Moving to Canada before PPR?

[canadayogini]

Just trying to look at all options here, starting to feel the pinch of time.

I'm the applicant, my husband (sponsor) is Canadian and we have applied outland from Australia. We are currently pregnant with baby #2 which should be a great moment for us but is currently quite stressful as we'd really like to know and make plans to move and settle into Canada ahead of the birth.

The date of the expiry of medical will be a month or so following the due date so it won't be feasible to travel immediately after the birth (or for a couple of months before), so that gives us a window of the next 10-12 weeks (maximum!) to make a decision and arrange to move... or not.

I've contacted our VO again in Sydney, they know our situation but of course we still need to wait our turn to be processed. We have had the initial assessment letter, submitted the extra docs they requested back in February and since then it's a waiting game. They said our case will be reviewed in turn and they will tell us more and request passport when/if it is approved.

So.... in the absence of not much more info than this and the assumption we are going to be approved (eeek, I don't like to assume though!) I guess we have the option to explore moving to Canada ahead of getting approval... but I wanted to check, is this really a valid option? I'm trying to make life easier for us... for if we don't get back to Canada this year we likely won't at all or at the very least for years to come with 2 small children (and the expense/time of reapplying for the visa again)... at the same time, I don't want to go ahead and ship everything over and then arrive at the border and be sent back to Australia because it could be illegal.

Any advice really appreciated with this major life decision!

 

[Jen85]

We have discussed doing this too but it can't look like you are moving there or they may not let you stay in Canada. That is what worries us...showing up with a house full of belongings, a dog and 4 motorbikes doesn't look like a visit! Your husband can bring belongings back as a returning resident so you might get away with it. I think it will be a bit risky though. What if you have to return to Sydney for an interview or have they already said that is not needed? I will be watching with interest what more experienced people on here have to say. It is such a HUGE decision isn't it! Hang in there.

 

[kelKel]

Another thing to take into consideration is the medical coverage depending on which province you plan on living in.

 

[lnl]

You are allowed to visit, just remember that you are only a visitor. Put your belongings in storage because you can't ship it without a (to follow) which comes once you have your land in date.

Just don't stay longer than six months, apply for an extension or leave and come back for genuine reasons across a border.

As long as you don't break the rules like working without a Visa and staying longer than 6 months everything will be fine.

 

[kiwikris]

Yes as Inl says you can come for a visit. Just have someone open your mail so when you have to send in your passport do so from Canada and have them send your passport in and get it sent back to you in Canada and then flagpole(go to a land border crossing and"leave" Canada) to activate your landing Sydney doesn't take long processing apps usually so I don't think you would be waiting too long. But yes don't arrive with all of your things as if they think you will be staying here to live they may not let you in and you will probably have to have a return ticket or at least a ticket leaving the country in a set amount of time as proof you do intend to leavew and then just cash it in. Depening on the province you are going to you will want to find out about medical as you may have to pay if you do not qualify for the wait times. I know Ontario there is a 3 month wait from when you get PR. I think Alberta there is no wait time but don't quote me on that.

You could also look into the working holiday visa and see if you qualify that would take 2-4 weeks to get and then you could bring some belongings as the visa lasts for 2 years! Depends on your times constraints and if this works for you.
http://www.whpcanada.org.au/introduction.shtml

Good luck!

 

[lnl]

What's the 3 month wait time regarding medical once PR is received?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scylla]

What's the 3 month wait time regarding medical once PR is received?

Thanks in advance.

In some provinces (e.g. Ontario) after you land as a PR, you then have to live in Canada for three months before you qualify for health coverage. During those three months, it's recommended that you purchase medical insurance to cover any emergencies.

 

[kiwikris]

That is for Ontario and OHIP, I don't about any other province for certain. I arrived on a work visa and had to wait 3 months to be covered, now I have applied for PR I won't have to wait as have already waited. It only happens once. Yes definitely get medical insurance if there is a waiting period.

 

[lnl]

In some provinces (e.g. Ontario) after you land as a PR, you then have to live in Canada for three months before you qualify for health coverage. During those three months, it's recommended that you purchase medical insurance to cover any emergencies.

Then as a permanent resident you should be able to buy the insurance within Canada? although it is probably more expensive than the UK just like everything else other than fuel and homes.

 

[Baloo]

Healthcare in other Provinces is listed here (scroll down).
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-health.asp

And here
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/delivery-prestation/ptrole/index-eng.php

 

[canadayogini]

Thanks everyone for information so far, it's been helpful in building a picture of what I could do.

We would be moving to Calgary, Alberta, so there's no waiting times for health care (providing I have suitable documents showing I am ok to be there). I wrote to Alberta Health fairly recently and they said that as a spouse of a Canadian/returning Albertan that I would also be eligible for coverage up to 6 months - even on a visitor visa. I don't know though... that sounds almost too good to be true.

I wonder how much convincing it would take the immigration at the border, even if I don't show up with 100 suitcases of luggage I will have an unmistakeable bump. Then there is still the chance the PPR never comes! I hadn't considered the possibility of an interview in Sydney (so thanks for the reminder), because even though they already said in the Initial Assessment letter I won't need one... you just never know.

I'm too old for the Working Holiday visa now! That's how I met my husband and had my first baby in Canada initially and we only left 18 months ago.

It did cross my mind this morning though, I also have a British passport and citizenship... but I just checked and I'm too old for that WH program too and I don't meet the residency requirements since I haven't lived in the UK for a few years. But I guess it is possible I could travel as a visitor to Canada on the UK passport, which would allow me to leave my Australian passport here and could then be more readily sent on to Sydney when (if?) they issue the PPR.

 

[Jen85]

Have you decided to go for it? I wish you all the luck in the world and hope it all works out for you!!