Financial Assistance Available for surgery?

[USjason]

Hello Board,

While going through my immigration panel medical exam, the doctor located a mass that caused some concern. She sent me for additional testing (ultrasound, biopsy, etc) and now I am going to require a surgery. My immigration Dr. reminded me that if I decide to return to the US for treatment, that my inland sponsorship will be null and I would have to switch to an outland, which I am not wanting to do, I am married. So basically I have to remain in Canada and immigration won't clear me until the procedure is complete but without insurance, the surgery is very very expensive.

I was just wondering if anyone knows of any financial assistance available? I highly doubt that there is, as I am still just a "visitor" but with me being married to a Canadian, I didn't know if marriage afforded me any additional support because we are in a sticky situation. I can't afford the surgery in Canada and I can't return to the US to have it performed there. My Dr. told me not to worry about dates or times and that as long as I am actively trying to correct the problem then I am still allowed to stay, I can't just disregard the surgery and stay, which I would never intend to do.

Any help or suggestions? Even though we are married, my spouses insurance requires PR status before I can be added.

Thanks so much!!

 

[scylla]

Your inland sponsorship application will not be canceled as soon as you leave Canada. However if you are unable to return to Canada for some reason (i.e. you are denied entry back into Canada - which is always a bit of a risk), then this will effectively cancel your application since you will no longer be in the country.

The only funding available for your surgery would be if you had purchased some sort of private travel insurance to cover yourself for emergencies in Canada (I assume you didn't?). If you don't already have emergency coverage, it's unfortunatley too late now since this medical issue will be classified as pre-existing and not covered.

I would return to the US and have the surgery there - and afterward try to return to Canada. If you are able to return to Canada and haven't been away for very long - then your inland application should still be fine. If by any chance your inland application is canceled, you can file again using the outland process. Many Americans are being approved through the outland process extremely quickly these days.

 

[scylla]

Based on your earlier posts, it looks like you very recently submitted your inland application (or perhaps haven't submitted it yet)? If either is the case, I would recommend you reconsider and apply outland instead. Not just because of your medical issues - but because outland is just so much faster for Americans. Outland doesn't mean you have to be outside of Canada. You can visit Canada while your application is being processed.

 

[USjason]

Based on your earlier posts, it looks like you very recently submitted your inland application (or perhaps haven't submitted it yet)? If either is the case, I would recommend you reconsider and apply outland instead. Not just because of your medical issues - but because outland is just so much faster for Americans. Outland doesn't mean you have to be outside of Canada. You can visit Canada while your application is being processed.

Hello Scylla!! The only major hurdle with that is that I don't have a residence, job, or anything back for me in the US. My life and spouse are here and, as required by immigration, I am being fully supported so it would be so much more of a hurdle to move back, plus with me having a medical issue now, I would prefer not to be separated from my spouse during a time like this. I haven't applied yet, I wanted to get the medical exam finished first, but now we have hit that unexpected snag. My immigration Dr. told me that I can still apply and that I will just receive a letter back telling me that I need to see my doctor for follow up, she said, at least then it's in the system, then she said, but we still have time and I think we should wait on submitting the exam until we finalize the procedure, so now my application is sort of frozen.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello Scylla!! The only major hurdle with that is that I don't have a residence, job, or anything back for me in the US. My life and spouse are here and, as required by immigration, I am being fully supported so it would be so much more of a hurdle to move back, plus with me having a medical issue now, I would prefer not to be separated from my spouse during a time like this. I haven't applied yet, I wanted to get the medical exam finished first, but now we have hit that unexpected snag. My immigration Dr. told me that I can still apply and that I will just receive a letter back telling me that I need to see my doctor for follow up, she said, at least then it's in the system, then she said, but we still have time and I think we should wait on submitting the exam until we finalize the procedure, so now my application is sort of frozen.

There is no reason to wait on submitting the application. Spousal sponsorship applicants are exempt from the excessive demand clause and your condition is not a threat to the public health of Canada, so this should not cause any sort of hold-up with your PR app.

I second scylla's advice to apply outland. That way, you can return to the US for the surgery if you need to and not worry about it affecting your PR app. With a PR app in progress, you should have no trouble returning to Canada as a visitor.

 

[scylla]

Agreed with everything canuck_in_uk has said.

If you stick with inland, you won't qualify for health care coverage until you have first stage approval (AIP). This is currently taking 16 months to complete from the time the application is submitted. Given you have health concerns, it makes far far far more sense to apply outland (you should be 100% done and have PR WELL before you hit the 16 month mark) - and this also gives you the flexibility to return to the US for medical treatment if required.