鈥淚鈥檓 willing to go to any lengths to stay in my home.鈥�

The process is stressful and challenging, but that鈥檚 what Josh Waters has to say about his experience trying to gain residency in Canada.

Waters has been living in Kelowna for the last nine years, starting with a series of work visas in order to stay. When he met someone and started a relationship with them, the two began the paperwork to get him his permanent resident status through the common-law spouse stream.

The process has been long, slowed down by the pandemic, but it all came to a stop when the relationship ended. Since he no longer had a sponsor, the government denied him permanent resident status.

His application was denied in September but because he couldn鈥檛 leave the country to go back to Australia then, he was given a further 60 days to leave voluntarily.

鈥淲ith being denied, I lost my status in Canada. So I鈥檝e lost my working status,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 work for the 60 days I have left here in Canada and I kinda have to just make due and get by on what I (money) had left.鈥�

Waters, who has been working for the Edgecombe Builders Group, said he was fortunate he was able to keep working throughout the pandemic. He has some money put aside, but having to pay his immigration consultant, lawyer, as well as trying to get his dog Rocky ready for the trip, the bills are adding up.

鈥淚 have a little backup behind me but as far as everything else, it鈥檚 going to be fiscally damaging for sure,鈥� he said.

A friend of his started a to raise funds to help him pay for Rocky鈥檚 vet bills, paperwork and transportation to Australia.

鈥淚鈥檓 just grateful to my friend for wanting to help me and the community for donating so I can bring him with me. He has just been my rock this past year,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 corny and clich茅 but anything, he鈥檚 rescuing me. I鈥檇 hate to have to give him up or leave him behind because he鈥檚 my son, essentially.鈥�

Edgecombe Builders Group owner and president Kevin Edgecombe said they鈥檝e started the process of sponsoring Waters through a labour market impact assessment to show that Waters is the right man for the job. Edgecombe said he鈥檚 hopeful the sponsorship will go through this time, giving Waters another chance at making his stay permanent.

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鈥淛osh is a key employee. He鈥檚 second-in-command at a very large construction site that we recently completed, a large apartment building on Clement,鈥� he said.

鈥淗e鈥檚 done a great job for our company and he鈥檚 been with us for nearly five years鈥� it鈥檚 certainly important for our company but more importantly, it鈥檚 important for Josh.

鈥淛osh wants to be in Canada; he鈥檚 a great contributing citizen, he鈥檚 paying his taxes, he鈥檚 building his credit rating. He鈥檚 doing all the things that young people need to do in order to try to make it for themselves in a tough place to live.鈥�

Even though the sponsorship process has begun, Edgecombe said he doesn鈥檛 have a timeline on when Waters will be back in the country.

For his part, Waters said he鈥檚 willing to go through the process to come back.

鈥淲ith the outpouring of support and well-wishes and people wishing me luck, I just can鈥檛 thank everyone enough,鈥� he said.

鈥淭his huge blow, it makes it easier to have that backing and support. I鈥檓 blessed to be a part of a great community and I hope I can stay.鈥�

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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