Travel nightmares leave frustrated Canadian permanent residents in debt

to get home to Ottawa from their trip to Germany in March 2020. (Submitted by Sieghard Weitzel)

The Weitzels experienced their own travel nightmare in March 2020 when they were stranded in Germany due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Sieghard Weitzel, a Canadian permanent resident, and his wife Jacqueline, a Canadian citizen, had traveled to Germany to visit family. But as the pandemic spread, they found themselves unable to secure a flight back to Ottawa.

“We were stuck in a foreign country, not knowing when we would be able to return home,” said Sieghard.

Initially, they tried to obtain a special travel document through the IRCC portal but faced numerous technical issues. The process was confusing and frustrating, with no clear timeline for when they would be able to return.

“We felt like we were in limbo, not knowing what to do or how to get back home,” said Jacqueline.

After weeks of uncertainty, the Weitzels decided to take matters into their own hands. They managed to secure a flight to Frankfurt, then drove to the Netherlands and flew from Amsterdam to Montreal. From there, they rented a car and made the long drive back to Ottawa.

“It was a stressful and exhausting journey, but we were determined to get back home,” said Sieghard.

The Weitzels’ ordeal left them with mounting debt and missed work. They had to quarantine upon their return, further impacting their finances.

“We never imagined that a simple trip to visit family would turn into such a nightmare,” said Jacqueline.

Moving forward, the Weitzels are hopeful that the Canadian government will address the issues faced by permanent residents stranded abroad. They believe that more streamlined processes and better communication are essential to prevent others from experiencing similar hardships.

As more stories of stranded permanent residents come to light, it is clear that urgent action is needed to ensure that Canadians abroad are not left in distress. The current system is failing those who hold permanent resident status, causing unnecessary stress and financial burden.

It is time for the Canadian government to prioritize the needs of its citizens and permanent residents, especially during times of crisis. The stories shared by Helen Bobat, Poonam McMullin, Wei Yue, Laura Anthony, and the Weitzels are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by those stranded abroad without their Canadian identification.

As these individuals work to recover from their experiences, they hope that their stories will bring about positive change and prevent others from enduring similar hardships. It is a call to action for the government to reassess its policies and procedures to better support Canadians and permanent residents in times of need.