one to two years -- what visa or permit ?

[Rachel82]

Hi all.  I really hope someone can help me with this question.

My mother and sister are Canadian PRs (soon citizens), and one of my two kids is Canadian.  Apart from that, I am Italian and the other kid is British and Italian (just as my husband).

My husband works for the United Nations, and for the next one year or so we won't be able to live with him as he lives and travels in difficult places.

I genuinely do not wish to immigrate to Canada.  But I would like a visa that allows me to stay there for one to two years, so that I can be with my mother and sister, as I would otherwise have nowhere to go.

I know I can stay six months and at least six months more as a regular visitor, but the problem is that my non-Canadian kid then could not be enrolled in school.  I need a status that allows me to put the other kid in school.  If possible I would also like to work, but this is not essential.

What kind of permit or visa would I need, and how do I apply for it ?  Is it difficult to get ?  What should I know ?

I am wondering whether the non-Canadian child (5 y/o) could apply for a study permit, and me be with him as his mother.  Or maybe there is a better way of doing it ?

Apart from that, we have plenty of proof about our family income and savings, about health insurance and education which are paid by by husband's employer, etc., and that we are permanent residents in Switzerland so we really do not intend to migrate to Canada.

In the USA, they routinely give visas to families of UN staff who are living in Haiti, for example.  The staff member works in Haiti but can't have the family there, so the US allows her/his family members to live in the US for a while.  Australia used to do that for UN staff working in East Timor.  I would imagine Canada must have something like that too.

Any advice very welcome.

[Pippin]

This probably sounds like a really silly response, but have you asked the UN if they know of any programmes in Canada?  Alternately, would you consider contacting the Canadian Embassy in Switzerland for advice? I think your idea of looking into the study permit is a good idea, but be prepared for the fees.  I think they are pretty high for international students.  What an unusual situation for us on Forum to think about.  Please thank your husband for the job he has chosen to do.  All the best.

[Rachel82]

Thanks Pippin.

Indeed, the UN does not seem to have any specific agreements with Canada, which they have or had with some other countries.  Canada is just not a next-door-neighbour to any major UN operation.  But the concept is the same, indeed.  My guess is perhaps they should look at the situation ad hoc.

We tried asking the Canadian Embassy, will see what they say.  But being put on right track would be ideal.

School fees would not be a problem, as my husband's employer pays for them.  So a study permit for my five-year old son could make sense, if they don't think it's odd that he decides to study in Canada at that age and I have to be with him...  It seems a rather odd way of getting what we need.  Otherwise we could even nominally give both kids to my mother for temporary foster care, so they can be there and in school, while I could be there as visitor, but again that's an odd way of doing it.

So, any other thoughts welcome.

[Pippin]

I don't think the study permit would be that "odd".  I know the elementary school nearby has young children from all sorts of countries and they have come on study visas with their mothers.