DUI charges on PNP – Letter to leave - URGENT

[katelance]

I’m writing about my friend who called me today with this horrible news. I don’t know all the exact details but I think the general situation should be enough.

My friend and her husband came on working visa and applied for PNP program and everything approved. He has a steady job with 60h a week, paying all the taxes and basically start to settle down in Canada.

Then they sent their application for Permanent Resident and the whole processes started. Unfortunately one day he decides to have few drinks after work and drive himself home. He got catch. He was coveted, had to pay fine and got his license suspended. All this was reported to the immigration of course.

This year in May they receive medical request, which they did. And of course assumed that the process is going fine. Yesterday they got request to come to local immigration office. At the interview they receive the letter that the DUI charge is a serious crime and they have 30 day to live Canada.

She was crying all day and is really in a bad shape so I decided to find some info for her.

Is there any chance to fix this and how?

Is there any good lawyer in Edmonton,AB (where we live) that may help them?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[scylla]

There's no way to fix this situation. The DUI makes him criminaly inadmissible to Canada for five years from the time he completes the license suspension. He has no choice but to leave Canada (as instructed) and won't be able to re-enter Canada again until the five years has passed. The time to try to fix this would have been when he was charged with the DUI. If a lawyer had been able to get this conviction reduced to a non-DUI offence, then he may not be in the situation he is in now. I supposed they can consult with a lawyer if it's going to make them feel better - however I think this is a waste of money (they should try to get a free consultation). The rules are very black and white for DUIs. He's inadmissible to Canada and needs to leave within the 30 days (otherwise the departure order will turn into a deportation order).