As his brother is buried near North Bay, man is stuck in Portugal
A man from Portugal who has permanent resident status in Canada is having trouble getting back to northern Ontario for his brother’s funeral.
Bruno Pimenta is having a tough time getting the travel documentation he needs to get back to South River, located half an hour outside North Bay.
Pimenta told CTV News he doesn’t have the documents to prove he’s a permanent resident, so he can’t return to Canada.
“I’m supposed to have a permanent resident card, but I don’t have one,” he said.
“As a permanent resident you need to have two pieces of identification to be able to travel in to Canada when you’re outside. All I have is my passport.”
Pimenta hoped he would be in South River in time for the funeral of his brother, Francisco, who died April 27. He hoped to be home this week, but that won’t be happening.
The funeral is Friday.
“They’ve all told me just file for an electronic travel authorization, but as a permanent resident you can’t ask for that because you have residency status, like you’re in the process of kind of becoming a citizen,” he said.
“So I’m stuck in an impossible situation.”
To be a permanent resident of Canada, a person must live here for two years within a five year period.
Pimenta hasn’t achieved that as yet. Immigration lawyer Mario Bellissimo said that puts people in immigration limbo.
“When they turn around and apply for visitor’s visa, they get told we can’t let you in, because you may stay permanently,” Bellissimo said.
“Situations like this are highlighting some of the deficiencies in the immigration programs. I see and hear these stories every single day in my office they’re very difficult emotionally.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
-
Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Pimenta said he has been sent the livestream links for the funeral and will tune in online.
At some point, he said he plans to gather with friends and family in Portugal to celebrate his brother’s life.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.