Inland/outland sponsorship can't decide (China to BC)

[lchazl]

The facts

• Living in China with Chinese wife of 2 years (2 yrs in Dec 2019)
• She is pregnant and expecting Feb 2020. We will apply for his Canadian citizenship in China as soon as born
• Plan to move to BC permanently approx in April 2020, she will come on her 10-year TRV, as soon as baby is ready
• I've asked BC med about coverage for her, and says it's the same as me, ie need to wait 2-3 months after landing as long as she's paid the PR visa fee (apparently the rule is landing time vs paying PR fee time, whichever is later, your enrollment date starts from then)

Questions

• Main: Does it make sense for me to apply for her now from China? As it will entail more documents to prove that I will return to Canada with her next year, and prove our marriage authenticity as it's under 2 years, etc. As all I care about for now is getting her enrolled in BC Med ASAP once arriving
• Also I'm worried about applying half in China then moving to Canada before it's all done, may mess up the correspondence (mailing addresses)?
• If I do wait to apply in Canada, can I first pay the fee for e.g. a week before departure so that she can enroll in Medicare immediately, and then start the PR application process from BC?

Thanks,

Charles

 

[lchazl]

Bump

 

[canuck78]

The facts

• Living in China with Chinese wife of 2 years (2 yrs in Dec 2019)
• She is pregnant and expecting Feb 2020. We will apply for his Canadian citizenship in China as soon as born
• Plan to move to BC permanently approx in April 2020, she will come on her 10-year TRV, as soon as baby is ready
• I've asked BC med about coverage for her, and says it's the same as me, ie need to wait 2-3 months after landing as long as she's paid the PR visa fee (apparently the rule is landing time vs paying PR fee time, whichever is later, your enrollment date starts from then)

Questions

• Main: Does it make sense for me to apply for her now from China? As it will entail more documents to prove that I will return to Canada with her next year, and prove our marriage authenticity as it's under 2 years, etc. As all I care about for now is getting her enrolled in BC Med ASAP once arriving
• Also I'm worried about applying half in China then moving to Canada before it's all done, may mess up the correspondence (mailing addresses)?
• If I do wait to apply in Canada, can I first pay the fee for e.g. a week before departure so that she can enroll in Medicare immediately, and then start the PR application process from BC?

Thanks,

Charles

Your wife won’t qualify for MSP until she is a PR. She won’t qualify on a TRV. If you have been out of B.C. for a long period of time you likely have to register again and wait the 2-3 months along with your child who will also need to wait 2-3 months. You will have to decide when to apply for PR. You have to be able to prove that you intend to move to Canada when PR is granted. Getting Canadian citizenship for your child will take some time.

 

[lchazl]

Your wife won’t qualify for MSP until she is a PR. She won’t qualify on a TRV.

So that goes against what the MSP agent told me over the phone, as I told her my situation and says that they will look at the at PR payment receipt date and calculate from there. Is there some loopholes I don't know about?

Getting Canadian citizenship for your child will take some time.

From the government website applying for proof of Canadian Citizenship takes 5 months, and then after that I'll need to apply for passport before leaving China?

Thanks,

Charles

 

[canuck_in_uk]

So that goes against what the MSP agent told me over the phone, as I told her my situation and says that they will look at the at PR payment receipt date and calculate from there. Is there some loopholes I don't know about?



From the government website applying for proof of Canadian Citizenship takes 5 months, and then after that I'll need to apply for passport before leaving China?

Thanks,

Charles

They won't just look at the receipt date. That would mean anyone could just pay the fees and get health coverage without ever applying for PR. You will need to provide actual proof that the PR app has been submitted.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...ord=permanent&keyword=resident&keyword=status

You can apply concurrently for the child's Certificate of Citizenship and a limited validity Canadian passport. The passport can be issued before the Certificate has been processed and you can travel to Canada.

The facts

• Living in China with Chinese wife of 2 years (2 yrs in Dec 2019)
• She is pregnant and expecting Feb 2020. We will apply for his Canadian citizenship in China as soon as born
• Plan to move to BC permanently approx in April 2020, she will come on her 10-year TRV, as soon as baby is ready
• I've asked BC med about coverage for her, and says it's the same as me, ie need to wait 2-3 months after landing as long as she's paid the PR visa fee (apparently the rule is landing time vs paying PR fee time, whichever is later, your enrollment date starts from then)

Questions

• Main: Does it make sense for me to apply for her now from China? As it will entail more documents to prove that I will return to Canada with her next year, and prove our marriage authenticity as it's under 2 years, etc. As all I care about for now is getting her enrolled in BC Med ASAP once arriving
• Also I'm worried about applying half in China then moving to Canada before it's all done, may mess up the correspondence (mailing addresses)?
• If I do wait to apply in Canada, can I first pay the fee for e.g. a week before departure so that she can enroll in Medicare immediately, and then start the PR application process from BC?

Thanks,

Charles

Apply outland now. There is no sense in waiting 8-9 months to apply in Canada and then waiting up to another year for PR.

 

[lchazl]

They won't just look at the receipt date. That would mean anyone could just pay the fees and get health coverage without ever applying for PR. You will need to provide actual proof that the PR app has been submitted.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/...ord=permanent&keyword=resident&keyword=status

Thanks, that makes sense. We will apply now and do the address change when we do move to Canada mid-application.

And for timing of the newborn's passport, this would be 6 weeks (30 working days) according to this website: https://www.canadainternational.gc....fornewborn_passeportsnourrisson.aspx?lang=eng

And since the newborn's citizenship application is in progress when we arrive in Canada, he would be eligible for health coverage in the same waiting period as us right?

 

[canuck78]

Thanks, that makes sense. We will apply now and do the address change when we do move to Canada mid-application.

And for timing of the newborn's passport, this would be 6 weeks (30 working days) according to this website: https://www.canadainternational.gc....fornewborn_passeportsnourrisson.aspx?lang=eng

And since the newborn's citizenship application is in progress when we arrive in Canada, he would be eligible for health coverage in the same waiting period as us right?

Emergency travel documents can take more time. We have also seen getting proof of citizenship take many more months thab 5 months. All these processing times are always estimates. Would not book travel until you have the documents in hand.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks, that makes sense. We will apply now and do the address change when we do move to Canada mid-application.

And for timing of the newborn's passport, this would be 6 weeks (30 working days) according to this website: https://www.canadainternational.gc....fornewborn_passeportsnourrisson.aspx?lang=eng

And since the newborn's citizenship application is in progress when we arrive in Canada, he would be eligible for health coverage in the same waiting period as us right?

Thats the general time. With proof of imminent travel, the passport can be issued within a matter of days.

Yes, same waiting period. The Canadian passport is what you would use for MSP. No need to even mention the Certificate app.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Emergency travel documents can take more time. We have also seen getting proof of citizenship take many more months thab 5 months. All these processing times are always estimates. Would not book travel until you have the documents in hand.

It is a regular passport, not an emergency travel document.

 

[lchazl]

Thats the general time. With proof of imminent travel, the passport can be issued within a matter of days.

Yes, same waiting period. The Canadian passport is what you would use for MSP. No need to even mention the Certificate app.

That's pretty fast, however I assume it can never be guaranteed (please see below quote from the Consulate).

It is a regular passport, not an emergency travel document.

It looks like it's called a "limited validity passport" which I guess is the same as a regular passport (for under 2 anyway)

An email I just got from the Guangzhou Consulate (FYI for other readers)

Passport application:
To facilitate travel during the period when the family is waiting for the Citizenship Certificate, the parents can obtain a limited validity Canadian Passport for a child under 2 years of age.

Any issuance of a passport before the citizenship certificate has been granted must be based on a valid reason such as:

proof of international travel (a flight itinerary with a confirmed booking number must be presented)

or

in order to fulfill a residency requirement to stay in China (i.e. to get a Chinese visa).

For more information, please see our Web site section on Passport http://www.canadainternational.gc.c...aires/passport-passeport.aspx?lang=eng&view=d .

Please be advised that if one of the biological parents is Chinese, then the Chinese government may consider the child to be Chinese. If this is the case, the family will encounter difficulties obtaining a Chinese exit visa in the Canadian passport. Parents are advised to speak to the Entry and Exit Administration of the Public Security Bureau for more information.

We encourage applicants to carefully review the application forms to ensure all fields are completed correctly.

Finally, clients are reminded that the requirements outlined in the packages are basic components that must be submitted in order for our office to process the applications. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please be advised that consular offices overseas also have the right to request additional supporting documentation, and that longer processing times are common for limited validity passports for children under two years of age.

Processing times may change depending on the volume of applications received and are not guaranteed. Complexity of routine verifications and security checks leads to longer processing times. Longer processing times are common for Limited validity passport applications. Should you choose to submit an application for a limited validity passport, you are fully aware that you may not receive your passport by your travel date.

Citizenship application:

In China, citizenship and passport processing offices are located in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Hong Kong. Please visit the link below to confirm which consular office is responsible for your province/city of residence and for contact information and hours of operation.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.c...sulaires/offices-bureaux.aspx?lang=eng&view=d

Canadian parents of a child born overseas may apply for a Canadian Citizenship Certificate for their biological offspring if, at the time of birth, at least one of the parents has Canadian citizenship. You should firstly go to this website and use the self-assessment tool to find out if your child is a Canadian Citizen under the new Citizenship rules. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules/index.asp.

The family – parents and child – must make an application, in person at the Consular office, for a Citizenship Certificate after the birth of the child.

Required documents include: (please note the Consular section reserves the right to request other documentation if they deem it necessary)

-Child's birth certificate + English or French translation

-Canadian parent's passport + citizenship certificate / Canadian birth certificate + 3rd valid ID (Driver's License, Health card, etc.)

-Other parent's ID as listed on the birth certificate

-Marriage certificate (if married) + English or French translation

-2 photos http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/photospecs-cit.asp

Please note that birth certificates issued in mainland China may bear part of the information in English. However, as long as there is one single word that is not translated, an English or French translation is required. For example, place of birth, nationality of parent, name of hospital, etc. are not usually translated. In China, translations issued by a Chinese Notary Public Office or a licensed translating company are accepted.

For detailed information, please see our Web site section on Citizenship http://www.canadainternational.gc.c.../citizenship-citoyennete.aspx?lang=eng&view=d .

Please note that the issuance of a Citizenship Certificate can take up to 11-13 months, therefore, parents are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The form to download is: Application for Proof of Citizenship Certificate [Form CIT 0001], http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/certif.asp .

Applications for citizenship for a new-born baby can be submitted to the Guangzhou Consular Section on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Please be advised that only clients with an appointment will be accepted for routine services. To obtain citizenship services, please make an appointment with the Consulate General of Canada to China in Guangzhou (please click the hyperlink) or athttps://cts-ca.anzus.solutions/?customer=embassyca&wf=appointments&action=schedule&locationId=GANZU.

 

[canuck78]

It is a regular passport, not an emergency travel document.

The OP is talking about leaving in 30-60 days from birth. Getting proof of citizenship and Canadian passport is unlikely to be completed during that time frame.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

That's pretty fast, however I assume it can never be guaranteed (please see below quote from the Consulate).



It looks like it's called a "limited validity passport" which I guess is the same as a regular passport (for under 2 anyway)

An email I just got from the Guangzhou Consulate (FYI for other readers)

Nothing is ever guaranteed. There should be no issues getting the passport, especially with proof of imminent travel.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The OP is talking about leaving in 30-60 days from birth. Getting proof of citizenship and Canadian passport is unlikely to be completed during that time frame.

Passports can be issued in a matter of days, so it is very easily possible to get it soon after the birth.