US Citizen, Canadian Fiancee: Pregnancy

[swestenzweig]

Greetings, folks. I did some searching on this forum, but I haven't found anything specifically related to my situation. I am a US citizen engaged to a Canadian citizen. We plan to get married in the next six months and file my PR application immediately. Because of both our ages and the complications that could arise as a result, we decided to try and conceive prior to marriage. We were expecting conception to take upwards of a year, which would have meant we'd be well on our way towards my landing by then. As fate would have it, we discovered a few weeks ago that my fiancee is pregnant. We both realize that the baby will be born only a few months after the PR has been filed, so the odds of me landing in time for the baby's birth are extremely remote. As my fiancee is Canadian (and has an established physician) and I am immigrating to Canada, it makes the most sense to have the baby in Canada.

My question is what do I need to do, as an American father, before and after the baby is born? How should I reflect this on my PR application? Does it make sense to add the baby to my health insurance? Is there anything I need to do to permit the baby to travel across the border?

Thanks in advance. I realize this is not entirely immigration-related, but I don't know of a better resource for information on how to go about this!

 

[Zarilenth]

As far as I know, since your fiancée is a citizen, she can just file for her child's passport/citizenship papers after the child is born. Because of that, your child will have no issues crossing the border as they are a Canadian citizen.
As for the PR application, you can simply put (if you like) that your Canadian fiancée is pregnant with your child, but in the long run it does not really matter or affect your application, and she will not be sponsoring her baby, only you.

 

[screech339]

It is just a matter of timing. If you do in fact land before the baby is born, nothing changes.

If the baby was born before you officially land, you would have to inform CIC and send in additional family information form with the baby's name added to it and send it in.

Screech339

 

[Zarilenth]

It is just a matter of timing. If you do in fact land before the baby is born, nothing changes.

If the baby was born before you officially land, you would have to inform CIC and send in additional family information form with the baby's name added to it and send it in.

Screech339

Ah, right that's true. Send in the updated form once your child is born!

 

[sammystorm19]

It is just a matter of timing. If you do in fact land before the baby is born, nothing changes.

If the baby was born before you officially land, you would have to inform CIC and send in additional family information form with the baby's name added to it and send it in.

Screech339

Actually because the baby is born a Canadian Citizen no forms need to be sent in as they are not applying for anything. My daughter was born after we filed and the only thing we did was inform our VO. Thats it.

If the baby was born before papers were filed then yes you need to add the baby on

 

[Zarilenth]

Actually because the baby is born a Canadian Citizen no forms need to be sent in as they are not applying for anything. My daughter was born after we filed and the only thing we did was inform our VO. Thats it.

That's what I thought as well - I was under the assumption you only put additional family members on that form in case you want to sponsor them later..? But maybe it's better to be safe and fill it out as a way of informing the VO.

 

[sammystorm19]

That's what I thought as well - I was under the assumption you only put additional family members on that form in case you want to sponsor them later..? But maybe it's better to be safe and fill it out as a way of informing the VO.

Correct....you would only add them on if you were going to be sponsoring them as well but in their case they don't need to do that

 

[screech339]

You could get a very picky CIC agent wondering why the child is not listed in the application at landing and could charge the applicant of misrepresentation due to not listing "ALL CHILDREN" Canadian or otherwise, at time of landing.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You could get a very picky CIC agent wondering why the child is not listed in the application at landing and could charge the applicant of misrepresentation due to not listing "ALL CHILDREN" Canadian or otherwise, at time of landing.

They would not be charged with misrepresentation when it's a Canadian child born after they submitted the app. Some VOs request updated forms, some only ask for the child's Canadian birth certificate.

 

[Rob_TO]

You could get a very picky CIC agent wondering why the child is not listed in the application at landing and could charge the applicant of misrepresentation due to not listing "ALL CHILDREN" Canadian or otherwise, at time of landing.

I don't think it's common for Canadian citizen children that are not actually dependents, to be listed on any COPR documents which is all a CBSA officer would see at time of landing. COPR should only list actual dependents that were sponsored.

 

[sammystorm19]

I don't think it's common for Canadian citizen children that are not actually dependents, to be listed on any COPR documents which is all a CBSA officer would see at time of landing. COPR should only list actual dependents that were sponsored.

It is only dependents that would need to have a PR to come to Canada.

 

[rhcohen2014]

My question is what do I need to do, as an American father, before and after the baby is born? How should I reflect this on my PR application? Does it make sense to add the baby to my health insurance? Is there anything I need to do to permit the baby to travel across the border?

since the child is a canadian citizen, as is the mother, the child will be covered under ohip, so it doesn't make sense to add the child to your health insurance in the US. You might as well as save your money as i'm sure it increases your premium. Also, if the baby isn't living in the US, i'm not sure you'll be able to add them.

The mother will want to add the child to her work benefits if she has any. If your wife and baby come to the us at any time, they can get emergency travel insurance.

As a US citizen, it's quite easy to visit spouses in canada, so if you work situation allows, you would be able to stay there as a visitor while the application is processing, even extending for longer term if necessary. If you're not approved before the baby is born,you can at least stay as a visitor and be there to help your wife.

 

[swestenzweig]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I will make sure to follow up with the VO once the child is born.

I may take a temporary leave of absence from work to visit my fiancee in Canada once the baby is born (paternity leave is one area where the US is sorely lacking). Thanks, rchohen2014, for the insight into OHIP and insurance.