Can permanent residence be taken away?

[lchristmas]

I know this is not entering into the spirit of things. But I am in the process of starting a new life with my canadian girlfriend. She is sponsoring me throught the common law permanent residence visa. However, I have substantial debt in the UK- I want to plan a way of paying it back, the debt was incurred through gambling. It is a terrible addiction and one that I am well on the way to beating, but it obviously incurrs huge debts. Alot of people are telling me I should go bankrupt in the Uk, so that I can give myself a fresh start and truely put my gambling to the past. Even some people at Gamblers Annonymous recommend this action, as the quicker you can move on- the quicker you can recover and stay clean.

Anyway, I know you cannot immigrate to canada if you have been bankrupt. But if you have already got your residency and landed in Canada- what can they do- can they remove your residency?

I know some people will not offer me any sympthay for my situation, I can understand that. But truely I would not wish this disease on my worst enemies. I am trying so hard to beat it, and would do anything I can to get a new life with my amazing girlfirend. If anyone has any knowledge on this matter, I would be so grateful- thankyou for your time.....

[Richter]

I believe that being declared bankrupt in the UK will not prevent you from being sponsored to emigrate to Canada. If your sponsor was bankrupt I think that would be a different matter.

You can be deported if they find you have not been honest in your application (small print).

I hope this all works out for you and wish you the best of luck.

[Christophe]

I don't know, but I shouldn't have thought that a bankruptcy declared in the UK after you had become a Canadian permanent residency would have any effect on your Canadian status. What the situation is if you are declared bankrupt before your permanent resident status is granted could be a different matter, although it might not be a problem if you are being sponsored.

Someone might be along here soon who can help much more. I hope so. Meanwhile you could try posting your question on a forum such as BritishExapts.com, which is aimed specifically at British people emigrating from the UK (rather than mainly at people immigrating to the UK). It has a section devoted to Canada, and some people who are knowledgeable about Canadian immigration post there. [I don't think I'm in contravention of the rules here by posting that link, since the site is not a competitor to this one and it is not attached to any immigration service provider: if I am, apologies.]

lchristmas, I wish you all the best in putting your problems behind you and moving on, in whatever way turns out to be possible and best. Take courage, though: it sounds as if you have already taken some of the biggest steps.

[lchristmas]

Thanks for your advice and thoughts. Thankfully I think I may be able to avoid the bankruptcy route after all- so hopefully I will not have to find out. I recieved my form thro requesting my passport, so that has been sent off today. So on that front I am good to go, and yeah I have taken some big steps- im just grateful I was able to realise they were needed, unfortuantly there a lot of people out there who are not so lucky.

Thanks again