OHIP and SIN timelines

[rbkrzmarcik]

Good morning,

My husband (US citizen) has just recieved notice that is application for Permanent Residency has been completed. (exactly 2 years of waiting )

We are sending his passport to the LA Visa office today for processing (copies right?)
Question:
Does the 3 month waiting period for OHIP start the date of the email stating it's complete and the VISA has been issued?
Are we able to use this letter/email to get a SIN card or do we have to wait until he officially lands?

Thank you!
Bev

 

[truesmile]

No it's 3 months from the date of his landing. It's also a 'landing' document he will use to get a SIN, which he can take to a Service Canada office and get immediately, SIN# first, SIN card will be mailed to him later.

 

[bartjones]

Good morning,

My husband (US citizen) has just recieved notice that is application for Permanent Residency has been completed. (exactly 2 years of waiting )

We are sending his passport to the LA Visa office today for processing (copies right?)
Question:
Does the 3 month waiting period for OHIP start the date of the email stating it's complete and the VISA has been issued?
Are we able to use this letter/email to get a SIN card or do we have to wait until he officially lands?

Thank you!
Bev

In terms of OHIP take your approval letter to a Service Ontario Center. He may be able to get it now. If they deny your spouse coverage you will want to get that denial in writing before you leave the Service Ontario Center.

Once you have the denial in writing, you will want to write to the OHIP Eligibility Review Committee (OERC) requesting a review of the Service Ontario representative's decision. You can find the OERC address on the back of the document denying your spouse coverage. The letter should explain your PR situation and enclose the denial document you got from Service Ontario. You will also want to enclose the letter you got from CIC approving his PR application.

The OERC will then mail your spouse a consent form to sign allowing them to contact CIC regarding his PR application. Once they confirm with CIC what date CIC found him "eligible for PR" which is earlier than the date he was actually approved for PR, they will count 3 months from that date and issue your spouse a health card. This will probably get your spouse health care insurance much sooner than if you wait for 3 months from landing or PR approval.

There is a thread about this over in the "Health" forum. I recently went through this process for my wife. Good luck.

 

[Rob_TO]

they will count 3 months from that date and issue your spouse a health card. This will probably get your spouse health care insurance much sooner than if you wait for 3 months from landing or PR approval.

Just note that the big assumption here is that the applicant has to have been residing in Canada from when they became eligible! The 3-month waiting time of course can't start if the applicant is still in their home country.

 

[rbkrzmarcik]

Yes he has been here as a visitor with me for almost 2.5 years so no worries there

So the email we got that starts out like this... is this enough to go to OHIP to try??

We are pleased to inform you that the processing of your application for permanent residence in Canada has been completed.


You are required to submit your passport(s), photographs by MAIL within the next THIRTY (30) days from the date of this letter. As the validity of your visa(s) has been already established and is limited to a fixed date, it CANNOT be extended under any circumstances. We therefore urge you to read and follow carefully the instructions below without delay:

 

[Rob_TO]

Yes he has been here as a visitor with me for almost 2.5 years so no worries there

So the email we got that starts out like this... is this enough to go to OHIP to try??

Sure you can try, but most likely at the OHIP office you'll get denied for coverage (unless you are incredibly lucky). Practically all the customer service workers at OHIP are only able to give coverage to a landed PR. So you'll need to be prepared to go through the bureaucratic process with the eligibility review committee.

Bartjones made an excellent post about his experience also here: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/sponsoring-my-korean-wife-for-permanent-residency-t137874.0.html;msg2517978#msg2517978

 

[bartjones]

I'd give it a shot. If you are denied, the follow up with the OERC only consists of sending them a couple letters. They do the rest.

BTW, does he have an Ontario driver's license? If so, bring that too, as they count the day he got the license as his date of residency.

As Rob says, you may also get lucky. Like anything that is government, three different reps will give you three different answers.

 

[screech339]

In terms of OHIP take your approval letter to a Service Ontario Center. He may be able to get it now. If they deny your spouse coverage you will want to get that denial in writing before you leave the Service Ontario Center.

Once you have the denial in writing you will want to write to the OHIP Eligibility Review Committee (OERC) requesting a review of the Service Ontario representative's decision. You can find the OERC address on the back of the document denying your spouse coverage. The letter should explain your PR situation and enclose the denial document you got from Service Ontario. You will also want to enclose the letter you got from CIC approving his PR application.

The OERC will then mail your spouse a consent form to sign allowing them to contact CIC regarding his PR application. Once they confirm with CIC what date CIC found him "eligible for PR" which is earlier than the date he was actually approved for PR, they will count 3 months from that date and issue your spouse a health card. This will probably get your spouse health care insurance much sooner than if you wait for 3 months from landing or PR approval.

There is a thread about this over in the "Health" forum. I recently went through this process for my wife. Good luck.

This applies if he applied inland. The OP has applied outland thus doesn't apply here. He will get coverage 3 months after landing in Canada.

Screech339

 

[bartjones]

This applies if he applied inland. The OP has applied outland thus doesn't apply here. He will get coverage 3 months after landing in Canada.

Screech339

No, this is incorrect and a commonly held misconception. OHIP regulation 552 also applies to outland applicants. According to the OERC representatives I have spoken to, there is an "eligibility" step in the outland process as well (which precedes actual PR approval), but CIC doesn't notify the applicant of that eligibility approval like they do in an inland application. That's why the OERC needs the applicant's consent to inquire with CIC to determine if the outland applicant has reached the "eligibility stage". If they have, they count three months from that date.

You can see this all described in a number of Health Services Appeal Board rulings which interpreted OHIP Regulation 552.

 

[screech339]

No, this is incorrect and a commonly held misconception. OHIP regulation 552 also applies to outland applicants. According to the OERC representatives I have spoken to, there is an "eligibility" step in the outland process as well (which precedes actual PR approval), but CIC doesn't notify the applicant of that eligibility approval like they do in an inland application. That's why the OERC needs the applicant's consent to inquire with CIC to determine if the outland applicant has reached the "eligibility stage". If they have, they count three months from that date.

You can see this all described in a number of Health Services Appeal Board rulings which interpreted OHIP Regulation 552.

Thanks for the info. You learn something new everyday.

Screech339

 

[bartjones]

Thanks for the info. You learn something new everyday.

Screech339

Yes, the eligibility approval apparently takes place a month or two before actual PR approval. But hey, for the sake of writing two letters, you can get your health coverage a month or two sooner than if you wait to land.

 

[rbkrzmarcik]

Oh this is wonderful! I will definatly try. He has had a Ontario Licence for over a year now so that will help too.

We might just go try tomorrow which is great!