Cuban woman visiting family on Montreal’s South Shore stuck in Canada

As Cuba struggles with a fuel shortage that’s disrupting flights, one woman in Longueuil is trying to get back home to Cuba.

But with a soon-to-be-expired passport, the situation is getting complicated for Ivelise Lau, who came to Canada to spend time with her daughter and new grandson.

The 68-year-old arrived from Cuba in May and planned to return home on March 7.

But that may no longer happen after airlines in Canada are winding down operations and a fuel shortage disrupts flights to and from the island.

On Monday, Lau found out her Air Transat flight was cancelled.

Lau says she’s stressed because the cancellation is more than just an inconvenience: her visa and passport are set to expire on March 10, meaning she needs to leave Canada sooner than later.

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The family turned to the Cuban consulate for help and was told it can take up to four months to renew the passport.

The consulate told CTV News that travelling to Mexico is an option, but the family says that’s not possible.

Lau’s daughter Ivette Gonzalez says the family has tried booking another flight.

“We spoke to a person from the airline Aeromexico and they said, ‘Well, she will be able to come, but her passport needs at least six months’ validity,’” she said.

Air Transat is operating special flights this week to bring Canadians who are stuck in Cuba back home.

The airline tells CTV News flights to Cuba will only resume in May, but they say they will be in touch with the family.

In the meantime, they are in limbo, worried that if Lau stays in Canada past her visa expiration date, it will create legal complications in the future.

“We don’t want to break the law. We just want a way out,” said Gonzalez in tears. “But it seems like nobody’s helping us.”