Conflict in the Near East – Reception of Québec residents from Lebanon - Questions and answers

Housing
Health
Work
Education
Daycare services
Financial support
Immigration status
Francization
Identity documents

Housing

Q1 : What services are available to look for housing? Are there any organizations that provide support?

Régie du logement (Québec Rental Board)
To learn about the rights and obligations contained in a lease that apply to both landlords and tenants, visit the Website of the Régie du logement.

Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal (OMHM – Montréal Municipal Housing Bureau)
If you and your family are housed by the OMHM, this organization will assist you with finding housing in the private rental market network.

Regroupement des organismes du Montréal ethnique pour le logement (ROMEL- Association of Montréal’s ethnic organizations for housing)
If you and your family are not being housed by the Office municipal d'habitation de Montréal, ROMEL can provide you with referral services and help you find housing.
Telephone: 514 341-1057

Community organizations
Several community organizations located in boroughs on the Island of Montréal provide advice on finding housing, as well as information about the rights of tenants. They do not offer any specific services to repatriated families. Name, address and phone number of organizations: comités de logement de la région de Montréal (Housing committees in the Montréal area)

Q2 : Do repatriated nationals have access to assistance programs from the Société d’habitation du Québec or to low-cost housing?

You have exactly the same rights as all other Québec citizens with respect to access to government financial aid programs for housing Low-rental housing or Shelter Allowance Program.

To be eligible for these programs, you must have been living in Québec for at least one year. As a result, repatriated families who were not residing in Québec when they were repatriated will not have access to these programs for the next few months. Specific conditions may apply to people who are not Canadian citizens or who do not have permanent resident status.

Health

Q1 : Are repatriated persons eligible for Québec’s Health Insurance Plan?

People who are Canadian citizens or who have permanent resident status and settle in Québec are generally covered by the plan after a three-month waiting period following registration with the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

There are some exemptions concerning the waiting period. The RAMQ will notify you if an exemption applies to you or to a member of your family. Persons who are subject to the three-month waiting period must either assume the costs of health services that they may receive during this period or purchase private insurance.

Persons who have visitor status (tourists) must pay all the costs pertaining to healthcare services that they receive during their stay in Québec.

For more information on private insurers
Canadian Life and Health Insurance OmbudService (CLHIO)

Work

Q1 : Can I work without a permit?

If you are a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, you may work without a work permit. If you have visitor status (tourist), you may not obtain a work permit. Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Education

Q1 : What authorization do I need to register a child in preschool, elementary school or high school?

To register a child for school, you must apply for admission.

For a minor child who holds visitor status, you must also obtain the authorization necessary to study in Québec (Québec Acceptance Certificate for Studies and study permit).

Q2 : If the registration deadline dates have passed, will children still be admitted in school?

You have returned to Québec under Repatriation from Lebanon Operation and you would like to register or register your child in an educational institution. You must go to your neighbourhood school to fill out an application (you may be referred to the school board). Current rules pertaining to admission requirements and tuition fees apply.

For specific questions, contact the regional offices of the ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport in your area.

Daycare services

Q1 : What are the requirements for access to daycare services?

Several daycares offer reduced rates ($7 per day) for children under the age of 5. These centres de la petite enfance are family child care centres recognized by a coordinating office or subsidized daycare centres. Parents who were born outside Canada and who currently reside in Québec may be eligible to reduced rates depending on their status.

Most schools offer daycare services before classes start in the morning, at lunchtime and after school within an educational setting. For more information about the conditions that apply, contact the educational institution.

See also: Registering your child in childcare services (day care)

Q2 : What are the conditions to access child support programs?

Since 2005, parents have been benefiting from a refundable tax credit for child support when they receive the Canada Child Tax Benefit. This tax benefit is paid out by the Gouvernement du Québec to assist families. Find out if you are eligible.

Financial support

Q1 : What financial resources are available to nationals with temporary resident status?

If you arrived in Québec with temporary status between July 15 and August 31, 2006, you may be eligible for financial assistance in accordance with the discretionary power of the Minister for a period of two to three months, depending on your situation.

The financial assistance will be reassessed at the end of this period. During this time, you should have contacted Citizenship and Immigration Canada and taken steps to obtain permanent resident status.

Q2 : How can funds be transferred from Lebanese banks?

In accordance with the previously established agreement with your financial institution in Lebanon, you must send a request by fax to have the funds transferred. It is recommended that you contact your financial institution to find out about the procedures to follow in order to have the money transferred.

Immigration status

Q1 : Can I apply for permanent resident status on site (as is the case for temporary workers or students)? What are the conditions for obtaining it?

A permanent resident application is generally submitted and processed abroad. However, some people may be authorized to submit their application for permanent residence to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Submitting such a request does not vest any rights or priviledges.
Call Centre: 1-888-242-2100

A person who is in Canada and who is the spouse or de facto spouse of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident may be sponsored. The sponsor must meet the requirements of the Gouvernement du Québec, as well as those of the government of Canada; above all, the sponsor may not be receiving last resort assistance benefits. In this last case or in any other situation, a person who is living in Canada may submit an application for permanent residence for humanitarian reasons.

These steps are initiated through the CIC. The file is then submitted to the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles. For more information, visit the Website or contact the CIC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

Q2 : What are the federal government procedures to accelerate the sponsorship application process? How will these applications be processed?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced that it would prioritize the processing of sponsorship applications in the family class involving people who are in Lebanon. You can find out the status of your application.

New applications
To ensure that your application is considered for priority processing, make sure to indicate “Situation in Lebanon” on the envelope of the application addressed to the CIC.

Once the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles receives the file from the federal government, it will be given priority processing.

Q3 : How do I renew my status as a visitor? What are the deadlines and the fees?

Validity of visa
The validity period indicated on your visitor visa (affixed in your passport) corresponds to the period of time that the visa can be used. It will not be possible to use the visa to enter Canada after the expiry date indicated.

If there is no stamp from customs or Immigration on your travel document and if there is no date indicating the expiry date of the visit, the authorized stay is six months.

Extension
If you hold a visitor’s visa and wish to live in Canada, you must extend your status. You must submit an application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada at least one month before the end of the validity period or before if your visa expires on a statutory holiday (on Christmas Day, for example). A $75 fee that applies.
Call Centre: 1-888 242-2100

Francization

Q1 : What resources are available to learn French? What are the costs involved?

The French courses offered by the Ministère de l’immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC) are provided by its partners to permanent residents or Canadian citizens 16 years of age or over who have been living in Québec for five years or less. If this applies to you, you may register for full-time or part-time courses.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents for over 5 years
You may register for French courses with your local school board. Registration fees vary between $30 and $50.

You may have access to part-time courses offered by the MICC’s partners, if spaces are available.

Temporary residents (international students, temporary workers, visitors)
If you can prove that you have initiated an application for permanent residence, you may have access to the courses given by school boards. There are no other public service offers available.

Identity documents

Q1: How do I obtain proof of citizenship?

If you are a Canadian citizen and your passport has expired, you may apply for a new passport at Passport Canada. The processing time is 20 working days by mail and 10 working days in person.

You may also request proof of citizenship. The processing time is three months and the fee is $75 per person.
Call Centre: 1-888 242-2100