Canadian-Libyan broohaha

The Secretary of the General People\'s Committee of Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation met in Tripoli today the Canadian Foreign Minister and the delegation accompanying him.
Ways of upgrading relations between the two countries in all areas were discussed in the meeting attended by the Head of the Americas Department at the Foreign Liaison Bureau.
The Canadian Minister arrived earlier in Tripoli and was received at the airport by the Head of the Americas Affairs.

http://www.libyaninvestment.com/libya_n … Info=10205

Sounds like this is good news.

Hi all

Just an update:
I went to Canadian embassy today to get my license attested and asked them about the travelling situation from Libya. Their recommendation was not to travel untill the situation is resolved and Canadian authorities are working on it. There was no time frame given but its good idea to contact embassy time to time to see any development in this regard.
Lets hope for the best :-)

Cheers
Waqas

A work colleague of mine and his wife (both Canadian passport holders) just returned back to Tripoli after spending a week R&R in Dubai...

Thay had NO problems at all getting their exit visas and no problems either returning through immigration at the Tripoli end

The visa guy at my company advised me that everything seems ok right now for Canadians.

Finally there has been some acknowledgement in the world media that there is an issue....


Canadians not welcome in Libya

Awaiting the fallout after Colin Brazier's Sky News interview with Colonel G....

Are the Brits next to feel his wrath?

All the articles appear to source from one CBC news article:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/10/2 … dhafi.html

Most of the information in the articles (aside from the thin details of the Cannon visit) seems to be several weeks old.  I got work yesterday from my visa guy that I should be ok to pick up my next one in November.

Sandman and Gabacho,

am wondering if there is a difference for Canadians with residency (like my husband) who need exit/re-entry visas and Canadians on business visa who have to renew every X months.  Any insight?  sure would like to have this resolved soon. We took delivery on our household goods this weekend, so now we ar unpacking.  Hate to think we'll have to pack back up so soon.  (husband's residency expires next spring.  Also hate to think that we'll be here in Libya til then.

I'm not on residency - maybe in 2010.  I'll let you know how the next visa goes...

So who set the CBC straight?  They updated there story to better reflect the situation:

Confusion over Libyan visas for Canadians
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/ … as026.html

I have sent my story to couple of news channels in Canada.
Lets see and hope that issues are resolved well before winter break.
Cheers
waqas

Okay so obviously we can talk about the rumors til the cows come home but let's try and gather some facts here...

Siddiqui was issued exit visas for his family mid Oct within the usual time frames.  Are you back in country Sid?  Any issues?

Justice's husband was still waiting for exit visa mid October despite being in immigration for 9 days.  What happened there?

Sandman has seen a couple of Canadians come and go.  I hsve seen one as well that got the exit visa last week and re-entered after a week's vacation with no problems.  Anyone else?  No friend of a friend here - someone you actually know please.

We are not planning a trip till December, I sent the passport for exit/re-entry just to be sure that it was not a problem.

I have been advised though, from our immigration contact, not to travel till we have better visibility on the whole situation.

Hopefully things will get sorted out once this visit from the Canadian officials is over.

Siddiqui wrote:

We are not planning a trip till December, I sent the passport for exit/re-entry just to be sure that it was not a problem.

I have been advised though, from our immigration contact, not to travel till we have better visibility on the whole situation.

Hopefully things will get sorted out once this visit from the Canadian officials is over.

The visit to Libya was last Monday. Cannon's whole trip to the Maghreb  and Middle East wrapped up on Sunday Oct 25th.

Here's a link to the trip summary:

http://www.international.gc.ca/minister … x?lang=eng

Here's the communique:

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/af … 9/316.aspx

There is no official standing on this issue by either government but truth of the matter is that my company has stopped all movement (of canadians) till further notice. There are 4 Canadains guy, on rotation, who have been asked to wait.
Even Canadian embassy advised me not to travel till situation is cleared but the problem is no: one is officially declaring the situation.
All Canadians are in uncertain situation (canadain embassy is well aware of that fact) and this should have been discussed in this FM visit but there is no news about it rather " all is right" type of impression is given by FM.....
i feel it is wait and see period for us untill there is a green signal from either side.
cheers
waqas

waqas wrote:

I have sent my story to couple of news channels in Canada.
Lets see and hope that issues are resolved well before winter break.
Cheers
waqas

Hey, great idea, get the Canadian media involved.

Real dumbass move if you ask me.

Horizontal Harry wrote:

Hey, great idea, get the Canadian media involved.

Real dumbass move if you ask me.

Better than getting US "news" media involved... 

They're probably still too distracted by balloon boy to report anything useful. 

I am back in Canada for a month and it is being reported all over the news that Libya isnt letting any Canadians get visa's (see link below). Good job I have dual nationalities and my visa is issued on my other passport.
  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/arti … -on-canada

Speaking to a fellow Brit earlier today - who works at one of the Canadian IOC's, he tells me that the situation is currently
(1) No new work visas for Canadians are being applied for and (2) Existing work visas are not being renewed when they expire. Current work visas and exit visas are not affected.

Theiman wrote:

I am back in Canada for a month and it is being reported all over the news that Libya isnt letting any Canadians get visa's (see link below). Good job I have dual nationalities and my visa is issued on my other passport.
  http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/arti … -on-canada

Take a careful look at this thread.  All the other Canadian media sources picked up the single CBC story from Sunday.  CBC issued a correction story yesterday (saying basically that everything is rumors at this point), that I linked this morning.

All the Canadian media reports come from a single poorly sourced article...  I wouldn't read into it too much at this point.

Thanks for responding Sid.  I feel a bit cheeky calling you all out like that but do appreciate your candor.  Facts have been hard to come by in this mess so any we can grab are certainly more valuable than speculation.  I will be certain to return the favor.  Hope your holiday goes forward as planned.

hey, someone did apologize on our behalf. i found that in tripoli post:
http://www.tripolipost.com/articledetai … &archive=1

The Libyan Embassy is Ottawa just chimed in:

Libya denies reports Canadians not welcome

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar … hsokjAYgxQ

Laurieloo,

we've been busy moving inot our house (shipment from states delievered on Saturuday/Sunday.  I think that my husbands company decided/advised he wait to get the exit/re-entry visa, moot point since it wasn't granted in time for him to mke it to the states to supervise the new roof on our house and to attend his citizenship hearing. So, he'll apply again when he gets the new appointment notice.
We were planing on trip to Malta for R&R at Thanksgiving (american).  We'll see.
And we were planning trip to Aqaba Jordan and Jerusalem for Christmas.

We'll re-submit for exit visas for all of us (1 American 2 Canadian) in a week or two in anticipation of Malta trip.

I have been told to make backup plans........ i.e. get my work permit / residence permit issued on my other passport just in case this thing doesn't get settled.

I have already started the process...... but do hope that it doesn't come to the point where we have to activate backup plans as not everyone has the dual citizenship option available to them.

Yesterday I explored the visa issue in my company. Since, I am seconded to a local oil company here in Libya so my boss checked the situation with both my parent multinational oil company and local oil company. Below are the findings.

Multinational company
For the time being a Canadian passport holder cannot enter or leave the country and there are no ways around it. As a matter of fact we have Mr. XYZ who holds a Canadian passport; was not able to leave the country to attend a conference in the US.

Local Company
Recently there was a visit to Libya from the Canada Foreign Affairs minister, an apology was presented and everything was back to normal.

I was told by local colleague that for the time being not to use second option i.e. use of another passport as he thinks situation will be resolved soon.

I must say situation is not consistent. It is working for some Canadian and at the same time it didn’t work for few others. The situation is blurred until it is officially announced either by Libyan or Canadian officials.

Thanks, Sandman... I am Canadian, which is why I was looking for clarifiation! Married to a Syrian, which is supposed to work in my favour if there is a problem along the way! Inshallah...

Thanks Justice.  Glad to hear that you have received your shipment. It is a bit like Christmas isn't it?

We are trying to leave a bit earlier than you guys, (about a week), and since our hubbies are the same company I imagine that if I get out, you'll get out.  I'll keep you posted.

Siddiqui wrote:

I have been told to make backup plans........ i.e. get my work permit / residence permit issued on my other passport just in case this thing doesn't get settled.

I have already started the process...... but do hope that it doesn't come to the point where we have to activate backup plans as not everyone has the dual citizenship option available to them.

Don't wish to upset you buddy but visas for Pakistani nationals are difficult to get hold of as well. Have been for a long time. Also your employers would be well within their rights to put you on a Pakistani payroll rather than Canadian, heck, you wouldn't like that.

Harry.... true, it used to be very difficult, but is not so any more. I just got visas issued for a couple of new hires and the whole process was completed in about the same time it takes us to do the paperwork for a European employee......

My company, thankfully, doesn't discriminate on the basis of nationality........ so I am okay on that front.

Hi all

good news! i went to HR (ZOC) today and they gave green signal to process my family sponsorship from Canada. They said that the situation is over and for Canadians in our company, they have started processing exit/re-entry visas.
Similar news from elsewhere would definitely clarify the situation more so please share if you have any positive development on your front.

Rgds
Waqas

As of yesterday things were still on hold at our company, (hubby works for foreign company), though they had heard rumors that employees of the NOC were able to get their papers submitted and processed now.  Rumor confirmed it seems. 

Seems the foreign companies, (well ours anyways), are still awaiting approval from the NOC to be able to submit Canadian papers.  But the NOC has gone ahead and approved the NOC employees.  Shocking eh?????

So finally our canadian colleagues are traveling to Canada after almost spending a month over their due time (rotation). One of my friends is travelling on Sunday, already got his exit/re-entry visa. As LL said it seems done for NOC related employees but i hope it will be resolved for others as well, very soon.
Rgds
Waqas

Any update for those Canadians having Business visa.

No visas, the song remains the same.

Hi,
   I am not seeking information about new bussiness visa. I need to know the canadians who are already here on bussiness visa ( means who entered Tripoli before this issue was popped up).
sabbeh

Horizontal Harry wrote:

No visas, the song remains the same.

right... 

I think hopeless harry would be a more fitting user ID.

Hi,
   I am not seeking information about new bussiness visa. I need to know the canadians who are already here on bussiness visa ( means who entered Tripoli before this issue was popped up). Any one can help me for this information.
sabbeh

gabacho wrote:

Horizontal Harry wrote:

No visas, the song remains the same.

right... 

I think hopeless harry would be a more fitting user ID.

We'll see asshole. Why be abusive when I'm simply telling it the way it is.

Immigration are not issuing business visas to Canadians without NOC approval. Same as before. Lots of Canadians are stranded in the desert, if they leave they won't get back. The Embassy in Canada are not issuing new business visas. If you know more then pray tell.

Hi all
Just an update from side:

four of my colleagues (on rotational job) travelled to Canada in past two weeks.
i agrre with Hor harry that situation is not back to normal but has improved a bit in a sense that atleast movement has started.
two additional steps are now involved:
1. approval from NOC (for companies in oil and gas business)
2. two weeks period by immigration dept to stamp e/RE visa which eariler was 2-3 days process.
Sabbeh, it takes 6-8 weeks to get resident visa. one of my colleagues got his resident visa just 2 weeks ago.
another news is that my company is still hiring canadians and 2 more guys will join us in december.
One of my friend is travelling on 25th Novemeber so all these events indicate that travelling restriction is now lifted BUT now there is a long process and time involved.
I also planned my vacation for early december and gave my passport in early novemebr fro E/RE visa. this thirsday I was told that company got approval fromNOC and now they will send it to immigration to get it stamped, another two weeks......
Lets hope that with time it settles down.
Cheers and enjoy weekend
Waqas