Spousal sponsorship - SUCCESS...and questions

[am5290]

Hi all,

So after a long wait in London (being a Brit), I've recently received my confirmation of Canadian permanent residence! I'm being sponsored by my common law partner and am really thrilled! But I had a couple of questions...

The information I was sent was fairly short. I'll be settling in Montreal, so it's my understanding that I can simply arrive at the Airport in Montréal with my Certificat de selection du Quebec, Passport and confirmation of permanent residence and be processed by the immigration team upon arrival? Is that correct?

My biggest worry is that my confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5688) has 'NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL' stamped across it in bold letters. Can anyone help / advise what the process is and if there is anything I have to do (documentation wise) before arrival?

I'm also trying to learn french but am having issues signing up. I'm trying to do so on the immigration website but when I click on 'submit a new application for admission' and select 'permanent resident of Canada' option, I do not know what my Immigration category is. The guidelines say "Select your immigration category from the list provided. Your immigration category is indicated on the back of your permanent residence card or in section 19 of your permanent residence confirmation." However I have a IMM 5688 (with no section 19) and not an IMM 5292 as the website suggests i should have to sign up: Place a check mark here if you hold a:

“Confirmation of Permanent Residence” (CPR) (IMM 5292)
Ou
“Permanent Resident Card”
Ou
“IMM 1000 (issued before June 28, 2002)”


can anyone help with these questions?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I can simply arrive at the Airport in Montréal with my Certificat de selection du Quebec, Passport and confirmation of permanent residence and be processed by the immigration team upon arrival? Is that correct?

My biggest worry is that my confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5688) has 'NOT VALID FOR TRAVEL' stamped across it in bold letters.

"Select your immigration category from the list provided. Your immigration category is indicated on the back of your permanent residence card or in section 19 of your permanent residence confirmation." However I have a IMM 5688 (with no section 19) and not an IMM 5292 as the website suggests i should have to sign up: Place a check mark here if you hold a:

Hi

Yes, CSQ, passport and both copies of your COPR to land.

Every COPR states "Not Valid for Travel"; it simply means that you cannot use only the COPR to enter Canada. You need a passport or valid travel document to actually enter the country.

As common-law, your immigration category is CFC. The COPR can be either IMM5688 or IMM5292, Quebec just hasn't bothered to updated their website.

 

[am5290]

So I'm gearing up for the big move. Intensive French lessons are well underway but had a couple of other questions I hope someone else out there will help me field...

It seems my medical care will luckily be covered by the Quebec universal health insurance plan, but I need to obtain a health insurance card by registering with RAMQ. I assume this is something I can only do once processed at my point of entry?

I also note that health cover does not apply for the first 3 months. Can anyone suggest an insurance broker to go to cover me for this period? I'm conscious that private health cover also comes with certain jobs, so ideally a company that offers short term rates would be ideal! Any suggestions for providers would be welcome though.

Finally - do I also get my permanent residency card when I am processed at my point of entry?

as usual, thanks or any help you are able to provide!

 

[taffy7]

I can't help with any of your questions, but from one Brit to another Welcome to Canada Oh i can a bit , you may be able to get your sin # when you land. In some airports they will have a booth right there. Most companies don't cover you either for 3 months but employment in Quebec could be different.Each province seems to be different.

 

[Alurra71]

So I'm gearing up for the big move. Intensive French lessons are well underway but had a couple of other questions I hope someone else out there will help me field...

It seems my medical care will luckily be covered by the Quebec universal health insurance plan, but I need to obtain a health insurance card by registering with RAMQ. I assume this is something I can only do once processed at my point of entry?

I also note that health cover does not apply for the first 3 months. Can anyone suggest an insurance broker to go to cover me for this period? I'm conscious that private health cover also comes with certain jobs, so ideally a company that offers short term rates would be ideal! Any suggestions for providers would be welcome though.

Finally - do I also get my permanent residency card when I am processed at my point of entry?

as usual, thanks or any help you are able to provide!

You won't get your PR card immediately. They will send your information along after you provide them with a Canadian address for your card to be mailed to you. It should arrive in roughly 2-3 months.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I also note that health cover does not apply for the first 3 months. Can anyone suggest an insurance broker to go to cover me for this period? I'm conscious that private health cover also comes with certain jobs, so ideally a company that offers short term rates would be ideal!

The private health care programs available through employers are not equivalent to provincial coverage; they are more like an extension of provincial coverage. The majority of insurance companies require the employee to have provincial coverage first.

This means that even if you found a job right away that offered medical benefits from day one, you would probably not actually receive them until you wait out the 3 months and obtain your provincial coverage.

 

[Rob_TO]

I also note that health cover does not apply for the first 3 months. Can anyone suggest an insurance broker to go to cover me for this period? I'm conscious that private health cover also comes with certain jobs, so ideally a company that offers short term rates would be ideal! Any suggestions for providers would be welcome though.

As was stated, even if you get a job with full benefits, it will still NOT cover anything that the provincial healthcare typically covers (like say an emergency room visit or standard doctors check-up).

For this you definitely need travel medical insurance. Here's the site we used to get my wife's coverage while she was waiting during the 3 month period (and made 1 claim with no issues): https://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada . A basic plan should be in the $50 per month range.

 

[QuebecOkie]

You will have to go to the Regie's office to sign up for your carte de soleil (health card). It's a relatively painless process, and yes, it will be three months after landing before you're covered. (I think there's a bit of "dodginess" with that three months. It may be just a little less or a little more, depending on when you land. They'll be able to tell you at the Regie's office when you'll be covered.)

Also, not sure if it's different for outland applicants, but I applied inland and, in addition to passport and CSQ, I also needed my proof of undertaking (what you filled out to get your CSQ, which, for inland applicants at least, is then sent back to you with the CSQ).

Also, no worries on the "not valid for travel." You're visa-exempt, so your passport will get you to where you need to go.

 

[BeShoo]

For the health insurance, do a Google search for "health insurance for visitors to canada" and you'll find many different plans available. Blue Cross comes to mind but there are many to choose from.

 

[am5290]

Thanks for all the responses! Hugely appreciated as always and great to know where I stand in terms of medical insurance.

Can anyone clarify the below? I've heard nothing about proof of undertaking and assume it's something for inland applicants only, but thought I'd check.

Also, not sure if it's different for outland applicants, but I applied inland and, in addition to passport and CSQ, I also needed my proof of undertaking (what you filled out to get your CSQ, which, for inland applicants at least, is then sent back to you with the CSQ).

 

[am5290]

another quick question -

In the guide to settling in Quebec, the list of documents I need to bring requires 'a contract respecting financial self sufficiency'.

I presume a bank statement showing my savings would be sufficient proof?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

In the guide to settling in Quebec, the list of documents I need to bring requires 'a contract respecting financial self sufficiency'.

That form is not required for Family Class.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Thanks for all the responses! Hugely appreciated as always and great to know where I stand in terms of medical insurance.

Can anyone clarify the below? I've heard nothing about proof of undertaking and assume it's something for inland applicants only, but thought I'd check.

You do have the CSQ, right? The undertaking is what you filled out and sent in to get the CSQ, and MICC should have returned it to you, signed, with your copy(ies) of the CSQ.

Also, just as an aside (can't remember if it's been mentioned yet or not), immigrants to Québec qualify for free French courses. If you're interested, I can dig up some links to the information for you. I'm in French courses now, and while I was here for over a year before starting the courses, I think I've learned more in the past nearly 4 months than in all the time before that (despite taking some other, less-intensive French courses offered the the military).

 

[BeShoo]

Also, just as an aside (can't remember if it's been mentioned yet or not), immigrants to Québec qualify for free French courses.

Do you know if a CSQ is enough to get you registered in those courses? I think that it should be, but it seems that they may ask for at least the COPR.

 

[QuebecOkie]

No, the CSQ is not enough. You have to have AIP before you're admissible. I tried several times, but AOR/CSQ was not enough. You must have AIP for inland applicants or full PR for outland applicants.