SURPRISE PREGNANCY?!?!?!

[JerseyGirl1985]

HELLO,

I AM AN AMERICAN AND I'VE MARRIED A CANADIAN AS OF THIS PAST AUGUST AND WE'VE JUST FOUND OUT I AM PREGNANT. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THIS WILL AFFECT OUR APPLICATION FOR ME TO BECOME A RESIDENT? ALSO, I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL DOCTORS AND NO ONE WILL TAKE ME AS THEIR PATIENT EITHER BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS OR BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND WOULD BE PAYING FOR MY OWN VISITS. IT WORRIES ME THAT NO DOCTOR WILL TAKE ME ON AT SUCH AN IMPORTANT TIME. IF ANYONE HAS ANY LIGHT THEY CAN SHED ON THIS FOR ME I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT! THANK YOU!

 

[rhcohen2014]

no, being pregnant will not affect your application negatively. if you want, you can notify the visa office of the pregnancy, because it helps prove the legitimacy of your relationship. It is not necessary to notify them when you are pregnant, it is only necessary to notify them of the BIRTH of the child if it happens before you are approved. if your husband can pass along Canadian citizenship to the baby, then the baby does not need to be included in the applicaiton. if the baby can not receive canadian citizenship, then the baby WILL need to be added to the pr application PRIOR to landing, otherwise it will cause serious issues. if you haven't had the medical exam yet, then you will need to wait until AFTER the baby is born to get the chest xray completed, so that would be the one way being pregnant can delay your processing. if you've already had your exam, then there's no issue.

As for medical care while you are pregnant, try finding a Planned Parenthood. They have locations in canada as well. Also, there are plenty of hospitals that will accept your money for the birth of the baby, and there are private clinics where you can go for tests throughout your pregnacy. I'm sure others with the experience can help point you in the right direction.

Depending on which province you are in, you may be eligible for healthcare. Again, this is dependant of where you currently are. Also, the province may have a midwifery waitlist you can put yourself on, and hope you can get one sooner rather than later.

everything will be fine. this happens all the time with PR applicants, so you are not alone. For future reference, please turn your caps off when posting. it's understandable this is a stressful experience, but in essense it reads as if you are screaming/yelling and it's not necessary.

 

[jennylee844]

Being pregnant should not effect your application to immigrate. If you need to do a new medical exam, you just won't be able to do the chest x-ray. However, it may increase your insurance premiums for your travel insurance if you are going down that path. Have you already submitted your PR application? Where are you in the process? I can only speak for Ontario, as that is where I am from (I am Canadian, my husband is American), but you will need to invest in 3 months of travellers insurance for Canada. It will probably be more expensive if you are pregnant. After the 3 months, you will then fall under OHIP insurance from being a permanent resident of Ontario, and should not have a problem. The other thing to note is that in Canada in order to apply for maternity leave, and to get all the Canadian benefits that it entails, you need to be working for 600 hours* (*I believe) and be paying Employment Insurance. If you aren't planning on working when you get there, then no need to worry about this part! I am planning on getting pregnant once I return to Canada, so I have been looking into these things

Getting a Doctor in Canada is super hard.. my sister kept our childhood doctor cause she couldn't find one, and had to travel 2 hours each way for her appointments. I would suggest once you get there going to walk in clinics, and then seeing if anyone knows about a doctor accepting new patients.. they sometimes will say that over the phone, but will squeeze you in if you go face to face.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I can only speak for Ontario, as that is where I am from (I am Canadian, my husband is American), but you will need to invest in 3 months of travellers insurance for Canada. It will probably be more expensive if you are pregnant. After the 3 months, you will then fall under OHIP insurance from being a permanent resident of Ontario, and should not have a problem.

unfortunately it's been noted several times on this forum that travel insurance will NOT cover pregnancy care.

Getting a Doctor in Canada is super hard.. my sister kept our childhood doctor cause she couldn't find one, and had to travel 2 hours each way for her appointments. I would suggest once you get there going to walk in clinics, and then seeing if anyone knows about a doctor excepting new patients.. they sometimes will say that over the phone, but will squeeze you in if you go face to face.

on top of this, it may be a good idea to talk to your husband's or canadian family's doctor. For the clinic my husband's family uses, they are more apt to bring in new patients if they are family members of current patients. My husband was able to get in because of his parents, and when my OHIP kicks in, i will be able to get in because of my husband (fingers crossed!). I'm sure each clinic has their own rules about taking on a patient who isn't covered by the provincial health care.

 

[JerseyGirl1985]

Thank you, Jenny! I am actually in British Columbia and have lived here since my husband and I married. I have not submitted my application yet as I am waiting on one final form to send in with it. I would hope being pregnant would not be an issue, especially since it was very unplanned. Also, I am getting very upset as I have continued calling several doctors and still no luck. I have never experienced having such a difficult time getting an appointment like this, at home I can see any kind of doctor pretty much the same day or next day after calling. I am feeling very frustrated right now and slightly scared as this is my first pregnancy. Thank you for your kindness and being so helpful!

 

[rhcohen2014]

I have never experienced having such a difficult time getting an appointment like this, at home I can see any kind of doctor pretty much the same day or next day after calling.

and this is the fundamental difference between universal health care like canada and the system in the US where you have to pay for insurance in order to see a doctor. generally people experience the same issue if they are uninsured in the US. It's just there are more "free clinics" there to make up for it. the "rules" for getting into a doctor are certainly going to be different.

I would suggest looking into the rules for health care in bc. it may be that longterm visitors are eligible for healthcare, and there are some provinces who have exemptions to the rules for pregnant women. I know it's possible in Alberta, and i think BC is another province that allows this.

and as mentioned above, check to see if there is a Planned Parenthood in your area. they help expecting mothers with medical care and other services.

 

[Kayaker]

The only "hiccup" for your PR application is that if you have not done the medicals yet, you cannot get a chest x-ray until you give birth. You can and should go do the medical anyway and the doctor will put in the system that you cannot have an x-ray due to pregnancy. In this case, your PR will be held up until your x-ray comes in.

But if you've already done your medicals, you're fine.

 

[Cathy645]

Thank you, Jenny! I am actually in British Columbia and have lived here since my husband and I married. I have not submitted my application yet as I am waiting on one final form to send in with it. I would hope being pregnant would not be an issue, especially since it was very unplanned. Also, I am getting very upset as I have continued calling several doctors and still no luck. I have never experienced having such a difficult time getting an appointment like this, at home I can see any kind of doctor pretty much the same day or next day after calling. I am feeling very frustrated right now and slightly scared as this is my first pregnancy. Thank you for your kindness and being so helpful!

Hi I live in BC as visitor while waiting for my PR. I applied MSP in August of 2014 and got BC service card (care card) in Sept of 2014.

You should check this website http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoben/eligible.html#enroll
And prepare all required documents then apply ASAP.

Good luck

 

[jennylee844]

unfortunately it's been noted several times on this forum that travel insurance will NOT cover pregnancy care.

Yikes.. I didn't know that! Very good to know! I guess it makes sense. Hopefully I will be a full Ontarion before we get pregnant then!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Yikes.. I didn't know that! Very good to know! I guess it makes sense. Hopefully I will be a full Ontarion before we get pregnant then!

yeah, we're waiting at least until i get full time employment. i want to be able to qualify for 12 months mat leave!

 

[jennylee844]

Thank you, Jenny! I am actually in British Columbia and have lived here since my husband and I married. I have not submitted my application yet as I am waiting on one final form to send in with it. I would hope being pregnant would not be an issue, especially since it was very unplanned. Also, I am getting very upset as I have continued calling several doctors and still no luck. I have never experienced having such a difficult time getting an appointment like this, at home I can see any kind of doctor pretty much the same day or next day after calling. I am feeling very frustrated right now and slightly scared as this is my first pregnancy. Thank you for your kindness and being so helpful!

No problem at all! Happy to help, and a big congrats on the pregnancy! So exciting. Yes, unfortunately in Canada things run a little bit different on the timelines for getting in to see a Doctor due to our healthcare system. But I do understand the frustration having lived both in Canada and the US! There are some websites that should be able to provide you with some doctors close to you that are accepting new patients. Try out this website and see if you can find a doctor that is accepting new patients. Sorry I can't seem to insert a link, but you can google with the information below.

The one I saw was the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, and then Find a Doctor, and it should only provide doctors accepting new patients.

 

[Cathy645]

Thank you, Jenny! I am actually in British Columbia and have lived here since my husband and I married. I have not submitted my application yet as I am waiting on one final form to send in with it. I would hope being pregnant would not be an issue, especially since it was very unplanned. Also, I am getting very upset as I have continued calling several doctors and still no luck. I have never experienced having such a difficult time getting an appointment like this, at home I can see any kind of doctor pretty much the same day or next day after calling. I am feeling very frustrated right now and slightly scared as this is my first pregnancy. Thank you for your kindness and being so helpful!

According to who is eligible to qualify for MSP Coverage: A spouse or a child of an eligible B.C. resident may also be deemed a resident provided that an application for permanent residence status has been accepted for processing by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and the application remains active. For more information, see Covering a Spouse or Child who is an Applicant for Permanent Resident Status in Canada (PDF 274K).

I think you need to speed up application for PR first then you can apply for MSP. But please remember that I got my care card before my PR in process but it was after SA.

 

[JerseyGirl1985]

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED! I actually JUST found a clinic that was so very kind and accepting of me and will follow my pregnancy! My first appointment is in a few weeks so I feel much better knowing I will be looked after. What a stressful process!!!

 

[rhcohen2014]

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED! I actually JUST found a clinic that was so very kind and accepting of me and will follow my pregnancy! My first appointment is in a few weeks so I feel much better knowing I will be looked after. What a stressful process!!!

make sure to sign up for healthcare, as it's been noted visitors in BC with pr applications submitted ARE eligible.

 

[Cathy645]

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED! I actually JUST found a clinic that was so very kind and accepting of me and will follow my pregnancy! My first appointment is in a few weeks so I feel much better knowing I will be looked after. What a stressful process!!!

No worries.
Happy to know you have found a doctor. Congratulations for your pregnancy and finding doctor!