B.C. Health Care plan minimum stay

[toby]

My wife and I will be spending about half the year in Britich Colombia, the other half abroad. We want to join the B.C. health plan.

I am told that members must stay in B.C. for 6 months plus a day to qualify for membership.

Question 1: Is there any leeway with this requirement? WHat if we were able to stay in B.C. only 180 days? Would that disqualify us?

Question 2: How can we prove (if ever asked) that we spent 183+ days in B.C.? Apparently the onus of proof is on us. Being a Canadian, my passport is not stamped when I enter and exit Canada. My wife will be a permanent resident; will her passport be stamped on entering/exiting Canada?

If passports are not stamped, what other proof can we offer?

 

[Karlshammar]

They are generally not stamped for either PRs or Canadians, however, I believe you can ask them to stamp it for you and they will. They may ask why, but your explanation makes perfect sense.

 

[toby]

Even where passports are not stamped, does Immigration keep track on their computer system of entries and exits?

Could an examiner for the B.C. health care plan ask Immigration for their records, to confirm/deny my declaration of time spent in B.C.?

I suspect that some nee permanent residents in Canada won't think to ask for their passports to be stamped. What do they do whan asked to prove time spent in B.C.?

 

[Karlshammar]

They do keep track of entries. I don't think BC would ask for it, but you could probably get the record of it yourself if need be.

That being said, I don't think BC is going to ask for any proof, but I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Suin]

my passport was stamped on entry. I think they always stamp foreign passports at the POE. for detailed info you can always phone to Canadian border service.

 

[Karlshammar]

They will not stamp your passport when you enter Canada if you are a PR. In fact, if you have your PR card, they won't even ask for your passport. At least they have never asked for my wife's passport.

Perhaps you can ask them for a stamp and explain why you need it.

In addition, I have re-entered Canada multiple times on my work permit and once as a PR (before I got my PR card), and they never stamped my passport.

 

[OrangeCounty]

Probably they do stamp passports from visa-waiver countries?

Karlshammar is from visa-waiver country?

Suin is from non visa-waiver country?

OrangeCounty

 

[Karlshammar]

You are correct about our countries.

However, I got stamped when I initially entered as a visitor, when I got my work permits (i.e., on first entry to receive them), and when landing. It was when I already had status and just re-entered under the same status that I got stamped. Maybe we were talking about different things? Or perhaps you are right.

Probably they do stamp passports from visa-waiver countries?

Karlshammar is from visa-waiver country?

Suin is from non visa-waiver country?

OrangeCounty