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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.