very lost after research-- failed sponsorship, undergrad, need help!

[currycat]

First of all, I wish I had an authority I could talk to about this so I could ask questions. On the CIC site, I don't see any relevant contact info. I'm from the Philippines, by the way. I can make online calls but the number on the site is for people with applications. Would the embassy or any similar local authorities (of which I am currently unaware) be helpful at all? Some people have told me not to bother with the local embassy. This is only worsened by my missing home internet connection and phone line.

So, here's in problem.

Back in 2006, I tried to migrate to Canada with my mother. I was going as a dependent child. She was sponsored by her brother, who is now financially unfit to sponsor me (even if it would be otherwise allowed). We were unable to fulfill residency/citizenship requirements, though, as we left after a few months.

I'm currently an undergraduate (will finish in 2 years) but want to move to Canada. I did some research and it seems like finishing my degree there will be much better for obtaining citizenship than if I were to finish here (I'm also tired of my country and general situation here). My mother insists that I write an appeal letter to CIC (I don't even know how I'm going to get it to them) asking for... well... I don't even know. Restored sponsorship status? She's unaware that there are very specific programs for immigration.

It looks like I'll have to apply for a student permit (assuming I can get a school to accept me) then work towards permanent residency from there. I'm aware of the PGPW (or whatever it's called) permit. So, is this the path I should pursue, or should I write an appeal letter or otherwise try to contact the CIC about my botched 2006 landing and see if it'll improve or affect my case? It should be noted that I'm migrating /alone/, though my father is very much willing to cover costs.

 

[scylla]

Re: very lost after research-- failed landing, undergrad, need help!

OK - you need to provide more information.

Your title says you failed to land. Is that accurate? Or did you land and then fail to meet the residency obligation to keep PR status? There's a massive difference between the two.

How old are you?

 

[currycat]

Re: very lost after research-- failed landing, undergrad, need help!

OK - you need to provide more information.

Your title says you failed to land. Is that accurate? Or did you land and then fail to meet the residency obligation to keep PR status? There's a massive difference between the two.

How old are you?

I'm 20. Sorry about mangling the terms. We landed but left after a few months (never came back), so yes, we did not meet residency requirements.

 

[scylla]

You should try applying for a Travel Document (TD) based on humanitarian & compassionate conditions. There's no guarantee this will work - but you can try. When you apply for the TD you should say that you were removed from Canada by your parent as a child and were therefore unable to meet the residency obligation. You should also say that you are now looking to return to Canada permanently to live there.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/travel.asp

If you are granted the TD you can then return to Canada and apply for a renewed PR card.

 

[currycat]

You should try applying for a Travel Document (TD) based on humanitarian & compassionate conditions.
...
If you are granted the TD you can then return to Canada and apply for a renewed PR card.

Thanks very much! Just to be completely clear about things, we never had PR status. I know you said you weren't sure if this would work (and I'll try anyway), but I can still attempt the TD application despite the lack of PR status in the past?

 

[scylla]

Thanks very much! Just to be completely clear about things, we never had PR status. I know you said you weren't sure if this would work (and I'll try anyway), but I can still attempt the TD application despite the lack of PR status in the past?

OK - I'm confused again. You need to explain in a great deal more detail what happened in 2006. If you never had PR status then you can't apply for a TD and it's too late to restore sponsorship. Your only option is to apply for a study permit.

Did you never have PR or never have a PR card? Again, you'll need to provide very detailed information about exactly what happened in 2006 in order for us to actually answer your question. Where your PR visas approved after you were sponsored? Did you arrive in Canada and go through the process of "landing" in Canada and being processed as permanent residents? Did something else happen?

 

[currycat]

...You need to explain in a great deal more detail what happened in 2006...

Really sorry again. I was afraid to talk to my mother about it because she refuses to discuss things properly, but yes, apparently we did have PR cards. Looks like I will indeed be able to try for the TD.

Thank you so much.