A Quebec family that was told they had to return to the United States after 15 years in Canada has been given a reprieve. The Figg family confirmed Sunday that they have applied for an extension to their visitors permits. “That pending status gives us cautious hope that we can proceed forward with the next steps to become permanent residents and remain in Canada,” said Alice Figg. “Our status is still pending,” reiterated Brent Figg. “We have not had a response from the government agencies.” This comes after the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) told them last August that they had two weeks to leave the country as their work visas had expired. Brent Figg explains that, in the past, they were given a 90-day grace period to reapply for their visas, but that wasn’t the case this time around. The family says they’ve tried a few times to apply for permanent residency, but to no avail. The Figgs and their children moved to Quebec in 2017 after first moving around the country for work. Originally a family of four, they have welcomed four more children since moving to Canada, and have planted roots in the Eastern Townships area. The family says the outpouring of community support has encouraged them to hope for the best as they await the final decision from the immigration department.
