Marriage and Birth in Canada, Outland PR

[canadianwoman]

Keep in mind that 'landing' in Canada does not just mean 'arriving in Canada'. 'Landing' means the applicant has been issued a PR visa; he or she then arrives in Canada, uses this PR visa, and becomes a PR. So your wife is not going to be 'landing' when she comes to Canada pregnant. Because she will not have done the medical yet, CIC will not even have started processing her application.
Health insurance for a pregnant woman is difficult to get, and very expensive, because the insurer knows already that they will have to pay out. The premiums then have to be higher than the average cost of giving birth, prenatal care, and then take into account the likelihood of complications. I would just have her give birth in Italy.
Going to live in Alberta is a possibility. The government there does cover visitors who are planning to become PRs, sometimes. No one lately has posted about their experiences with this option.

 

[akayalto1]

Keep in mind that 'landing' in Canada does not just mean 'arriving in Canada'. 'Landing' means the applicant has been issued a PR visa; he or she then arrives in Canada, uses this PR visa, and becomes a PR. So your wife is not going to be 'landing' when she comes to Canada pregnant. Because she will not have done the medical yet, CIC will not even have started processing her application.

I've read elsewhere on the threads that if we arrive in Canada and she is on a visitor visa, and then we apply outland for a PR, at a certain point in the process she will get notification of and interim approval called AFP (Applicant for Permanent Residence). At this point we would then be able to go and apply for OHIP and we will have already been living in Canada for probably 8 months to one year. For sure the pregnancy will be over and our child will be born. Until that point we can be covered by private insurance, except weeks 31-birth. A risk we must be willing to take. And the cost of the midwife is covered by the province of Ontario (not OHIP). I am wrong in this logic?

 

[akayalto1]

You should be fine as long as she is not visibly pregnant when she arrives in Canada. If she is visibly pregnant - this could cause issues at the border (or it might not).

Thanks for your help scylla. She will not be visibly pregnant when she arrives, however we plan on getting married in Canada after we land and then applying for PR through Family sponsorship....so I'm wondering if she needs to declare that she is pregnant an intends to give birth at entry, whether or not they ask anything? Could not declaring that, even if they don't ask, serve as a problem during the PR application?

Really I just want to make sure we are not breaking any laws, rules or setting ourselves up for failure. Any help in what we should do would be helpful.

P.S We may be travelling together or separately...would this make a difference at the border when entering?

 

[akayalto1]

As I mentioned in your other thread, midwives are in very high demand in Ontario. If she doesn't arrive in Canada until several months into the pregnancy and then tries to find a midwife, you may find the midwives with offices in your area are all completely booked. You need to be in Canada and contact them as soon as possible to finding out you're pregnant, and even then there's a chance you may go on waiting list.

I managed to find two different midwife clinics that can serve us. So that's covered. And she will have private insurance that covers everything but the dilivery in a hospital, something that we are willing to pay for if necessary. We are now planning on coming within the next couple months.
What I would like some clarification on is the best way to get to Canada honestly. As we are currently engaged, and planning to get married in Canada, what does she say to the IO when we arrive in Canada? She is from Italy and have a eTA. Should she have a flight home? and bank statement with funds? Or can we just be honest with our plan to marry, and then apply for Spousal Sponsorship OUTLAND. Should she mention the pregnancy even if she isn't asked about it. She will be having the baby around the same time as the expiration of her allowed 6 months, and I assume that she will be able to apply for extension due to the delivery of baby and/or that we've already applied for PR. Will being honest and upfront about this potentially stop her from getting in the country? Are we breaking any laws or rules in our plan? Any help or clarification would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[akayalto1]

Keep in mind that 'landing' in Canada does not just mean 'arriving in Canada'. 'Landing' means the applicant has been issued a PR visa; he or she then arrives in Canada, uses this PR visa, and becomes a PR. So your wife is not going to be 'landing' when she comes to Canada pregnant. Because she will not have done the medical yet, CIC will not even have started processing her application.
Health insurance for a pregnant woman is difficult to get, and very expensive, because the insurer knows already that they will have to pay out. The premiums then have to be higher than the average cost of giving birth, prenatal care, and then take into account the likelihood of complications. I would just have her give birth in Italy.
Going to live in Alberta is a possibility. The government there does cover visitors who are planning to become PRs, sometimes. No one lately has posted about their experiences with this option.

I just posted this update below in response frmo a quote from Rob_TO, but thought that you might have some good advice as well canadianwoman. Hope you can help to clarify. Thanks

So, I managed to find two different midwife clinics that can serve us. So that's covered. And she will have private insurance that covers everything but the delivery in a hospital, something that we are willing to pay for if necessary. We are now planning on coming to Toronto within the next couple months.
What I would like some clarification on is the best way to get to Canada honestly. As we are currently engaged, and planning to get married in Canada, what does she say to the IO when we arrive in Canada? She is from Italy and have a eTA. Should she have a flight home? and bank statement with funds? Or can we just be honest with our plan to marry, and then apply for Spousal Sponsorship OUTLAND. Should she mention the pregnancy even if she isn't asked about it. She will be having the baby around the same time as the expiration of her allowed 6 months, and I assume that she will be able to apply for extension due to the delivery of baby and/or that we've already applied for PR. Will being honest and upfront about this potentially stop her from getting in the country? Are we breaking any laws or rules in our plan? Any help or clarification would be helpful.

 

[CDNPR2014]

I've read elsewhere on the threads that if we arrive in Canada and she is on a visitor visa, and then we apply outland for a PR, at a certain point in the process she will get notification of and interim approval called AFP (Applicant for Permanent Residence). At this point we would then be able to go and apply for OHIP and we will have already been living in Canada for probably 8 months to one year. For sure the pregnancy will be over and our child will be born. Until that point we can be covered by private insurance, except weeks 31-birth. A risk we must be willing to take. And the cost of the midwife is covered by the province of Ontario (not OHIP). I am wrong in this logic?

unfortunately, your understanding of OHIP eligibility is not correct. outland applicants do not receive AIP (applicant in principle). AIP is specific to inland applicants, so they can use that letter to prove eligibility. for an outland applicant to do the same, they first need to apply for ohip, get a refusal then submit an appeal to the appeal board. this is very time consuming and does not guarantee coverage. for the most part, outland applicants are not eligible for OHIP and generally only become eligible once they land as a pr.

OHIP requires 3 documents for eligibility. a person needs one from each list to qualify. if they don't have the required documents, coverage will be refused.

here's a link to the required document list. you'll have to click on the link and save the PDF file to open it up.

http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-9998E-82

 

[canadianwoman]

She does not have to tell the border agent that she is pregnant when she enters Canada. I suggest not telling them - this is not misrepresentation. If they specifically ask, then of course she should say she is pregnant.

People from countries where they do not need a visa to enter Canada often tell the border agent that they are here as a visitor, but have a PR application in the works. They say they will be just visiting, and will leave if the PR application is refused. However, these are people who are already married or in a common-law relationship. IMO, she should just say she is here as a visitor. She should have proof of ties to her own country, and a return ticket with a specific date.

 

[CaroM8]

Just wanted to drop in and say...Congrats on the pregnancy!!

I know it's complicated with the whole immigration, health care issues.. but it's also exciting