If You Leave an Abusive Situation, Will You Be Deported?
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (sometimes called a landed immigrant) you cannot be deported for leaving an abusive relationship. If you do not know if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, call Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office. Look in the blue book of the telephone book for the office phone number.

If you have had your refugee hearing in Canada and have been found to be a refugee, you can apply on your own to be a permanent resident. Being married or separated has no effect on your status.

As a sponsored immigrant, you would not be deported solely because your sponsorship broke down (see section: "If You Are Being Sponsored"). You should get legal advice. If you are a woman and your sponsor is hurting you, there are safe places to go. You and your children could stay in a women's shelter until you find a better place to live. These places are free and you can ask the police to take you there. If your sponsorship breaks down, this does not give your sponsor the right to keep your children or your property.

If you are a dependent of a refugee and he is in the process of applying for permanent resident for both of you, he can cancel your application. In this case, you can apply to be a refugee yourself. Or you can apply to be a permanent resident on a compassionate and humanitarian grounds. You would need to show why you should stay in Canada. You should get legal advice. Call your local Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office to get more information.