Unpaid OSAP - Might only be my problem - Please help

[emilewlew]

Hello,

I'd like to just start of saying how happy I am to have found this forum, as I've gone to 4 different consultants and have been getting different answers to certain questions from each, it's become very confusing.

My husband and I have been married since April 2013, we had initially thought I would move there, but then decided on Canada to build a life and family. He is a US citizen and I am a Canadian citizen from birth. We are going to apply inland.

The only problem now is my unpaid OSAP. Long story short, I've had incredible financial hardships in the last 7years, couldn't find work other than part-time minimum wage, kept deffering my OSAP. Then at my worst point, I just started ignoring it and not paying it. I recently got a great paying job, and am finally financially secure enough to pay my OSAP loan. Before I called them, the Gov't of Canada sent me a collections notice for the $9000 owing to them on my loan. I have called and arranged for monthly payments to be made.

Now my questions are:
Is this considered a loan that MUST be paid back before I can sponsor my husband? (I understand OSAP isn't considered social assistance, but now it's money owing to the Federal Gov't.)
Would this money owing need to be paid in full before I am even considered as a sponsor?
Would it be wise to hold off on sending in my sponsorship papers? (I've been told that when applying inland, if we get denied then we can't apply again).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I just paid $100 for a consultation fee, and the only answer I got was "hmm I'm not sure, I've never come across that"

Thanks,
Emi

 

[d_j_heckford]

Well common sense to me is owing the government money and wanting to sponsor your spouse isnt ideal. Canada don't enforce an income for sponsorship, but can disqualify you if you filed bankrupty or on government welfare. I would say gamble and see. Being in debt isn't something that concerns them overall, its more that if your spouse will become a drain on the healthcare system and rely on government funding to live. Just my 2 bits, I say go for it, other option is you can live together in the U.S even though your preference is in canada if the absolute worst comes to shove. cheers

 

[chipolopolo]

Your osap loan wont affect it, my wife sponsored me and hasnt paid her osap back yet. They are more concerned with bankruptcy, criminal charges, and social assistance. You will be fine especially also since you are now actually even paying back the loan that will help show that you are indeed financially stable now. Also if by any chance you were denied sponsorship because of osap loan which is highly unlikely, you can always withdraw application after sponsorship stage. If it will make you feel more safe you can also contact niren and associates immigration..one of canadas leading immigration lawyers. They will give you a free assessment. Me and my wife used them.

 

[bigredmoose]

I wouldn't worry about it. You're allowed to be indebted to the government and still sponsor.

 

[brucem]

On a slightly different note as your husband is a US citizen I would strongly recommend applying outland rather than inland. You can still apply outland with your husband residing in Canada as long as he keeps legal status in Canada by renewing his visitors visa. Down side is he can't work while the application is in process but it's likely he would receive PR in 6-12 months as opposed to 2-3 years inland. If the new work permit is the attraction it would be at least 4 months before he got this (although this is still not 100% certain could be longer). So add another 2-3 months to that and he could have PR. Currently applications received last August are beginning to get 'decision made'. CIC even recommend applying Outland themselves. Just something to ponder! Also avoid consultants you really don't need them unless you have specific criminal or other complex issues and as others have pointed out your debts shouldn't be a problem so save yourself some cash and get free advice on the forum!

 

[Panamai]

Is OSAP the federal student loan program here? If so, my husband owes on his too. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a college educated person who doesn't still owe on theirs. In a spousal application, the only thing they are concerned with is welfare. Student loans aren't welfare.

 

[Panamai]

On a slightly different note as your husband is a US citizen I would strongly recommend applying outland rather than inland. You can still apply outland with your husband residing in Canada as long as he keeps legal status in Canada by renewing his visitors visa. Down side is he can't work while the application is in process but it's likely he would receive PR in 6-12 months as opposed to 2-3 years inland. If the new work permit is the attraction it would be at least 4 months before he got this (although this is still not 100% certain could be longer). So add another 2-3 months to that and he could have PR. Currently applications received last August are beginning to get 'decision made'. CIC even recommend applying Outland themselves. Just something to ponder! Also avoid consultants you really don't need them unless you have specific criminal or other complex issues and as others have pointed out your debts shouldn't be a problem so save yourself some cash and get free advice on the forum!

I totally second this!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Is OSAP the federal student loan program here? If so, my husband owes on his too. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a college educated person who doesn't still owe on theirs. In a spousal application, the only thing they are concerned with is welfare. Student loans aren't welfare.

OSAP = Ontario Student Assistance PRogram (it's provincial, not federal). yes, i agree, if they refused people because of outstanding student loans there probably would be a lot less pr's in canada right now.

 

[taffy7]

Totally agree osap won't make any different. My daughter sponsored her partner while still in University and now 5 years later just finished paying her osap .

 

[Panamai]

OSAP = Ontario Student Assistance PRogram (it's provincial, not federal). yes, i agree, if they refused people because of outstanding student loans there probably would be a lot less pr's in canada right now.

Ah, ok. Thanks!

 

[emilewlew]

On a slightly different note as your husband is a US citizen I would strongly recommend applying outland rather than inland. You can still apply outland with your husband residing in Canada as long as he keeps legal status in Canada by renewing his visitors visa. Down side is he can't work while the application is in process but it's likely he would receive PR in 6-12 months as opposed to 2-3 years inland. If the new work permit is the attraction it would be at least 4 months before he got this (although this is still not 100% certain could be longer). So add another 2-3 months to that and he could have PR. Currently applications received last August are beginning to get 'decision made'. CIC even recommend applying Outland themselves. Just something to ponder! Also avoid consultants you really don't need them unless you have specific criminal or other complex issues and as others have pointed out your debts shouldn't be a problem so save yourself some cash and get free advice on the forum!

Thank you all for your responses, it's helped us both make a decision before we started paperwork. Brucem, your post really opened our eyes, and was the most information we've received so far, we greatly appreciate this.

We will now do an outland petition, and he will be able to go back and forth. The only thing we need to figure out now is how to extend his visitors visa in case our petition goes over 6 months.

Thanks,
Emi

 

[melgolchuk]

You can extend a visitors visa online.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

 

[emilewlew]

You can extend a visitors visa online.

AMAZING!

I'm so happy to have found this forum, it's already hard supporting my husband, now I can save the $3000 on paperwork and pay for our cost of living.

Thanks so much!

 

[brucem]

Thank you all for your responses, it's helped us both make a decision before we started paperwork. Brucem, your post really opened our eyes, and was the most information we've received so far, we greatly appreciate this.

We will now do an outland petition, and he will be able to go back and forth. The only thing we need to figure out now is how to extend his visitors visa in case our petition goes over 6 months.

Thanks,
Emi

Happy to be of assistance!

 

[shevillaverde]

Hello,

I'd like to just start of saying how happy I am to have found this forum, as I've gone to 4 different consultants and have been getting different answers to certain questions from each, it's become very confusing.

My husband and I have been married since April 2013, we had initially thought I would move there, but then decided on Canada to build a life and family. He is a US citizen and I am a Canadian citizen from birth. We are going to apply inland.

The only problem now is my unpaid OSAP. Long story short, I've had incredible financial hardships in the last 7years, couldn't find work other than part-time minimum wage, kept deffering my OSAP. Then at my worst point, I just started ignoring it and not paying it. I recently got a great paying job, and am finally financially secure enough to pay my OSAP loan. Before I called them, the Gov't of Canada sent me a collections notice for the $9000 owing to them on my loan. I have called and arranged for monthly payments to be made.

Now my questions are:
Is this considered a loan that MUST be paid back before I can sponsor my husband? (I understand OSAP isn't considered social assistance, but now it's money owing to the Federal Gov't.)
Would this money owing need to be paid in full before I am even considered as a sponsor?
Would it be wise to hold off on sending in my sponsorship papers? (I've been told that when applying inland, if we get denied then we can't apply again).

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as I just paid $100 for a consultation fee, and the only answer I got was "hmm I'm not sure, I've never come across that"

Thanks,
Emi

Hi Emi! We've passed our applications last November 2014. I have OSAP owing of $12500 from 2008, and deferred payments years ago (3 years ago) from when I started filling up my application to sponsor my husband. My tax refund goes straight to my OSAP federal owing. () Just like what you've felt, I felt scared for our papers, but still pushed for the applications, I did outland application. Got sponsorship approval last February 2015. And from our second stage, they asked my husband for passport request last March 15. Now we're waiting for the return of his passport which we pray will take 2-3 mos. max.

So don't you worry about your student loan. It will not affect your sponsorship. Push with your papers. God luck.