Ontario health care while waiting for PR

[Eddie_2.0]

Hi,

I'm a Canadian Citizen and will be applying for inland Sponsorship and Family class inland application for my wife once she arrives in Canada. I know that wife will will not be allowed to leave Canada until the PR application is complete which take 1.5 to 2 years. Will she be able to apply for OHIP when she arrives? I did a search on this forum and I read that she must be living in Canada for 3 months before she can apply, is that correct? If not, how is she supposed to be covered for health care, especially if pregnancy comes into the picture?

One other question, I was told by a CIC call agent my wife can come to Canada on as a visitor and then apply for the inland PR. When she arrives in Canada and does she tell the immigration officer is coming in as a tourist to apply for inland Family class application?

Thanks in advance.

 

[commonlawsponsor]

No, she doesn't qualify for OHIP until she receives AIP (which I'm pretty sure but not positive that it is in the second stage). You should purchase private health insurance for her.

What country is your wife from? It may be quicker to apply outland, which you can do even if she is in Canada.

 

[bartjones]

Hi,

I'm a Canadian Citizen and will be applying for inland Sponsorship and Family class inland application for my wife once she arrives in Canada. I know that wife will will not be allowed to leave Canada until the PR application is complete which take 1.5 to 2 years. Will she be able to apply for OHIP when she arrives? I did a search on this forum and I read that she must be living in Canada for 3 months before she can apply, is that correct? If not, how is she supposed to be covered for health care, especially if pregnancy comes into the picture?

If she applied inland she's eligible for OHIP 3 months after getting first stage approval. Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong but I think first stage approval usually happens about 9-10 months after you have filed your application.

If she applies outland the situation is somewhat more complex. There is a thread about that over on the "Health" board.

 

[Rob_TO]

Someone else can correct me if I'm wrong but I think first stage approval usually happens about 9-10 months after you have filed your application.

11 months these days. So 11 months + 3 months waiting period = 14 months total wait for OHIP if applying inland.

 

[scylla]

What country is your wife from? It may be quicker to apply outland, which you can do even if she is in Canada.

OP's wife is from Germany. I've already told him he should apply outland. But ultimately it's their choice.

 

[Eddie_2.0]

OP's wife is from Germany. I've already told him he should apply outland. But ultimately it's their choice.

Yes, but we are weighting our options. My wife doesn't want to be separated for me for a long period of time as we are newly married and there's other factors involved. I am still in Germany preparing my move back which I will need to take all the furniture (part of the relocation package provided by my employer) which will leave my wife with an empty apartment. Of course she will look for a furnished apartment but that's not the main factor why we are considering processing the application inland.

No, she doesn't qualify for OHIP until she receives AIP (which I'm pretty sure but not positive that it is in the second stage). You should purchase private health insurance for her.

What country is your wife from? It may be quicker to apply outland, which you can do even if she is in Canada.

Well it will definitely be faster to apply outland but wouldn't my wife need to be back in Germany to wait for any mail from the process? We were thinking of this but we are not too sure of the circumstances if we do it this way.

Thanks for all your replies. We will need to consider this and make a decision on how to process the application.

 

[bartjones]

Well it will definitely be faster to apply outland but wouldn't my wife need to be back in Germany to wait for any mail from the process? We were thinking of this but we are not too sure of the circumstances if we do it this way.

It's not a problem. After she arrives in Canada, or shortly before, you can change her address with CIC to her new Canadian one. CIC will send any subsequent correspondence to her new address in Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

or if she's already in cnada before the application is sent (or intends to be), she can use your canadian address from the start. it is not a concern for CIC.

 

[beholder69]

As above, she can stay with you in Canada while applying Outland and use the Canadian address. With the current processing times (and saying that as an inlander), the choice should be clear for Outland.

 

[commonlawsponsor]

However if they need an interview she will have to travel to Vienna

 

[truesmile]

Yes but coming from a visa-exempt country it's very UNLIKELY to be called for an interview.

 

[Eddie_2.0]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I didn't know you are allowed to change to or even use a Canadian address when applying for an outland application at the start. It makes sense for us since I have been looking into the process for and managing it for her anyway.