An Airdrie resident is living through what he describes as absolute hell as his foreign wife remains stranded in Dubai, unable to secure a visa to evacuate to Canada amid escalating regional conflict. Chimanjot Sharma's world has been turned upside down since his wife, Ambika Dubey, became trapped in the United Arab Emirates city, where recent missile interceptions and drone strikes have created a dangerous environment.
Life in Peril Near Conflict Zones
Sharma's immediate concern for his wife intensified on Saturday when news broke that a Pakistani taxi driver had been killed by falling debris after United Arab Emirates officials intercepted an Iranian missile. For several weeks, Dubey has been sheltering alone in an apartment less than one kilometer from where the tragic incident occurred.
"Hell," Sharma described his wife's situation. "We don't know what's going to happen in the next second." The couple married last year in India, but because Dubey holds an Indian passport, she couldn't accompany Sharma when he returned to their Airdrie home. Instead, she remained in India while Sharma began the application process for her permanent residency in Canada.
Desperate Attempts for Evacuation
Since conflict broke out on February 28, Sharma has spent sleepless nights contacting every Canadian authority, politician, embassy, and office he can find, pleading for a permit that would allow his wife to be evacuated to safety. "I've been emailing every hour on the clock," he revealed. "Just to get one permit so I can book a flight for my wife and bring her to safety. That's the only thing I have ever asked for."
The emotional toll has been devastating. "She is my world. Without her, I have no world," Sharma expressed. "We haven't even slept since the war has started. I have been preparing files day and night, emailing all the authorities in Canada, just for the single hope that somebody will read the situation we are in."
Visa Application Challenges
Sharma's efforts to bring his wife to Canada have faced multiple obstacles:
- He applied for two temporary resident visas for Dubey in May and August of last year
- The May application was refused due to insufficient documentation
- The second refusal resulted from advice by a consultant who misunderstood Sharma's immigration journey to Canada in 2023
Sharma believes that without this nine-month delay caused by the consultant's advice, the couple might already be living together safely in Canada. In the meantime, they met in Dubai to spend time together, with Dubey's visit initially planned to last only a few weeks until April.
Safety Concerns at Dubai International Airport
While Dubey holds an Indian passport, the couple has decided against her returning to India through Dubai International Airport. Sharma explained that his wife doesn't feel safe going to the airport, where there have been reports of drone strikes in recent days. Photographs from March 16 show smoke plumes rising from an ongoing fire near the airport as flights gradually resumed following what authorities described as a "drone-related incident."
Although news reports indicate the Indian government has been assisting citizens leaving conflict zones, Sharma has yet to receive any response from the Indian consulate regarding his wife's precarious situation. Every attempt to secure help has been met with refusal, leaving the couple in a state of constant anxiety and uncertainty about their future together.
