AceShowbiz - Randy Quaid is celebrating after his wife Evi Quaid was granted Canadian citizenship - paving the way for the "Brokeback Mountain" star to remain in the country.

The couple was arrested in Vancouver, British Columbia, in October 2010 on outstanding U.S. warrants related to vandalism charges in California.

They requested refugee status after claiming they were being persecuted by "Hollywood star whackers" and that their lives were in danger. Now their bid to stay in Canada permanently has been given a boost after officials granted Evi Quaid citizenship because her father is Canadian. She has now applied to sponsor her husband's residency request, and officials at the Canada Border Services Agency have dropped proceedings against him, according to Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail.

The Hollywood star says, "Today, we are here to say thank you to Canada. Thank you for your warm welcome, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to live in peace... I look forward to working on many exciting Canadian projects in the future."