Move from nominated province for a job opportunity

[barter_oak]

Hi there everyone!

I am a PR (nominated by Ontario when in Express Entry pool), landed in Feb 2022, stayed for ~2 weeks, went back to home country for a family medical emergency and had to be there until now to support in various ways. I came back only 10 days ago now, this time for good.
I am desperate for a job and have been trying for months even before coming here. Finally got one in Montreal. Now my question is whether I can move to Montreal legally, given I stayed just in the order of days in my nominated province. I accepted the job to support myself financially for now, but I'm intending to move back. Is this all right? Am I allowed to actually move? Will this cause any problems further down the line? I intend to sponsor my wife too after earning a couple of pay cheques.

Any insight or advice is appreciated!

 

[scylla]

Hi there everyone!

I am a PR (nominated by Ontario when in Express Entry pool), landed in Feb 2022, stayed for ~2 weeks, went back to home country for a family medical emergency and had to be there until now to support in various ways. I came back only 10 days ago now, this time for good.
I am desperate for a job and have been trying for months even before coming here. Finally got one in Montreal. Now my question is whether I can move to Montreal legally, given I stayed just in the order of days in my nominated province. I accepted the job to support myself financially for now, but I'm intending to move back. Is this all right? Am I allowed to actually move? Will this cause any problems further down the line? I intend to sponsor my wife too after earning a couple of pay cheques.

Any insight or advice is appreciated!

I would avoid moving to Quebec if at all possible. There is no issue doing this for your own PR status. However spousal sponsorship processing times for Quebec applications are significantly longer than the rest of Canada. Suggest you read up on this before making the move so that you understand the impact.

 

[barter_oak]

Thank you for replying, so moving there even temporarily is a bad idea? i.e. Can I not remove the Quebec history or avoid the Quebec process if I move back to Ontario? And just do only the regular sponsorship process?

 

[canuck78]

Would add that you may also run into issues with RAMQ. Provinces do seem to be trying to crack down on PRs who don’t settle in their nominating province but not exactly sure how they will do so. The one exception is Quebec where it is more difficult to move without CSQ.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for replying, so moving there even temporarily is a bad idea? i.e. Can I not remove the Quebec history or avoid the Quebec process if I move back to Ontario? And just do only the regular sponsorship process?

If you are living & working in Ontario when you sponsor no issue.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for replying, so moving there even temporarily is a bad idea? i.e. Can I not remove the Quebec history or avoid the Quebec process if I move back to Ontario? And just do only the regular sponsorship process?

Some people have been successful in doing this but others haven't and their files have remained in the Quebec process. So if you move to Quebec, you need to be prepared for the possibility that you may be stuck with the very long processing times for spousal sponsorship. I personally wouldn't chance it unless your spouse qualifies for an eTA (i.e. doesn't need a TRV to visit Canada). Otherwise it's a pretty big gamble IMO. Ultimately your call.

 

[scylla]

If you are living & working in Ontario when you sponsor no issue.

OP's job is in Quebec.

 

[barter_oak]

Would add that you may also run into issues with RAMQ. Provinces do seem to be trying to crack down on PRs who don’t settle in their nominating province but not exactly sure how they will do so. The one exception is Quebec where it is more difficult to move without CSQ.

Sorry I'm new, but is RAMQ your health card? Are you saying if I'm a PR (backed by Ontario's PNP) and then try to work in Quebec, Quebec may trouble me giving a health card?

 

[barter_oak]

OP's job is in Quebec.

Yeah, I suppose @canuck78 is saying that moving to and back from Quebec isn't a problem for spousal sponsorhip when you actually submit the application residing and working in Ontario.

(I'm intending to move back to Ontario as soon as possible)

 

[scylla]

Yeah, I suppose @canuck78 is saying that moving to and back from Quebec isn't a problem for spousal sponsorhip when you actually submit the application residing and working in Ontario.

(I'm intending to move back to Ontario as soon as possible)

Yes, but what I'm telling you is that we've seen examples on this forum where people have done that and then had trouble getting their application shifted out of the Quebec process. So this is the risk you need to be prepared to accept.

 

[canuck78]

OP's job is in Quebec.

They said they would be moving back to Ontario.

 

[canuck78]

Yeah, I suppose @canuck78 is saying that moving to and back from Quebec isn't a problem for spousal sponsorhip when you actually submit the application residing and working in Ontario.

(I'm intending to move back to Ontario as soon as possible)

No I meant if you moved back to Ontario permanently then you could sponsor through Ontario.

 

[canuck78]

Sorry I'm new, but is RAMQ your health card? Are you saying if I'm a PR (backed by Ontario's PNP) and then try to work in Quebec, Quebec may trouble me giving a health card?

Yes health card. You never qualified for OHIP since you never met the residency requirement so you’d be applying for RAMQ as a new PR which typically requires showing CSQ.