Family Moving from US

[JRomeroE]

I am waiting for my Canadian citizenship certificate application to be approved and once it is, my husband and I are planning on moving with our children from the US to BC. The plan is for them to arrive as visitors first and then for me to sponsor them once we arrive so that my husband can also apply for an open work permit and we can live there and be near my mother while the papers process. A few questions-
Is this the best way for us to be near my mother the soonest?
What is the current timeframe for family sponsorship applications within Canada? I’m a bit concerned that my husband and kids would be without healthcare (or it would be very expensive) during this time.
At what point would we be eligible to apply for CCB?
How long does the open work permit take to process? I am planning on working myself until that permit is finalized and my husband can work.
Thank you for your help!

 

[JRomeroE]

Does anyone have any ideas??

 

[armoured]

I am waiting for my Canadian citizenship certificate application to be approved and once it is, my husband and I are planning on moving with our children from the US to BC. The plan is for them to arrive as visitors first and then for me to sponsor them once we arrive so that my husband can also apply for an open work permit and we can live there and be near my mother while the papers process. A few questions-
Is this the best way for us to be near my mother the soonest?
What is the current timeframe for family sponsorship applications within Canada? I’m a bit concerned that my husband and kids would be without healthcare (or it would be very expensive) during this time.
At what point would we be eligible to apply for CCB?
How long does the open work permit take to process? I am planning on working myself until that permit is finalized and my husband can work.
Thank you for your help!

-"Best way to be near mother soonest" - not sure I understand the question, moving as soon as you have the citizenship docs is clearly the quickest way to be near your mother.
-Current timeframe: no-one knows. Check the inland threads. The guideline is 12 months and they seem to be making a serious effort to catch up on that.
-Canada child benefit: look it up; there are also other forums here for things like taxation. I think as soon as you are resident for tax purposes - which can be immediately I believe - you should be eligible; but you haven't even informed here whether your children are citizens (presumably through you?); I don't even know if that is a requirement. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-ag...ew/canada-child-benefit-before-you-apply.html
-Healthcare: depends on province, so you'll have to look it up. Some are waiving waiting period for residents. Again, you haven't even said if your children are citizens.

 

[cjr]

I am waiting for my Canadian citizenship certificate application to be approved and once it is, my husband and I are planning on moving with our children from the US to BC. The plan is for them to arrive as visitors first and then for me to sponsor them once we arrive so that my husband can also apply for an open work permit and we can live there and be near my mother while the papers process. A few questions-
Is this the best way for us to be near my mother the soonest?
What is the current timeframe for family sponsorship applications within Canada? I’m a bit concerned that my husband and kids would be without healthcare (or it would be very expensive) during this time.
At what point would we be eligible to apply for CCB?
How long does the open work permit take to process? I am planning on working myself until that permit is finalized and my husband can work.
Thank you for your help!

My understanding regarding healthcare is: you can get temporary coverage for a fraction of US rates during the wait period, after that - based on what you've written above - you'll all be eligible:


Source Link
Coverage Wait Period
New (and returning) residents are required to complete a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin.


Source Link
Residents
A person must be a B.C. resident to qualify for medical coverage under MSP. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

• must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence;
• must make his or her home in B.C.; and
• must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period.*

* Eligible B.C. residents (citizens of Canada or persons who are lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence) who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months in a calendar year.

Dependents
Dependents of MSP beneficiaries are also eligible for coverage if they are B.C. residents as set out above. Dependents include a spouse, children and dependent post-secondary students.

Spouse: A resident of B.C. who is married to or is living and cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship with the applicant.

Child: A resident of B.C. who:

• is a child of a beneficiary or a person who stands in place of a parent;
• who is a minor;
• does not have a spouse; and
• is supported by the beneficiary.

Dependent post-secondary student: A resident of B.C. who is:

• older than 18 and younger than 25 years of age;
• in full-time attendance at a recognized post-secondary institution (this includes trade, technical or high schools); and
• supported by a beneficiary who is the person’s parent or who stands in place of the person’s parent.

A spouse or child of an eligible B.C. resident may also be deemed a resident provided that an application for permanent residence has been submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the sponsorship fee, application for permanent residence fee and Right of Permanent Residence fee have been paid in full. Per IRCC, the dependent child of a sponsor is exempt from the Right of Permanent Residence fee.

 

[JRomeroE]

-"Best way to be near mother soonest" - not sure I understand the question, moving as soon as you have the citizenship docs is clearly the quickest way to be near your mother.
-Current timeframe: no-one knows. Check the inland threads. The guideline is 12 months and they seem to be making a serious effort to catch up on that.
-Canada child benefit: look it up; there are also other forums here for things like taxation. I think as soon as you are resident for tax purposes - which can be immediately I believe - you should be eligible; but you haven't even informed here whether your children are citizens (presumably through you?); I don't even know if that is a requirement. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-ag...ew/canada-child-benefit-before-you-apply.html
-Healthcare: depends on province, so you'll have to look it up. Some are waiving waiting period for residents. Again, you haven't even said if your children are citizens.

I’m sorry that I didn’t explain fully. No, my children are not Canadian citizens. My mother was born in Canada and I was born in the US, so I can get Canadian citizenship but my children are not eligible. I don’t see anywhere that they need to be citizens for me to receive the benefit, but I wanted to be sure, which is why I asked.

 

[JRomeroE]

My understanding regarding healthcare is: you can get temporary coverage for a fraction of US rates during the wait period, after that - based on what you've written above - you'll all be eligible:


Source Link
Coverage Wait Period
New (and returning) residents are required to complete a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin.


Source Link
Residents
A person must be a B.C. resident to qualify for medical coverage under MSP. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

• must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence;
• must make his or her home in B.C.; and
• must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period.*

* Eligible B.C. residents (citizens of Canada or persons who are lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence) who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months in a calendar year.

Dependents
Dependents of MSP beneficiaries are also eligible for coverage if they are B.C. residents as set out above. Dependents include a spouse, children and dependent post-secondary students.

Spouse: A resident of B.C. who is married to or is living and cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship with the applicant.

Child: A resident of B.C. who:

• is a child of a beneficiary or a person who stands in place of a parent;
• who is a minor;
• does not have a spouse; and
• is supported by the beneficiary.

Dependent post-secondary student: A resident of B.C. who is:

• older than 18 and younger than 25 years of age;
• in full-time attendance at a recognized post-secondary institution (this includes trade, technical or high schools); and
• supported by a beneficiary who is the person’s parent or who stands in place of the person’s parent.

A spouse or child of an eligible B.C. resident may also be deemed a resident provided that an application for permanent residence has been submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the sponsorship fee, application for permanent residence fee and Right of Permanent Residence fee have been paid in full. Per IRCC, the dependent child of a sponsor is exempt from the Right of Permanent Residence fee.

Great to know! Thank you for this information.

 

[JRomeroE]

My understanding regarding healthcare is: you can get temporary coverage for a fraction of US rates during the wait period, after that - based on what you've written above - you'll all be eligible:


Source Link
Coverage Wait Period
New (and returning) residents are required to complete a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin.


Source Link
Residents
A person must be a B.C. resident to qualify for medical coverage under MSP. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

• must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence;
• must make his or her home in B.C.; and
• must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period.*

* Eligible B.C. residents (citizens of Canada or persons who are lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence) who are outside B.C. for vacation purposes only, are allowed a total absence of up to seven months in a calendar year.

Dependents
Dependents of MSP beneficiaries are also eligible for coverage if they are B.C. residents as set out above. Dependents include a spouse, children and dependent post-secondary students.

Spouse: A resident of B.C. who is married to or is living and cohabiting in a marriage-like relationship with the applicant.

Child: A resident of B.C. who:

• is a child of a beneficiary or a person who stands in place of a parent;
• who is a minor;
• does not have a spouse; and
• is supported by the beneficiary.

Dependent post-secondary student: A resident of B.C. who is:

• older than 18 and younger than 25 years of age;
• in full-time attendance at a recognized post-secondary institution (this includes trade, technical or high schools); and
• supported by a beneficiary who is the person’s parent or who stands in place of the person’s parent.

A spouse or child of an eligible B.C. resident may also be deemed a resident provided that an application for permanent residence has been submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the sponsorship fee, application for permanent residence fee and Right of Permanent Residence fee have been paid in full. Per IRCC, the dependent child of a sponsor is exempt from the Right of Permanent Residence fee.

Actually, this says that we have to be in BC for 6 months before medical coverage goes into affect??

 

[cjr]

Great to know! Thank you for this information.

You're very welcome!

 

[cjr]

Actually, this says that we have to be in BC for 6 months before medical coverage goes into affect??

No, that applies to the definition of what qualifies as a "resident".

If you were to arrive today, you'd finish out February, wait through March and April, then coverage should kick in May 1st.

 

[cjr]

No, that applies to the definition of what qualifies as a "resident".

If you were to arrive today, you'd finish out February, wait through March and April, then coverage should kick in May 1st.

In other words, you're not considered a "resident" if you shuttle back and forth between Canada and the US, spending more time within a given year in the US.

 

[armoured]

No, that applies to the definition of what qualifies as a "resident".

If you were to arrive today, you'd finish out February, wait through March and April, then coverage should kick in May 1st.

Has BC waived the waiting period?

 

[cjr]

Has BC waived the waiting period?

No, it's not waived, it's defined as "complete a wait period consisting of the balance of the month in which residence in British Columbia is established, plus two months before benefits can begin."

The "six months" in question are what define a resident: "must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or a shorter prescribed period".

The wording is not super-clear, but it doesn't mean you have to be in BC for six months *before* you're a resident.

 

[armoured]

I’m sorry that I didn’t explain fully. No, my children are not Canadian citizens. My mother was born in Canada and I was born in the US, so I can get Canadian citizenship but my children are not eligible. I don’t see anywhere that they need to be citizens for me to receive the benefit, but I wanted to be sure, which is why I asked.

Note that once they receive resident status and you are resident in Canada, you can apply for citizenship for them right away, the three year residency period does not apply.

 

[JRomeroE]

Note that once they receive resident status and you are resident in Canada, you can apply for citizenship for them right away, the three year residency period does not apply.

Oh wow, I didn’t know that! We will do that, for sure.

 

[JRomeroE]

Oh wow, I didn’t know that! We will do that, for sure.

But do you know if they need to be Canadian citizens for me to receive the child benefit for them?