Got Decision Made. What should our next steps be?

[Zarilenth]

Our ECAS changed to Decision Made yesterday, and we're hoping to receive the COPR in the mail within the week, although he won't be landing for a month or so, while he wraps up his job, etc. I was just curious as to what our next steps should be, and if I'm missing any important information.

• While he's still in the US, he is getting his Drivers abstract from the State he lives in now. He also needs one for NY since we lived in Buffalo for 6 months - can he order these abstracts online like we can?
• When he crosses through immigration, I read that there was a little number we had to make sure they wrote on his Passport in order for him to apply for his SIN number immediately.. is this correct? Is it the number on his COPR?
• Once he's landed, does he have to physically apply for his PR Card, or will they automatically start processing it and mail it to us?
• How will he get a Health Card (I'm in Ontario). Do we have to go to an office and apply for one?
• He's already on my Health Insurance, do I need to inform my work that he is now a 'landed immigrant'? When I signed up for it, I checked off that he was not a resident or citizen. Just wondering if that has to change now.

Sorry for the million questions, I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything! Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[keesio]

First of all... CONGRATS!

now to your questions:
1) Depends on the state I think. My wife and I were able to order ours online from the NY DMV via http://dmv.ny.gov/dmv-records/get-my-own-driving-record-abstract
2) All he needs is his copy of the COPR after landing.
3) No, that will be handled during landing. The officer doing his landing will ask him for his address in Canada. This address is where the PR card will get mail to. One tip: Pay attention to what the officer writes down. Even though my wife gave him a printout of the address, I noticed that he forgot to write down the postal code and I corrected him. You want to make sure the address is recorded correctly
4) Yes he will need to go to an OHIP office and apply. he will need his COPR (or PR card) and proof of address. Because of the latter, he won't be able to apply right away. He should open a bank account and wait for his first statement to be mailed to him. OHIP will accept this for a proof of address. But no matter when he applies, his OHIP will not kick in until 3 months after landing.
5) I would imagine you can just contact your HR dept. That is what I did.

Again, CONGRATS!

 

[Zarilenth]

First of all... CONGRATS!

now to your questions:
1) Depends on the state I think. My wife and I were able to order ours online from the NY DMV via http://dmv.ny.gov/dmv-records/get-my-own-driving-record-abstract
2) All he needs is his copy of the COPR after landing.
3) No, that will be handled during landing. The officer doing his landing will ask him for his address in Canada. This address is where the PR card will get mail to. One tip: Pay attention to what the officer writes down. Even though my wife gave him a printout of the address, I noticed that he forgot to write down the postal code and I corrected him. You want to make sure the address is recorded correctly
4) Yes he will need to go to an OHIP office and apply. he will need his COPR (or PR card) and proof of address. Because of the latter, he won't be able to apply right away. He should open a bank account and wait for his first statement to be mailed to him. OHIP will accept this for a proof of address. But no matter when he applies, his OHIP will not kick in until 3 months after landing.
5) I would imagine you can just contact your HR dept. That is what I did.

Again, CONGRATS!

Thanks Keesio I'm shocked at how quick it was!!
Good to know about checking the address they write down. I'm flying down so I can cross with him, since he's clueless about everything immigration wise, lol.
I wonder if he can set up a bank account remotely or I can do it for him so we can get his statement now? Or should he wait until he's landed to set that up.

 

[truesmile]

4) Yes he will need to go to an OHIP office and apply. he will need his COPR (or PR card) and proof of address. Because of the latter, he won't be able to apply right away. He should open a bank account and wait for his first statement to be mailed to him. OHIP will accept this for a proof of address. But no matter when he applies, his OHIP will not kick in until 3 months after landing.

This is SO true! Bank account didn't work for us, her account had 'paperless statements' . . . not acceptable. We ended up using her Ontario 'drivers license' (WITH photo ID card). OHIP's list of acceptable documents required for proof of address is VERY short.

 

[keesio]

Thanks Keesio I'm shocked at how quick it was!!
Good to know about checking the address they write down. I'm flying down so I can cross with him, since he's clueless about everything immigration wise, lol.
I wonder if he can set up a bank account remotely or I can do it for him so we can get his statement now? Or should he wait until he's landed to set that up.

yes you had one of the fastest timelines I've seen so far. Well CIC did promise to speed things up. Maybe they actually are.

As for the bank account, I wouldn't be in too much of a rush since he has to wait 3 months anyway for OHIP. It doesn't matter if he applies for it 2 days after he lands or 2 months.. he'll still have to wait the same time.

Another thing that works well for proof of address is if you are renting and you add him to the lease as a co-signer. This is different than adding his name as another resident.

 

[Zarilenth]

yes you had one of the fastest timelines I've seen so far. Well CIC did promise to speed things up. Maybe they actually are.

As for the bank account, I wouldn't be in too much of a rush since he has to wait 3 months anyway for OHIP. It doesn't matter if he applies for it 2 days after he lands or 2 months.. he'll still have to wait the same time.

Another thing that works well for proof of address is if you are renting and you add him to the lease as a co-signer. This is different than adding his name as another resident.

I hope they are speeding things up. I wonder if it's because I kept emailing and requesting notes, they were probably annoyed with me :

Hmm true. I've got to find a place for us for August, so I'll probably put him at the co-signer when I find a place. I'm not too worried I guess, 3 months isn't that long to wait especially if he's already covered by my work. The most important thing for us is getting him his SIN right away so he can work.

 

[keesio]

I hope they are speeding things up. I wonder if it's because I kept emailing and requesting notes, they were probably annoyed with me :

Hmm true. I've got to find a place for us for August, so I'll probably put him at the co-signer when I find a place. I'm not too worried I guess, 3 months isn't that long to wait especially if he's already covered by my work. The most important thing for us is getting him his SIN right away so he can work.

The SIN number he can get right away. He can go to a Service Canada office the next day after he lands (with photo ID and his copy of COPR) and get a SIN number on the spot. Done.

I'm curious what your work covers in regards to health insurance for your husband. Most health benefits from employers are simply an addition to the OHIP coverage and does not act as a replacement.

 

[Zarilenth]

The SIN number he can get right away. He can go to a Service Canada office the next day after he lands (with photo ID and his copy of COPR) and get a SIN number on the spot. Done.

I'm curious what your work covers in regards to health insurance for your husband. Most health benefits from employers are simply an addition to the OHIP coverage and does not act as a replacement.

Good to know! I just worry as I've read some stories of people getting refused on here if they don't have their PR card.

Hm. You know what, I don't actually know much about my work's health coverage - I just got it recently and haven't used it. You're probably right though.. I will look into that when I get home tonight and see what the information packet says.

 

[keesio]

Good to know! I just worry as I've read some stories of people getting refused on here if they don't have their PR card.

Hm. You know what, I don't actually know much about my work's health coverage - I just got it recently and haven't used it. You're probably right though.. I will look into that when I get home tonight and see what the information packet says.

In some places you can even get your SIN number right when you land. My wife landed in Pearson Airport and after landing, the officer told her to go to the counter across from him to get a SIN number. She landed and got her SIN number all within 5 minutes of each other. So you definitely do not need a PR card, just proof of landing (completed COPR).

I'm pretty sure your coverage simply extends OHIP, not replaces it. Double-check for sure. Even though I had my wife under my health benefits when she landed, I still had to purchase emergency health coverage for the 3 months she had to wait for OHIP because my health benefits did not cover basic medical (it just gave bonus stuff like dental, eye, massage therapy, etc).

 

[Zarilenth]

In some places you can even get your SIN number right when you land. My wife landed in Pearson Airport and after landing, the officer told her to go to the counter across from him to get a SIN number. She landed and got her SIN number all within 5 minutes of each other. So you definitely do not need a PR card, just proof of landing (completed COPR).

I'm pretty sure your coverage simply extends OHIP, not replaces it. Double-check for sure. Even though I had my wife under my health benefits when she landed, I still had to purchase emergency health coverage for the 3 months she had to wait for OHIP because my health benefits did not cover basic medical (it just gave bonus stuff like dental, eye, massage therapy, etc).

Sweet! He is landing at Pearson as well, that's good news. And I think you're right about the coverage, that bonus stuff sounds about right. Thanks for the heads up, I'm pretty blind when it comes to medical information and coverage. I have never really dealt with it on my own.

 

[keesio]

Is he flying into Terminal 1 or 3? I think it may only be an option in terminal 1 because some people did not have the option to get a SIN number when landing at pearson but I think came in Terminal 3. My wife landed in Terminal 1. Maybe they have it in terminal 3 now, I don't know.

 

[Zarilenth]

Is he flying into Terminal 1 or 3? I think it may only be an option in terminal 1 because some people did not have the option to get a SIN number when landing at pearson but I think came in Terminal 3. My wife landed in Terminal 1. Maybe they have it in terminal 3 now, I don't know.

Not sure yet, we haven't bought the flight yet. I assume it would be Terminal 3, don't all Non-Canadian flights land at T3? I guess we'll see when we get there

 

[keesio]

My wife flew air canada and that is terminal 1. But United and US air are also there.

 

[Zarilenth]

My wife flew air canada and that is terminal 1. But United and US air are also there.

Interesting. I guess when we buy the tickets we'll try and find one flying into Terminal 1. Thanks for the info

 

[Rob_TO]

Sweet! He is landing at Pearson as well, that's good news. And I think you're right about the coverage, that bonus stuff sounds about right. Thanks for the heads up, I'm pretty blind when it comes to medical information and coverage. I have never really dealt with it on my own.

Most likely your work benefits will not even allow him to be added to those "bonus" items like dental, massage, eye etc coverage, until he has full OHIP coverage in place (so after 3 months). This is a general policy with most employer health plans in Ontario.

Make sure to get a 3-month travel emergency medical policy. You can compare some plans and prices here: https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada

Here is a list of what documents he will need to show proof of residency to OHIP. You must have 1 of the specific items from List 2, before you can apply. Of course there is no incentive to apply early since either way he won't be eligible until 3 months after landing, so take your time. http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/GetFileAttach/014-9998E-82~1/$File/9998-82E.pdf