AHCIP "first stage approval"

[awor]

First stage approval is an inland term isn't it? Would it also mean sponsorship approval (outland) in this case?

5. Does applying for permanent residency status automatically mean I have or will maintain my AHCIP coverage?

In order to be eligible for AHCIP coverage you must have a valid Canada entry document or a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) indicating a “first stage approval” has been made regarding your application for permanent residency.

From http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/temporary-residents.html

[CharlieD10]

I doubt it.  First stage approval for Inland applicants is far more involved than sponsor approval for an outland applicant.  Remember, with first stage approval, the inland applicant is believed to meet the requirements for permanent residence, hence the reason it is called "approval in principle".

Sponsor approval for outland applicants does not involve any kind of assessment of the applicant's eligibility for permanent residence, that does not begin until the visa office receives the file and begins their assessment.  The outland applicant would have to at least have had an initial assessment letter from the visa office before they would be at the same level as an inland applicant with AIP.

[jayde]

All you need is the visit visa that they will staple into your passport when you tell them you are here while you wait for your PR application to be processed.  They will add the new person onto the spouses already-existing AHC account.  The expiry of the temporary health care will match up with the expiry of your visit document.  If you need to apply for an extension, they will need a new documentation showing that you are permitted to extend your stay in Canada.

Hope that helps. We just got our card yesterday for my hubby who applied outland.  The process was incredibly simple.

Shoot me a private message if you need help

[awor]

I'm just worried either not getting any visa (or passport stamp or whatever it is) or only getting 6 months, since Alberta requires 183 days (6 months, 1 day) planned residency for the following year. When I called them they said the only way I could get it is to have a 1 year visa and there's no guarantee the border will give me any at all.

I guess if it works, it works, if it doesn't we'll be paying out the nose for health care (4 kids) until PR is approved but oh well.

Thanks