Important OHIP eligibility info for all PR applicants residing in Ontario

[JayPinNC]

Ok, so let me get this straight, because I just got off the phone with a somewhat annoyed Service Ontario employee.

Backstory:

Wife has been a resident in Ontario on a VR since Jan 30, 2015.
Got her driver's license on April 14, 2015
Rec'd CoPR on July 28, 2015, but applied on Dec 2, 2014.
She's got a bank account, car insurance etc....

There seems to be some confusion on the part of Service Ontario about a CoPR being the sole determination for residency and, therefore, eligibility. Confusion between residency and permanent residency, maybe? I was just told that my wife's waiting period will start on the date of her CoPR even though she's been residing here for six months.

Or is this kind of an if...then... type thing and I've got my order of operations out of whack? (meaning the CoPR HAS to come first before anything...)

Ugh

 

[JayPinNC]

I also just read this on this page: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/ohipfaq_mn.aspx

If you are applying for Ontario health insurance coverage as an Applicant for Permanent Residence, you are required to present written confirmation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that you are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada, which may be one of the following :

CIC Confirmation Letter – letter on CIC letterhead addressed to the Applicant for Permanent Residence that confirms that the applicant is eligible to apply for permanent residency in Canada;
CIC Immigration document such as a Work Permit, Visitor Record, Temporary Resident Permit or Study Permit with note in the "Remarks Section" that indicates that you have applied for permanent residence and the CIC has confirmed that you meet the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Now my wife already has her CoPR, so did we miss a window of opportunity here? Seems kind of odd that we would have a window with no wait period and then a new window with a wait period. Thoughts anyone?

 

[Rob_TO]

I was just told that my wife's waiting period will start on the date of her CoPR even though she's been residing here for six months.

This is correct. Date of actually landing as a PR, + 3 months.

 

[kuriositty]

I recently got my work permit and I understand that you need to work for at least 6 months before being able to apply for OHIP. So if I wait my 6 months and get a letter from employer saying that I have been employed there for that time will I still have to wait another 3 months for OHIP?

Or will I still need other things such as SA, etc?

 

[bartjones]

I recently got my work permit and I understand that you need to work for at least 6 months before being able to apply for OHIP. So if I wait my 6 months and get a letter from employer saying that I have been employed there for that time will I still have to wait another 3 months for OHIP?

Or will I still need other things such as SA, etc?

You shouldn't have to wait for SA. The work permit should qualify you for OHIP but exactly when it will kick in, I don't know. Have you gone to Service Ontario to ask about it?

 

[ashia]

hi guys,
I've got my answer about OHIP: they said I am eligible for coverage, and the date when I've become eligible was simply the date when my visa was issued. So, much later than I expected, but still it gives me 1 month less waiting:

• visa issued: June 9th --> OHIP starts September 9th
• landing: July 4th --> would have to wait till October

So, worth applying, I guess

Thanks for all your advices and help here

 

[PTJ]

I also got feedback from the Review Panel as well today. And they confirmed I'm eligible from the date CIC gave me 1st stage approval (IN-LAND PR application). Unfortunately the review too so long (I requested for review in June 2015) and I got the feedback today August 20th; I'd already apply with my OWP in July and with August 11th coverage start....so it does't really make any difference for me.

 

[bartjones]

hi guys,
I've got my answer about OHIP: they said I am eligible for coverage, and the date when I've become eligible was simply the date when my visa was issued. So, much later than I expected, but still it gives me 1 month less waiting:

• visa issued: June 9th --> OHIP starts September 9th
• landing: July 4th --> would have to wait till October

So, worth applying, I guess

Thanks for all your advices and help here

Did that answer come from Service Ontario or OERC? Either way, it's wrong, unless your visa was issued on the same day you passed your eligibility assessment.

 

[JayPinNC]

This is correct. Date of actually landing as a PR, + 3 months.

Then how do we explain those on here who have rec'd OHIP based on their CIC eligibility date? Before landing.

She's been here since January, was likely found eligible by CIC to be a PR in May (while she was living here).

 

[Panamai]

How do you go about proving you were found eligible on a certain date? Do they GCMS notes help at all? I'm going to assume most Service Ontario offices look for the COPR because that's the easiest, most straightforward way to prove your eligibility immigration-wise. My application is finally "in process" and I'm due to receive a new copy of notes around Sept. 11. I've already done the appeal once and CIC had not done my eligibility check yet. If the notes show they have finally and I still haven't received DM, would I need to start over a new appeal or could I just fax over a copy of the notes and ask them to take another look? This is all super confusing! Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

Then how do we explain those on here who have rec'd OHIP based on their CIC eligibility date? Before landing.

She's been here since January, was likely found eligible by CIC to be a PR in May (while she was living here).

Those that applied outland need to have gone through the process explained at beginning of this thread (apply for OHIP, get rejected, appeal to OERC, have them contact VO to determine if eligible and if so what the date would be).

If you didn't go through that whole process, then you will get OHIP 3 months after getting COPR and not any sooner.

 

[bartjones]

How do you go about proving you were found eligible on a certain date? Do they GCMS notes help at all? I'm going to assume most Service Ontario offices look for the COPR because that's the easiest, most straightforward way to prove your eligibility immigration-wise. My application is finally "in process" and I'm due to receive a new copy of notes around Sept. 11. I've already done the appeal once and CIC had not done my eligibility check yet. If the notes show they have finally and I still haven't received DM, would I need to start over a new appeal or could I just fax over a copy of the notes and ask them to take another look? This is all super confusing! Thanks!

A few months after the OERC rejects your appeal, fax them a letter asking them to check again. They will enquire again with CIC and, if you've passed your eligibility assessment this time, they'll grant your coverage.

 

[Panamai]

Ok, thanks!

 

[qasim786]

Joined

 

[stephcy]

Hi everyone

I'm so happy to have found this post we have applied for outland sponshorship visa to be sponsored by my Canadian common-law parter. We got SA last week saying that my application is forwarded to Ottawa and not Rome, which was supposed to be my VO, as I'm currently living in Canada under a visitor visa.

I have been in Canada since August 2014 and I have a visitor's visa extension until 30th June 2016. Luckly until now I never got sick, but you never know With my partner we want to start a family pretty soon, we don't want for up to 17 months that my application might take to be approved...

I read all the posts in this topic, and from my understanding is still early for me to apply for OHIP. Can anyone tell me how long we should wait before we apply.... We though we might take our chances and go on Saturday at an Ontario Service Center and ask for info, and probably get the Ontario Photo card or ask how to get the driver's licence.... I thought all these services were only accessible to Canadians.


Thank you Great post by the way