Pregnant GF on Visitor Status and Future application for PR

[QCB]

I Feel like my situation fall under multiple sub-forums. But perhaps the family class is most fitting since that is our ultimate step.

I am a Canadian Citizen with a Thai Citizen girlfriend. We have been dating long distance for the past 3 years (Met while on Academic exchange program in Europe in 2011. Since then we have gone on several trips together internationally and she's visited me here twice and I have visited her in Thailand.
We recently found out that we are expecting a baby. We have decided that we want to have the baby in Canada (due date approximately Mid November). She has applied and been approved for a visitor's visa (multiple entry, valid until 2017). I plan to fly to Thailand in a couple of weeks and we will get engaged, after which she will return to Canada with me Early June. She will deliver the baby here, and we will exit and re-enter Canada prior to her 6 month exit requirement on her visa.

I have a few questions which concerns me about our plan:
1. We are planning to go for the common-law route for PR application (not-yet ready for marriage). The thing is I have read that immigration applications are scrutinized and every detail, specifically the wording of previous visa applications can be used against you. For her visitor visa, we wrote in that she will be visiting only for the summer, and will be returning to Thailand before the end of August. This will of course not be the case. In addition, at the time we applied stating that she is my girlfriend, when in reality we will soon be engaged. Could these be potentially used against us in the future? If so, what can we do to mitigate this?

2. My understanding is common law status can be achieved after 1 year of co-residence. I know that she should be on the lease, but can she be a co-signee as a person on a visitor visa? She would also have to briefly leave the country once every 6 month and re-enter (assume that I will accompany her on these trips), will this mean that the co-habiting time counter gets reset every time?

3. We are hoping to explore the option of midwife for the delivery. From what I have read the fees would be covered even without OHIP and we would have to pay only fees associated with examinations and any optional hospital stays. We would like to get private health insurance in the meantime to cover any non-pregnancy related costs. Does anyone have any good ones they have used to recommend to us? I think Manulife is by far the largest so I am inclined to go with them, but any input would be appreciated!

4. During her stay on visitor visa if her family want to visit her, can they ask me to support their visit? Alternatively, could my parents (both Canadian citizens) sponsor her family members, would the fact that I sponsored her visit be considered in that separate application?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rob_TO]

1 - It's fine to state on a visitor visa app you intend to stay for a short time... and then end up applying for inland sponsorship or staying longer. People's plans change. Just don't lie on the application (i.e. such as married people stating they are in fact single).

2- Yes you need to prove 12 continuous months of cohabitation. She can be added to a lease even as a visitor, as this is done at discretion of your landlord. Other good proofs are for her to be added to one of your credit cards as a supplementary user, and for her to have mail delivered to your home dated as soon as possible to when she first moves in. You can also look at getting life insurance on each other. Basically anything you can think of that will prove she moved in with you from the first day.

Although if you are already getting engaged, perhaps you'll be married quicker than the 12 months it would take to establish common-law, so right after the wedding you could just apply as married spouse sponsorship and not have to worry about proving cohabitation.

3 - The midwives themselves are free. However as you said, any additional work (ultrasounds, bloodwork, hospital, etc) may incur out-of-pocket expenses. You should call them to confirm exactly what is free, and what isn't. One option with midwives is to do a home delivery so you don't incur excess hospital costs.

My wife and I are currently using midwife services right now. The best advice is to apply for one RIGHT AWAY. We went as soon as we saw the positive result in the home pregnancy test. In Ontario midwives are in very high demand, and if they are already all booked based on delivery date, you are out of luck and will need to go on a waiting list. Expect the first appointment with them to be at around 10 weeks or so of pregnancy.

For basic (non-pregnancy) travel medical insurance, check this site out to compare prices. My wife used one of these ones, and we made a claim with no problem. https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada

4. Not too sure about if you can vouch for her family for getting a TRV. I don't think your parents would be able to do anything, but others can advise.

 

[screech339]

Are you Canadian by birth or a Naturalized Canadian? If you are, your newborn will be Canadian if born outside Canada. If you are Canadian by descent (born outside Canada but gotten Citizenship through one of your parents) then your newborn will not be Canadian if born outside Canada.

Be aware of this if the baby were to be born in Thailand instead of Canada.

 

[QCB]

Re: screeech339.

I'm a naturalized citizen (From China) since 2006. So to clarify if we were hypothetically want to give birth out side of Canada then he/she will need to apply for PR and go through that process seperately?

Re: Rob_TO

Thank you for the insurance website! This is just what I have been looking for as there are just too many providers. I was wondering when you had your policy, was your wife pregnant at the time? i had yet to contact specific vendors but I'm wondering if there will be some difficulty with obtaining/submitting claims as a result of the pregnancy being some sort of pre-existing condition.

Also, I have been actually contacting all the midwives in my area. We have an appointment booked the week after she lands

I hope to clarify that trips going out of Canada for the purpose of satisfying her visa exit requirements would not actually impact the 12 month common law co-habitation time.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you for the insurance website! This is just what I have been looking for as there are just too many providers. I was wondering when you had your policy, was your wife pregnant at the time? i had yet to contact specific vendors but I'm wondering if there will be some difficulty with obtaining/submitting claims as a result of the pregnancy being some sort of pre-existing condition.

My wife got the coverage years ago way before there was any pregnancy, so we never had to deal with this. NO insurance will cover any pregnancy-related costs, and probably not even emergencies that are a direct result of the pregnancy.

The insurance you would buy would basically be for anything non-pregnancy related i.e. if you randomly fall and need to get stitches, that is a regular "emergency" so would be fully covered... but if you have to go to the ER due to bleeding or cramps during pregnancy, that would most likely not be covered.

It's best to completely read the T&Cs of any insurance policy you get regarding pregnancy issues, or call and talk to someone directly.

I hope to clarify that trips going out of Canada for the purpose of satisfying her visa exit requirements would not actually impact the 12 month common law co-habitation time.

The cohabitation doesn't need to be at 1 address. So if you travel out of Canada together, that is still considering cohabiting no matter how long, as long as you are together.

If she were to travel by herself, then she needs to keep trips short and temporary (so maximum 2-3 weeks) and the cohabitation will be considered to keep going.

 

[chakrab]

Re: screeech339.

I'm a naturalized citizen (From China) since 2006. So to clarify if we were hypothetically want to give birth out side of Canada then he/she will need to apply for PR and go through that process seperately?

no need for PR then. just apply for certificate of citizenship after the birth.

 

[Rob_TO]

And just to add... my advice is that if she can come to Canada on a visitor visa, do a quickie courtroom civic wedding, get your marriage certificate, and apply for her PR immediately under spousal - INLAND. Then she can stay in Canada with no worries the entire processing time and will get the ball rolling in terms of getting OWP and OHIP. OWP will be around 10 months after applying (at current times for stage 1 approval) and OHIP will be 10 months + 3 months waiting period.

Being pregnant should be a very legitimate reason to justify having a small civic wedding, and you guys can then do a whole elaborate family wedding later.

 

[screech339]

As Chakrab mentioned, if the baby were to be born in Thailand, the baby will be Canadian by descent thus not required to be PR sponsored. You can apply for Canadian Citizenship certificate for your newborn if born outside Canada.

Screech339

 

[ekaterina1984]

I'm a new immigrant arrived 1 month ago just today applied for health insurance I was told I woud get my health card on july 23 as I'm residing in Ontario I have to wait up to 3 months. I'm 25 weeks pregnant myself my due date is on september 2 or the end of august . We couldn't find a midwife as they are all busy no one was available it was pretty tough to find a doctor but we got one he is a super gynecologist I have my prenatal check ups for free like cheking baby's heart beat belly measurment , blood preasure measurment some good advices from him he phone me to inform me about my blood test results e/t/c. But other test relating my pregnancy are not for free I don't have any health coverage haven'y recieved my PR residence card yet , so I paid 84 $ for blood drawing there were about 5 blood test such as HIV , blood sugar level , and some other tests, then we got an ultrasound appointment it's been done last week at a hospital in Collingwood when we got an appointment my husband asked how much would it cost ? they said 900$ , 250 $ for the utrasound and 650 $ just to enter the hospital ??? . When we came to the hospital I had to be registraited first so a womam at the registration desk asked: your health card please? I said I don't have my card yet she said then you have to pay . She printed some paper and wrote down the price 576$ for me to enter the hospital and 288 $ for the ultrasound . We came up to the cashier desk I gave the paper with the price on it to other woman who accepted the payment she asked me are you a resident? I explained that I 'm a new immigrant showed her my passport with confirmation of permanet residency and my visa she read it carefully and said ok if you are a resident then the amount due to pay is 432 $ . She cut down a half price we were surprised by that. This friday I have my obstetrician appointment I don't know yet how much we will have pay this time but we have to be ready and we are because our baby's is waht we care about right now . We should worry about money before when I found out about my pregnancy. I just wanted to share my experience and with those who is planning to have a baby like me without health coverage . Moving to another country it's like to start your life all over again its a big change for me hope for the better

 

[Koifish76]

One thing the op and others should be aware of is if there are complications during childbirth, the costs can run pretty high in just a matter of days for non PR (visitors). I read a story of a Australian couple who has to pay a B.C. hospital $300 a month for the rest of their lives to cover expenses incurred during and after childbirth. These will not be covered by insurance in most cases. If my wife and I had sufficient funds to cover expenses in a worse case scenario, we would consider having our child in Canada, instead we will have our child in Thailand (wife is Thai). Another thing my wife mentioned to me is after childbirth, she explained, it is not a good idea to be in a new country away from her family. But that is just my wife personally and this will be her first one and she is the boss hahaha.

 

[minime#]

You guys should check community health centers out when I was pregnant my midwife suggest one to me and they paid for all my ultrasounds, my blood work and got my hospital bill in half. Diversity midwives were super helpful they went the extra mile to make sure my cost were low.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

One thing the op and others should be aware of is if there are complications during childbirth, the costs can run pretty high in just a matter of days for non PR (visitors). I read a story of a Australian couple who has to pay a B.C. hospital $300 a month for the rest of their lives to cover expenses incurred during and after childbirth.

The extremely large bill the Australian couple incurred was for the baby's 90 day stay in the NICU (at $8120 per day), as she wasn't entitled to health care. The actual birth itself, by C-section, was about $3000.

This is a bit of a different situation; OP is a Canadian living in Canada with health coverage, so his child will be fully covered from birth. Any and all neonatal costs will be covered by health care.

If the mother were to suffer complications, the bill could be high but not as bad as it was for that poor couple.

 

[Koifish76]

The extremely large bill the Australian couple incurred was for the baby's 90 day stay in the NICU (at $8120 per day), as she wasn't entitled to health care. The actual birth itself, by C-section, was about $3000.

This is a bit of a different situation; OP is a Canadian living in Canada with health coverage, so his child will be fully covered from birth. Any and all neonatal costs will be covered by health care.

If the mother were to suffer complications, the bill could be high but not as bad as it was for that poor couple.

So the cost of the delivery and possible complications to the mother are not included? But, any complications regards to the child (AFTER) born and all mid wives and community clinics can be considered free? Is this correct?

 

[Rob_TO]

So the cost of the delivery and possible complications to the mother are not included? But, any complications regards to the child (AFTER) born and all mid wives and community clinics can be considered free? Is this correct?

Yes. The reason the child was not covered in the Australian couple's case even through the child was born in Canada so was a Canadian citizen, is they did not satisfy the residency requirement for BC healthcare.

If the family is already residing in Ontario and will reside there after the baby is born, then the baby can be added to the dad's OHIP plan immediately after birth so will be covered for everything. It's the delivery cost and any complications with the mom, that will need to be paid out-of-pocket. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/ohip/eligibility_2.aspx

 

[alicia13]

I'm a new immigrant arrived 1 month ago just today applied for health insurance I was told I woud get my health card on july 23 as I'm residing in Ontario I have to wait up to 3 months. I'm 25 weeks pregnant myself my due date is on september 2 or the end of august . We couldn't find a midwife as they are all busy no one was available it was pretty tough to find a doctor but we got one he is a super gynecologist I have my prenatal check ups for free like cheking baby's heart beat belly measurment , blood preasure measurment some good advices from him he phone me to inform me about my blood test results e/t/c. But other test relating my pregnancy are not for free I don't have any health coverage haven'y recieved my PR residence card yet , so I paid 84 $ for blood drawing there were about 5 blood test such as HIV , blood sugar level , and some other tests, then we got an ultrasound appointment it's been done last week at a hospital in Collingwood when we got an appointment my husband asked how much would it cost ? they said 900$ , 250 $ for the utrasound and 650 $ just to enter the hospital ??? . When we came to the hospital I had to be registraited first so a womam at the registration desk asked: your health card please? I said I don't have my card yet she said then you have to pay . She printed some paper and wrote down the price 576$ for me to enter the hospital and 288 $ for the ultrasound . We came up to the cashier desk I gave the paper with the price on it to other woman who accepted the payment she asked me are you a resident? I explained that I 'm a new immigrant showed her my passport with confirmation of permanet residency and my visa she read it carefully and said ok if you are a resident then the amount due to pay is 432 $ . She cut down a half price we were surprised by that. This friday I have my obstetrician appointment I don't know yet how much we will have pay this time but we have to be ready and we are because our baby's is waht we care about right now . We should worry about money before when I found out about my pregnancy. I just wanted to share my experience and with those who is planning to have a baby like me without health coverage . Moving to another country it's like to start your life all over again its a big change for me hope for the better

Katerina, is there a reason you went to a hospital for the ultrasound and not just a clinic? I am also pregnant and don't have OHIP but I only pay around $150 for the ultrasounds as I go to Gamma X-ray or other imaging clinics like that. I am afraid that they are charging you the hospital admittance fee even though you're just going for a simple ultrasound