About UPI  |  My Account  |  UPI en Español
Free News Update:
Sign up
United Press International - News. Analysis. Insight.™ - 100 Years of Journalistic Excellence
  • Home
  • Top News
  • Entertainment
  • Odd News
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Science
  • Health
  • Analysis
    • Energy Resources
    • Security Industry
    • Emerging Threats
  • Video
  • News Photos
Search:
Go
Bookmark this Page
You are here:  Home / Odd News / Bureaucracy keeps Canadian woman stateless

Odd News

View archive | RSS Feed

Bureaucracy keeps Canadian woman stateless

Published: Feb. 25, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Order reprints  |  Print Story  |  Email to a Friend  |  Post a Comment
BRANTFORD, Ontario, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A Florida-born Canadian woman is in a Catch-22 citizenship dilemma eight years after losing a wallet containing the only proof she's Canadian.

Elizabeth Shmuir was born prematurely in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 32 years ago to a vacationing mother who'd been told by a doctor she wasn't pregnant, The Expositor, a Brantford, Ontario, newspaper reported.

Shmuir later grew up in the southern Ontario town and had a provincial drivers license, a provincial healthcare card and a federal Social Insurance card, she said. She's been able to replace all of the identification except the crucial piece that verified she was a Canadian born abroad, the report said.

"I've given (the authorities) as much information as I could but they ask questions like 'What time of day did you enter Canada? What airline were you on? What was the name of the immigration officer?' and I can't answer those," she told The Expositor.

Federal immigration officials say there is no record of her entering the country as a newborn, the newspaper said. They encouraged Shmuir to get an immigration lawyer, which she said she can't afford, the report said.


News Photos Slideshows
Photos of the Day
Week in Photos
News
Entertainment
Sports
Features
Most Popular
Stories
Photos
Videos
1.
Peeping tom victims told to fix blinds
2.
$4 million ATM error leads teen to spend
3.
Bare-bottom bride sues dress designer
4.
Driver crashes $650,000 Mercedes-Benz
5.
Gas station brawl draws 200-strong crowd
Advertise on UPI.com
Videos
Enlarge Video
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Bush signs war spending bill
Friday, July 4
Young Americans speak out about D.C. voting rights
Young Americans speak out about D.C. voting rights
Thursday, July 3
Home funerals: Tending to their own
Home funerals: Tending to their own
Thursday, July 3
Students say 'I do' to wedding class
Students say 'I do' to wedding class
Tuesday, June 10
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
United Press International, UPI, the UPI logo, and other trademarks and service marks, are registered or unregistered trademarks of United Press International, Inc. in the United States and in other countries.
Search: Go
Official_Government_Wires  |   About UPI  |   Site Map  |   Terms of Use  |   Privacy Policy  |   Advertise Online  |   Contact Us
Sponsored Links: Auto Dealers - College Football Tickets - prom dresses - Prom dresses and gowns - tattoos - Wedding and Honeymoon Experts - Conventions - Trade Shows - Conferences - Motivational Sports Speakers Bureau - Press Release Services - Real Estate Properties in the world