Randi, Evi Quaid 'to stay in Canada'

Canadian immigration officials have cancelled admissibility proceedings against Randy and Evi Quaid, permitting them to stay in the country.

E Online reports that the couple - who are currently facing felony vandalism charges in California over an alleged squatting incident in their former house - will not be forced to return to the United States due to Evi's father having been born in Canada.

"Evi's Canadian citizenship was formally recognised and we received her citizenship card on February 10. Evi has formally applied to sponsor her husband and it is anticipated that Randy will be granted his permanent resident status in due course and before the refugee claim is scheduled," said the Quaids' lawyer Catherine Sas at a press conference held on Wednesday.

Randy added that he was grateful for his new residency status, announcing: "Today, we're here to say, 'Thank you, Canada.' Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to live in peace.

"Professionally... the brightest spot these past two-and-a-half years has been the film Real Time and now this award, which I finally get a chance to receive and was the reason we came to Canada in the first place."

The Quaids were first arrested in September 2010 on burglary charges stemming from the trespassing incident but fled to Canada once posting bail. They were later taken into custody in Vancouver in October 2010.