Hi 
I am new to the forum; I have few questions and I really count on experienced people to answer me. I have to state some background information about me because it is impossible to ask questions without a fully explained context. Thank you in advance.
I am an international student in Canada currently having a valid student visa and a valid study permit.
On 11/may/2015 my passport expires, and on 11/april/2015 both my visa and my study permit expire.
Normally, I am supposed to renew my passport and then send it along with the required documents to renew my visa and my study permit.
However, I am HAVING a serious problem, which is that my home country ( Syria ) represented by the embassy does not accept to renew my passport except for only once and for only 6 months. After this period of 6 months, the Syrian Embassy will give me an expired passport letter and I will end up deported to Syria.
The problem is that the WHOLE reason of not accepting to renew my passport is because I am required to the compulsory military service, so basically I would not be simply deported to my home country. I would be deported to get involved in the Syrian army in a war zone country, which is a high risk on my life ( actually it is not a risk, it is a 100% certain probability for me to die! )
Unless I get a pardon letter from the syrian government, this is what will happen.
I was born and lived all my life in Lebanon ( my mother is Lebanese ). I do not know my cousins in Syria. My father is dead.
Therfore, no one is there ( in Syria ) to get that pardon letter for me. I have been trying to get the pardon letter through a dealer for the last 9 months, but he didn't get it yet. My mother is afraid to go there to try to get it, and it seems complicated and hard to get. ( By the way, this pardon letter should be easier to get because according to the Syrian rules: I am free from the compulsory military as I do not have male brothers),
THUS
It seems like I have not any option except for applying to be a refugee in Canada.
My questions are:
1_ Is it common for an international student to apply as a refugee within Canada? Is this normal? Or I might be deported right away just by trying to think of changing my status? ( I mean would I be considered to be trying to benefit from the Canadian system and hence deported? )
2_ If it is fine to apply as a refugee ( according to my situation ), how long would it take me to get the travel document? In the meantime, would the 6 months given by the Syrian embassy ends before I get the travel document? what would happen then?:/ Or they would process my application fast accordingly?
3_ While I am waiting ( before I get the travel document, and before I get the permanent residence ) Can I pursue my studies?or only after I get the PR ?
4_ Once I get the PR, I get my passport back with it. I still cannot renew my passport( and this was my whole reason to apply as a refugee anyway). However, I could after that period of time get the pardon letter and thus I can renew my passport by that time. Would they deport me because the reason is no longer available? Even if they have already given me the PR? In other words, if I start this thing, would I have to wait until I get my Canadian Citizenship to travel outside Canada ( even for a short visit ) ?
5_ Overall, do you recommend for me to do this? Does it seem to be questionable or is it a strong situation to apply as a refugee? what do you recommend?
Thank you
I am new to the forum; I have few questions and I really count on experienced people to answer me. I have to state some background information about me because it is impossible to ask questions without a fully explained context. Thank you in advance. I am an international student in Canada currently having a valid student visa and a valid study permit.
On 11/may/2015 my passport expires, and on 11/april/2015 both my visa and my study permit expire.
Normally, I am supposed to renew my passport and then send it along with the required documents to renew my visa and my study permit.
However, I am HAVING a serious problem, which is that my home country ( Syria ) represented by the embassy does not accept to renew my passport except for only once and for only 6 months. After this period of 6 months, the Syrian Embassy will give me an expired passport letter and I will end up deported to Syria.
The problem is that the WHOLE reason of not accepting to renew my passport is because I am required to the compulsory military service, so basically I would not be simply deported to my home country. I would be deported to get involved in the Syrian army in a war zone country, which is a high risk on my life ( actually it is not a risk, it is a 100% certain probability for me to die! )
Unless I get a pardon letter from the syrian government, this is what will happen.
I was born and lived all my life in Lebanon ( my mother is Lebanese ). I do not know my cousins in Syria. My father is dead.
Therfore, no one is there ( in Syria ) to get that pardon letter for me. I have been trying to get the pardon letter through a dealer for the last 9 months, but he didn't get it yet. My mother is afraid to go there to try to get it, and it seems complicated and hard to get. ( By the way, this pardon letter should be easier to get because according to the Syrian rules: I am free from the compulsory military as I do not have male brothers),
THUS
It seems like I have not any option except for applying to be a refugee in Canada.
My questions are:
1_ Is it common for an international student to apply as a refugee within Canada? Is this normal? Or I might be deported right away just by trying to think of changing my status? ( I mean would I be considered to be trying to benefit from the Canadian system and hence deported? )
2_ If it is fine to apply as a refugee ( according to my situation ), how long would it take me to get the travel document? In the meantime, would the 6 months given by the Syrian embassy ends before I get the travel document? what would happen then?:/ Or they would process my application fast accordingly?
3_ While I am waiting ( before I get the travel document, and before I get the permanent residence ) Can I pursue my studies?or only after I get the PR ?
4_ Once I get the PR, I get my passport back with it. I still cannot renew my passport( and this was my whole reason to apply as a refugee anyway). However, I could after that period of time get the pardon letter and thus I can renew my passport by that time. Would they deport me because the reason is no longer available? Even if they have already given me the PR? In other words, if I start this thing, would I have to wait until I get my Canadian Citizenship to travel outside Canada ( even for a short visit ) ?
5_ Overall, do you recommend for me to do this? Does it seem to be questionable or is it a strong situation to apply as a refugee? what do you recommend?
Thank you
