What to do if you need citizenship somewhere... or anywhere?

Hi jakejas,

The way that immigrations and naturalization works is virtually the same in almost every country of the civilized world.

If your friend can't return to his country of birth and thus reap the benefits of his citizenship then there are a number of remedies for this.

You say that if he returned he'd be forced into a work camp. Why would that be? Has he been convicted of some crime by a competent court of law? If this is the case then it is quite unlikely that he'd be able to obtain permanent residency in any other country, much less naturalize and obtain citizenship. This is because a Criminal Record Check makes up part of the immigration process everywhere.

If he'd be forced into a work camp because he's being persecuted for his political or religious beliefs and can prove that he would suffer reprisals, imprisonment, cruel punishment or his life placed in danger then he could as for political asylum in many nations that would certainly be much more compassionate than Saudi Arabia. The United States of America is one such country. If he has been in the US before then obviously he can qualify for a visa should he need a new on, or he already has a visa.

I don't see what the problem is that you're worried about so much. If you sincerely wish to help him you should persue legal channels in your country to see if you can help him get asylum. If on the other hand he has already been convicted of some (real and non-political) crime, he doesn't have much of a chance anywhere.

I looked at your friend's blog. He doesn't appear to have any physical handicaps, he's obviously intelligent, young and strong. He surely doesn't look like someone who is in urgent need of someone to take him by the hand and "lift" him out of his situation. I'm sure that if he is serious about immigrating to another country and obtaining citizenship there that he's quite capable of doing so on his own. From my personal experience there are far too many people who simply want everything just to fall into their laps, want others to do everything for them when they should be more concerned with helping themselves. I'm not saying that your friend is one of them, but absent any compelling information about his situation I'd simply point out the old saying.... "God helps those who help themselves".

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team

He has no history of criminal activity. Eretria has a little bit of a crazy government. It would be nice if he can get refugee status in the US.

He shares my daughter's birthday.

One has to ask, what visa problem in America?

Someone bouncing around from town to town should first worry about getting a work visa, then permanent residency, then finally citizenship.  Citizenship is never the first step.

Refugee status could be a way out. But he has to prove he is being persecuted.

Long-term visa, residency, and other status changes get very difficult. He has an interesting story though.

jakejas wrote:

Long-term visa, residency, and other status changes get very difficult. He has an interesting story though.

One he should try to sell.
Travelling requires cash.

Has he tried to find work in Canada?  www.cic.gc.ca (website updated as suggested below)

There is lots of information about working in Canada on the web.

Gravitas,

The link you gave IS NOT the official government website. Citizenship and Immigrations Canada website is:

www.cic.gc.ca

Then link you gave is for a consulting service that charges fees for their services. Would you please delete that link from your posting since it will tent to confuse people. CIC constantly warns people that they do not need either a consultant or lawyer to go through the immigration process, and further that most of them do not do anything the applicant couldn't do for himself for free. Still others just take the money and do nothing at all.

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team

Done - William.  Agree it's a better website to use to avoid the commercialism surrounding work and immigration to Canada.  Thanks for picking it up so quickly.

And thanks to you for the quick edit. It's appreciated.

i'm Eretrian too

i think he should stay in one of the outside country ( canada - USA - AUSTRALIA -....) but should stay not just visit visa..