American medicaid affect my sponsorship appliction?

[LN13]

Hey, my husband and I are looking to move to Canada and are in the beginning stages of putting the paperwork together for me to sponsor him.

I've been working part-time from home for a couple of years now because daycare is outrageous and it just makes more sense. However, as a result our kids currently are on the state medicaid program.

Is this likely to affect our application. I did a search around here but nobody seemed to know for sure. I also understand for a spousal visa you *can't* have a co-signer? I have a family member who would do it for us in a heartbeat and has the income to do it but I'm not sure how to navigate this.

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Ponga]

I've tried to gather some information for you, but must admit that I'm stumped by your first question (second question is much easier).

It looks like Medicaid for children (CHIP) is in fact a form of welfare in the U.S., but...the requirement for a sponsor to not be on social assistance may only apply if the sponsor is in Canada, thereby relying on social assistance from Canada.

What is your status in the U.S.? Is it your husband that qualified for the CHIP program for your children? If so, it may not be an issue for you.


To answer the `easy' question; you cannot have a co-signer for a spousal sponsorship application. The family member can however write a letter explaining that s/he will help you financially until your husband has gotten on his feet in Canada, per se.

 

[LN13]

I"m a dual citizen. I was naturalized here about a year ago.

They take all income and household make-up into play so all of this are currently tied to both of us. I'm highly stumped by my question as well and no amount of searching seems to come up with a concrete answer!

Unfortunately i I'm ineligible because of my kids medical coverage, a letter isn't going to help me.

 

[Ponga]

But again, the restriction to not be receiving any government assistance may not apply if that assistance is coming from the U.S. government, and not Canada.

Have you considered conferring with an experienced immigration lawyer in Canada? A lot of them (including the one that provides this website) offer a free phone consultation.

If I can find anything to be of help, I will post it here for you.

Good luck!

 

[LN13]

Thanks! I'd pondered calling the CIC to see if they could clarify things but my experience with government call centers it that about 50% of the people have no idea what they are talking about.

I'll ponder the lawyer, things are tight right now and beyond a consultation I doubt we'd be able to swing it at the moment.

 

[LN13]

Also, I took your advice and sent in the initial assessment questionaire from this lawyer's website. If it's an easy "nope, you can't do it." then hopefully I'll get a straight answer without having to keep searching.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

In Canada, medical coverage assistance is not considered welfare.

Given that you are not claiming any form of what Canada considers welfare (namely, income support and housing), meaning that there is no equivalent of what you are receiving that you would need to or even could claim in Canada, CIC should not have an issue with it.

Don't even bother trying to call CIC.

 

[LN13]

Just replying so someone else can find the information if they need it.

I filled out the general assessment questionaire from the lawyers who run this site. I got back a general form letter but it contained some helpful information.

Sponsors can be barred from sponsorship if they:

— are an undischarged bankrupt;
— have been convicted of violent or sexual crimes;
— are in default on a previous immigration undertaking;
— were sponsored as a spouse for PR within the last five years;
— have sponsored a different spouse for Canadian PR within three years; or
— are obtaining public financial assistance from the Canadian government for reasons other than disability.

They specify *Canadian* so the medical coverage here in the states shouldn't have any bearing. Yes, it's not considered legal advice unless I'm actually a client but I'll take the information as from a reliable source.

 

[Ponga]

Yay! Just as I expected.

Sometimes, I'm smrt...er, smArt.

Good luck!