+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Planning 2019 pregnancy - coverage questions (BC MSP)

lchazl

Star Member
Jan 31, 2018
75
7
Hello everyone, I've been doing some reading up the forum and gotten some answers but still have a few questions/would like feedback:

Facts
  • I'm Canadian living abroad with foreign wife in her country.
  • She has a V-1 TRV visitor visa with 8 years validity, visited Canada once before.
  • I need to continue living abroad for approx two years (work contract).
  • Planning pregnancy Apr/May 2019. Delivers in Canada Jan 2020.
Goals
  • She leaves for Canada Aug/Sep 2019 - never mind the PR finished or not as she can come on Visitor Visa first.
  • We apply for her PR Sept 2018 - gets it Sept 2019, enroll MSP, gets coverage Dec 2019.
    • Goes for the private insurance for the first 3 months in Canada while waiting for MSP if we must.
  • We want to be a satellite family for a little while and then she and child have flexibility to come and visit and then we all go back to Canada for good.
Questions
  • In another post someone was saying we could argue for MSP while the PR is processing as soon as she lands in Canada on Visitor Visa (Summer 2019)? Is this at all possible?
  • If above is impossible, for the private insurance to cover the delivery and all related baby fees pre-post, do we need to start coverage before she gets pregnant or can we just pay for 3 months?
  • Is there a better way to optimize this whole situation?
Thanks,

Charles
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,196
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Hello everyone, I've been doing some reading up the forum and gotten some answers but still have a few questions/would like feedback:

Facts
  • I'm Canadian living abroad with foreign wife in her country.
  • She has a V-1 TRV visitor visa with 8 years validity, visited Canada once before.
  • I need to continue living abroad for approx two years (work contract).
  • Planning pregnancy Apr/May 2019. Delivers in Canada Jan 2020.
Goals
  • She leaves for Canada Aug/Sep 2019 - never mind the PR finished or not as she can come on Visitor Visa first.
  • We apply for her PR Sept 2018 - gets it Sept 2019, enroll MSP, gets coverage Dec 2019.
    • Goes for the private insurance for the first 3 months in Canada while waiting for MSP if we must.
  • We want to be a satellite family for a little while and then she and child have flexibility to come and visit and then we all go back to Canada for good.
Questions
  • In another post someone was saying we could argue for MSP while the PR is processing as soon as she lands in Canada on Visitor Visa (Summer 2019)? Is this at all possible?
  • If above is impossible, for the private insurance to cover the delivery and all related baby fees pre-post, do we need to start coverage before she gets pregnant or can we just pay for 3 months?
  • Is there a better way to optimize this whole situation?
Thanks,

Charles
Hi

As a sponsor living abroad, you need to show proof that you are returning to live in Canada as soon as the PR app is processed. IRCC will request proof before approving your wife's PR app. They have even been known to ask for proof of the sponsor cancelling work/residence permits. Since you aren't returning to Canada until Sept? 2020, you will likely have issues with this and have a good chance of being refused and told to apply when you are actually going to return.

1.No, not possible. That provision requires that you already be a BC resident with MSP and add your spouse to your MSP account.

2. From previous threads, there is apparently one plan out there that will cover delivery but only up to a point. And I believe that coverage must start before the pregnancy. Note that if the baby is born before your wife has MSP, s/he will not have coverage either. If premature, NICU costs are pricey https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/australian-couple-faces-1-million-hospital-bill-after-baby-born-in-bc/article4096233/.

3. Apply for PR, quit your job and return to Canada together at least 6 months before the baby is due so that she will have MSP before the birth. Or delay having a child until you are both moving to Canada in 2 years.
 

dextroo

Star Member
Dec 4, 2013
122
8
london
Visa Office......
London
Hi there what are the rules for Canadian citizen, if they dont live in Canada and just go to AB, for birth stay a few months and return? keeping in mind that they are citizen. Thanks
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,196
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Hi there what are the rules for Canadian citizen, if they dont live in Canada and just go to AB, for birth stay a few months and return? keeping in mind that they are citizen. Thanks
Alberta has residency requirements to qualify for healthcare. If you fail to meet the requirements, they can come after you for full costs. Doesn't matter if you are a citizen.
 

dextroo

Star Member
Dec 4, 2013
122
8
london
Visa Office......
London
Alberta has residency requirements to qualify for healthcare. If you fail to meet the requirements, they can come after you for full costs. Doesn't matter if you are a citizen.

thanks it is 6 months right?
so if they landed in Jun 2018 and gave birth in Sept 2018 then they have to stay their till Dec 2018?
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,196
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
thanks it is 6 months right?
so if they landed in Jun 2018 and gave birth in Sept 2018 then they have to stay their till Dec 2018?
They could still come after you. The first requirement is "Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta". Going there for 6 months so you can give birth for free and then leave is not someone who "makes a permanent home" in the province.
 

dextroo

Star Member
Dec 4, 2013
122
8
london
Visa Office......
London
They could still come after you. The first requirement is "Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta". Going there for 6 months so you can give birth for free and then leave is not someone who "makes a permanent home" in the province.
am sorry didn't get the point "Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta".

so how do you make a permanent home by staying more than 6 months? would appreciate if you can explain as i am not getting it.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,196
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
am sorry didn't get the point "Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta".

so how do you make a permanent home by staying more than 6 months? would appreciate if you can explain as i am not getting it.
You live Somewhere. Somewhere is your permanent home and it is not in Alberta. You want to go to Alberta temporarily for 6 months to take advantage of free healthcare. You aren't moving there and don't intend to make it your permanent home; your permanent home remains Somewhere.
 

dextroo

Star Member
Dec 4, 2013
122
8
london
Visa Office......
London
You live Somewhere. Somewhere is your permanent home and it is not in Alberta. You want to go to Alberta temporarily for 6 months to take advantage of free healthcare. You aren't moving there and don't intend to make it your permanent home; your permanent home remains Somewhere.

thank you
 

lchazl

Star Member
Jan 31, 2018
75
7
As a sponsor living abroad, you need to show proof that you are returning to live in Canada as soon as the PR app is processed. IRCC will request proof before approving your wife's PR app. They have even been known to ask for proof of the sponsor cancelling work/residence permits. Since you aren't returning to Canada until Sept? 2020, you will likely have issues with this and have a good chance of being refused and told to apply when you are actually going to return.
Thanks for the feedback. Yes I checked the application now and they ask for proof that I will return. What kind of proof can I provide more than a year out? I don't want to cancel my residence permit here at that point nor can I get a letter from work saying that I will quit in x months Everything else I can think of is just taking me at my word.
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,329
1,636
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Thanks for the feedback. Yes I checked the application now and they ask for proof that I will return. What kind of proof can I provide more than a year out? I don't want to cancel my residence permit here at that point nor can I get a letter from work saying that I will quit in x months Everything else I can think of is just taking me at my word.
It's your resignation, why do you get a letter from your employer? For their permission?
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,329
1,636
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Thanks for the feedback. Yes I checked the application now and they ask for proof that I will return. What kind of proof can I provide more than a year out? I don't want to cancel my residence permit here at that point nor can I get a letter from work saying that I will quit in x months Everything else I can think of is just taking me at my word.
Since your wife still has a valid TRV, she can opt for birth tourism in BC.
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,558
7,196
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
Thanks for the feedback. Yes I checked the application now and they ask for proof that I will return. What kind of proof can I provide more than a year out? I don't want to cancel my residence permit here at that point nor can I get a letter from work saying that I will quit in x months Everything else I can think of is just taking me at my word.
You can't really provide anything, hence why I said you will likely have an issue. Your best plan is probably to have the child in your current country.
 

lchazl

Star Member
Jan 31, 2018
75
7
It's your resignation, why do you get a letter from your employer? For their permission?
Right but I want to continue living and working here for at least let's say 6 months. The proof has to come when submitting the application, I don't want to resign before even submitting the PR application.
 

lchazl

Star Member
Jan 31, 2018
75
7
You can't really provide anything, hence why I said you will likely have an issue. Your best plan is probably to have the child in your current country.
But I mean even forgetting about the child, how do Canadians living abroad with their spouse generally prove they will go back to Canada? The application process is a year. That's a long time to be able to prove anything, let's say I got a job offer in Canada today, I'd have to act on that right now, leave the spouse here and have her arrive in Canada 6 months later as her TRV is only valid for 6 months at a time.

Is it really this bad for everyone in my position? Is there no known precedence of someone writing a letter expressing intent to do something and that being enough?