Brit married to Canadian. Don't have PR. Pregnancy and visa questions.

[Lucy M]

My husband is Canadian Citizen. I am British. Together 4.5 years, married for 1.5 years. Previously lived in UK and Calgary, AB - each with 2 year temporary work permits for the others country.

Most recently we lived in Alberta until March 2014 when we began a one year "around-the-world" trip - a decision to have an adventure before settling and having a family. Currently we are in Vietnam. We will return to Canada in March 2015 where we intend to settle permanently.

We want to start trying for a baby in April 2015. I do not have any type of visa for Canada. I assume I will need to obtain a visitor visa with a validity of six months with possibility to extend while I await my PR (which I have heard can take up to 18 months?) However, I would be lying to immigration Canada by saying I was "visiting" when I fully intend to live there and apply for PR.
Question 1: Is there a more suitable visa I should apply for that will legally allow me to remain in Canada while awaiting my PR?

Question 2: Should we get lucky and I fall pregnant soon before or after we arrive in Canada, will I be entitled to maternity care?
I understand I will need a health care card. My husband has one for Alberta already, and informed Alberta Health he was leaving to travel and when he will return. They told him his card will still be valid, as long as he keeps in touch with them.
Question 3: What will I need to obtain a health care card quickly arrival in Canada?
Question 4: I understand I may be issued a "temporary health care card" which will have an expiry date matching whatever "visitor" visa I have. Will "temporary health care cards" cover maternity care?

Finally, my husband is a surveyor with a lot of experience and qualifications. He will find work very quickly and easily - we understand his benefits might cover me? Question 5: Is it likely/possible my husbands benefits will cover me for medical, (including pregnancy) if I am not a PR and/or do not have Canadian health care?

Thank you so much for your help. We want to do everything legally and correctly and hope it is straight forward, as after all we are good people wanting to bring up a good Canadian family!

I look forward to your replies and the information.

Lucy

 

[Leon]

You generally don't get health care as a visitor in Canada but AB Health is one of the most forgiving and have been known to give coverage to spouses who are in the process of being sponsored, at least some of the time.

There is no special visa you can ask for. You can enter as a visitor and he can say on entry to Canada that he is going to sponsor you and ask for a visitor record. A visitor record could give you a visa right away to stay for up to a year. This may help with getting health care as any person who makes their home in Canada more than 6 months a year may qualify over someone who is staying 6 months or less.

Supplementary benefits your husband would have through work would definitely not cover things like pregnancy and childbirth. Such insurance plans are only meant to supplement things that AB health doesn't cover such as medication, dental, vision care and possibly some physio, massages and other things as well.

One way to deal with it would be for your husband to apply to sponsor you now. It may be hard for you to do the paperwork now that you are travelling and you should probably use a mailing address in Canada where somebody can notify and email you when immigration makes contact but the advantages would be that you could have your PR or almost have your PR by the time you want to settle.

 

[Lucy M]

Thank you so much Leon for such a helpful and informative reply.

Would we need anything in particular at the border for my husband to say he is sponsoring me so I can get a visa for up to one year? How can we prove that upon entry?

Doing the paperwork for sponsorship now would certainly be tricky. Our wedding rings (as we did not want to bring valuables on this sort of trip), marriage certificates along with all our important documents are with my Mum in the UK, in an envelope ready for her to post when we eventually get a new home address in Canada. Presumably we need to scan things like that to send? Or do we need to send originals? Theoretically it could still be possible, if all done online, but as we are moving around so much, receiving mail in Asia would be risky and mail sent from my Mum in the UK may confuse immigration Canada of we declare we are currently in Asia? Not to mention we would not be able to sign anything. And we certainly wouldn't be able to mail passports for example.

Also, doesn't my husband have to currently be employed to sponsor me? And don't we need a residency address in Canada? We have the option of using my mother in laws (she lives in Quebec City - would that work for an Alberta application?) or we have friends in Alberta whose addresses we could use. But no relatives in Alberta. My husband also owns a holiday home in Quebec, and we could use that address. What do you advise?

In terms of proof of relationship, marriage, work etc, we have a very public online life with my blog (highfivelucy.com) not to mention an online wedding video and endless photographs on social media. What sort of evidence does immigration canada require?

Thanks again for all your help. Having my PR before, or soon after we arrive in Canada is a very exciting propspect and if at all possible to arrange while we are travelling, we will do so. We are keen to have children within the next year, but do not want to risk not having health care for something so important.

We really appreciate your knowledge, further information and advice.

Lucy

 

[Steevy]

As for your pregnancy inquiry, you may apply for a private health insurance plan, while you are waiting for your PR.

Such plan hat covers up to 80% of the cost for prenatal care, delivery, physical examination and nursing care for a maximum of $10,000.
In order to receive such benefits you will have to wait at least 1 months after the effective date to fall pregnant, otherwise it will not be covered.

Click Here and chat live with an agent, who can provide you more details on that plan, when the chat window pops up.

There is another option for Visitors to Canada, who got pregnant before the effective date set on the policy. A private medical insurance plan that regular emergency case as well as pregnancy related emergencies such as abdominal pain, miscarriage, bleedings, etc. up to the 31st week of your pregnancy period.

Use a Free On-line Insurance Calculatorto see what the price is going to be based on your age and medical history.

Hope it is helpful.

 

[Leon]

Thank you so much Leon for such a helpful and informative reply.

Would we need anything in particular at the border for my husband to say he is sponsoring me so I can get a visa for up to one year? How can we prove that upon entry?

Doing the paperwork for sponsorship now would certainly be tricky. Our wedding rings (as we did not want to bring valuables on this sort of trip), marriage certificates along with all our important documents are with my Mum in the UK, in an envelope ready for her to post when we eventually get a new home address in Canada. Presumably we need to scan things like that to send? Or do we need to send originals? Theoretically it could still be possible, if all done online, but as we are moving around so much, receiving mail in Asia would be risky and mail sent from my Mum in the UK may confuse immigration Canada of we declare we are currently in Asia? Not to mention we would not be able to sign anything. And we certainly wouldn't be able to mail passports for example.

Also, doesn't my husband have to currently be employed to sponsor me? And don't we need a residency address in Canada? We have the option of using my mother in laws (she lives in Quebec City - would that work for an Alberta application?) or we have friends in Alberta whose addresses we could use. But no relatives in Alberta. My husband also owns a holiday home in Quebec, and we could use that address. What do you advise?

In terms of proof of relationship, marriage, work etc, we have a very public online life with my blog (highfivelucy.com) not to mention an online wedding video and endless photographs on social media. What sort of evidence does immigration canada require?

Thanks again for all your help. Having my PR before, or soon after we arrive in Canada is a very exciting propspect and if at all possible to arrange while we are travelling, we will do so. We are keen to have children within the next year, but do not want to risk not having health care for something so important.

We really appreciate your knowledge, further information and advice.

Lucy

You need to fill out the whole sponsorship package including evidence of your relationship and send it in as one package. It would be hard to do that when you are travelling, for sure. Immigration doesn't have specific income requirements for a sponsor who is sponsoring a spouse or dependent children. They will ask him to provide his tax records and they'd like to know you wont end up on welfare but I don't think that would be a problem for you.

If you don't find it doable to apply while in Asia, at least print out and start filling out the forms. When you enter Canada, you can show them the forms as you apply for a visitor record. It is up to the immigration officer if they give you one but it would help if you can show that you are serious about applying for sponsorship.

If you give an address in Quebec for sponsorship, it will somewhat delay your application because Quebec insists on approving each sponsored person themselves too before they can immigrate. Also, if you settle in Quebec, they have their own health care. You would even as a PR have a 3 month wait for health care there although they do have an exception for pregnancy and childbirth.

It would be better if you give an AB address and don't stray from the intent to settle in AB when you get your PR. If you want to move later, that's fine but as a newcomer to AB, you should live there at least 6 months to make sure you fulfill your health care eligibility before you go somewhere else.

 

[Lucy M]

Thanks again, Leon, for all the helpful info. It's sounding quite promising. We'll prepare as much as we can before we fly back next Spring.

You suggest Alberta may be much more lenient with health care; Do you think - following all the same advice you have given above - that it would be possible to get health care with a visitor record in BC or Ontario? We just want to know if there's a big difference in the possibility, as depending on my husbands work options we may want to head straight to Vancouver or Ottawa to live, rather than Calgary. That's something we'll decide for certain over the next few months. It's good to know how much our choice of province may affect things like health care, if they are much stricter there for example and will want me to have my initial PR approval letter before offering me health care.

Thanks again. I think that will be the last of my questions for now. You've been extremely helpful.

Lucy

 

[Rob_TO]

Thanks again, Leon, for all the helpful info. It's sounding quite promising. We'll prepare as much as we can before we fly back next Spring.

You suggest Alberta may be much more lenient with health care; Do you think - following all the same advice you have given above - that it would be possible to get health care with a visitor record in BC or Ontario? We just want to know if there's a big difference in the possibility, as depending on my husbands work options we may want to head straight to Vancouver or Ottawa to live, rather than Calgary. That's something we'll decide for certain over the next few months. It's good to know how much our choice of province may affect things like health care, if they are much stricter there for example and will want me to have my initial PR approval letter before offering me health care.

Thanks again. I think that will be the last of my questions for now. You've been extremely helpful.

Lucy

As far as I know Alberta is the only province that gives healthcare simply by having visitor status and being a spouse of a resident there.

I believe in BC, you need to have just submitted a PR application, then you would be eligible.

In Ontario, forget it. It's one of the strictest provinces so you need to basically wait until you get your PR status (or sponsor approval of an inland app which takes 13 months), then add 3 more months for a waiting period, then you are eligible for healthcare.

 

[Leon]

You can also contact the health care in the provinces you are interested in and ask about their policies. True, Ontario is very difficult. BC is also the only one I have heard of that back charges people if they didn't stay 6 months in their first year. Not to say that the other ones don't do it too but BC is the only one I've heard of. You could have a scenario where you settle in BC, do your 3 month waiting period, get health care, have a baby and leave BC after 5.5 months and they could back charge you for every cent they have paid on your behalf. There are actually cases where this has happened.

Just make sure whereever you go that the eligibility clause actually says you must commit to living in that province in most cases for 6 months a year and if you do not fulfill that, they can go after you for back charges.

 

[Annabo]

Hi, everyone. I need any of your advice concerning my issue, because the situation is rather difficult.
I started to collect the documents for my PR (Sponsorship inland) 5 months ago because I got married to Canadian citizen and live with him in Manitoba right now. We are waiting for one document to be done, then I'll have to pass medical examination and ready to apply.
Canadian Embassy extended my visit for the next three months (as I'm going to apply very soon)and asked me to pass medical tests during next 30 days. But the problem is that a week ago we found out that I'm pregnant. As soon as I know It's rather dangerous to pass X ray test being pregnant. However without this test I can not apply for PR card as I don't have the whole list of necessary documents and as a result can not stay longer than next three months.

Maybe somebody has faced such problem before or maybe you can advise me what to do in this situation.
I'll be extremely appreciated

Thank you in advance

Ana

 

[Leon]

Many have done the x-ray while pregnant. With a lead apron and the right stage of pregnancy, it is supposed to be low risk. You should discuss it with your doctor though before you decide.

 

[Lucy M]

Hello again,

It's getting closer now to our return to Canada (early March) and we have some questions about the 'visitor record'...

How likely is it that we can obtain this with just the forms, supporting docs such as marriage certificate and my previous temporary work permit, joint bank account statements etc? We can provide plenty of photographs too - does that help? Do people do that?

We don't want to start the application while travelling in Asia for many reasons,
1. It's a different process when applying from outside of Canada, to inside of Canada.
2. We want to wait until we know what our new address in Alberta will be. (We don't have one currently.)
3. I will need to renew my UK passport before we apply, which will take about five weeks from once we have an address in Canada. I want to update my passport to my married name from my maiden name before applying for PR as I believe it will make things simpler in the long term.

I have contacted Alberta health and it is correct that I could get health care as the spouse of a Canadian living in Alberta with a visitor record, marriage certificate, proof of address and proof of intent to remain in alberta for 12 months. So it is imperative I get the visitor record when entering Canada. It's really important I get the health care as my husband and I would like to start trying for a family very soon.

A few more questions;
- Flying to Canada from Asia, we will land at Vancouver. Will this make a difference in any way to the visitor record, considering our intention is to live in Alberta?
- what are common reasons for a border officer not to give a visitor record?
- If I am pregnant at the time of landing in Canada, should I tell the border officer?

With the UKs new strict laws on immigration, it's even more important that this works out for us. Who would have thought, in this day and age, that essentially a Brit and a Canadian could be living in exile of their own countries simply for wanting to remain together??! I mean, where do they expect us to go?

Thanks again for all your help and advice. This forum is fantastic as immigration canada are impossible to contact.

Lucy

 

[Lucy M]

Further to the above...

Is it actually too risky to request a visitor record, (incase they refuse, just give three months or worse case send me to the UK?) and in fact just enter with a six month stamp and in that time begin the residency application, and Alberta will give me the health care? I have read in other forums that you can get health care in Alberta just for being a visitor - would they give you a card that expires after six months, but prior to expiry you can request a new one as you have commenced your PR application?

 

[margobear96]

Start your application now. Just print out a hard copy and start filling in what information you have by hand. You'll need to type in and "validate" the application on a computer before you submit anyway. Show officers the DRAFT application as proof you're serious about sponsorship. Also, you can pay the fees online beforehand. You'll need to print out a copy of the receipt for the application. Show officers the receipt. Dropping $1000+ in application fees is pretty good proof you're going to apply for real. You can bring other supporting docs, but not sure that the officers will give much more weight to them.

Seriously, don't try to get pregnant now. You'll need to get X-rayed as part of the medical for the PR application. While you can get it done with extra lead aprons etc., personally, I'd be a bit leery about doing it in the 1st trimester. At least get the medical done in Canada before you go off any birth control.

I was told by my lawyer that they weren't that good about giving out visitor records at YVR Airport (i.e., that they'd probably just stamp your passport giving you the standard 6 months). I think they just didn't want to bother with the extra paperwork...and were usually busy with other, more pressing concerns? Don't know how true this is though. Since I was returning connecting through SeaTac, my husband picked me up in Seattle and we drove through the land crossing at Peace Arch/Blaine. The officer there gave me a 1-year visitor's record before I even asked. (My application had been submitted previously though.) If you don't have luck at YVR, you could try the land border after a Trader Joe's run to Bellingham assuming you're staying in the Vancouver area for a few days.

BTW surely proof of intent to live in Alberta is easily met with a one year rental agreement? Since you don't have family in the province...surely you'll have a rental/lease agreement of some sort? I don't think the 1-year visitor's record needs to be the end all and be all for getting healthcare....

G.L.

 

[margobear96]

Also, the relevant info for getting healthcare in BC: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/pdf/covering-a-spouse-or-child-who-is-an-applicant-for-permanent-resident-status-in-canada.pdf
In summary, you can get coverage starting after the balance of the month CIC "accepts an application for permanent resident status" (i.e., approves sponsorship), plus two months.

 

[Lucy M]

Thanks margobear, really appreciate all the info. Unfortunately we are not in a position to start the application as like I said I want to renew my passport in my new married name first, and while we are travelling I can't do that. Also, we think it is best to have an address in Alberta and for my husband to have a job before we start the application.

Fortunately, Alberta will give me healthcare just for being married to a Canadian as long as we have proof of residency in the province, which we will have in a rental agreement as you say. The healthcare will have an expiry date matching my border entry stamp, so I will have to border hop into Montana to renew it, but by that time I will have submitted the application and can probably get the visitor record when I re-enter.

If pregnant, is it possible to postpone the medical until a safer stage of the pregnancy? About how far into the application process do they request the medical?

We will likely begin the application in April, as I will need to wait until my new passport with my new married name is back from the UK and will only post that application for renewal once we have a settled address, so there's a few things to do first. I figured it would cause issue if we apply now as my only ID has my maiden name on, and I want to be a Canadian resident in my married name.

Thanks again for all the advice and info. It's really very much appreciated.