Should I apply for BC MSP before I get my AOR?

[DustinBrett]

Hello,

My application for PR/OWP was received via UPS on Nov 24th. Looking on the inland spreadsheet I see wait times of 1-3 months for AOR's. I called MSP yesterday and told them that UPS had delivered my package to Mississauga and that I had proof of paying all fees, he told me I should send in my application with that information and that it should be enough. I understand that talking to someone on the phone and getting a positive result with my application are very separate things. That being said, he also told me it could take 4-6 weeks to process my application so I was thinking that maybe I should send my application in now and if they ask for more information in 4-6 weeks that possibly by then I will have the AOR. I know people have had trouble applying for MSP because of their staff not understanding that AOR is sufficient, but should I wait for AOR or wait for MSP to request my AOR?

Thanks

 

[Caribou]

Hello,

My application for PR/OWP was received via UPS on Nov 24th. Looking on the inland spreadsheet I see wait times of 1-3 months for AOR's. I called MSP yesterday and told them that UPS had delivered my package to Mississauga and that I had proof of paying all fees, he told me I should send in my application with that information and that it should be enough. I understand that talking to someone on the phone and getting a positive result with my application are very separate things. That being said, he also told me it could take 4-6 weeks to process my application so I was thinking that maybe I should send my application in now and if they ask for more information in 4-6 weeks that possibly by then I will have the AOR. I know people have had trouble applying for MSP because of their staff not understanding that AOR is sufficient, but should I wait for AOR or wait for MSP to request my AOR?

Thanks

There is 3 months wait before MSP coverage, so it's always recommended to send in application right away. MSP people are aware that spouse can apply with proper documentation.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/medical-services-plan/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/covering-a-spouse-or-child-who-is-an-applicant-for-permanent-resident-status-in-canada.pdf
However, you DO need ecas screenshot or printout showing application is in processing. So, if you're applying under that rule, you need to wait until you get AOR.
The processing does take 4-6 weeks in Victoria, but even if you apply early, until 3 month wait is up, they won't start the coverage.
Most important date is entry date on application which should correspond to passport stamped date.


they WILL ask for further information if they need more proof, but again, processing time AFTER sending additional document takes about 3-4 weeks.(I had to phone and got the MSP number and coverage date confirmed over the phone when I first got mine b/c processing time took so long after I sent them additional info)

If it hasn't been more than 2-3 months from your spouse's entry date, I'd wait for AOR or some form of ECAS confirmation. If your spouse has passport stamp that's older than 2-3 months, then I'd send a copy of passport and receipt and give it a shot.

 

[DustinBrett]

My wife and I have been in Canada since April 9th, 2015 so she has been here over 6 months. We never got a stamp in her passport but we have since then applied for a visa extension and we do have a print-out of the CIC website showing she has applied and that the application is Open.

Should I still wait for AOR or should I just send them the processing fees for the PR/OWP, the visa extension page and the UPS delivered e-mail?

 

[Ponga]

There is 3 months wait before MSP coverage, so it's always recommended to send in application right away. MSP people are aware that spouse can apply with proper documentation.
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/health-drug-coverage/medical-services-plan/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/covering-a-spouse-or-child-who-is-an-applicant-for-permanent-resident-status-in-canada.pdf
However, you DO need ecas screenshot or printout showing application is in processing. So, if you're applying under that rule, you need to wait until you get AOR.
The processing does take 4-6 weeks in Victoria, but even if you apply early, until 3 month wait is up, they won't start the coverage.
Most important date is entry date on application which should correspond to passport stamped date.

This is the problem! Until she receives the AIP email, meaning that you have been approved as the sponsor and the relationship has been verified, HER status in eCas will only show `Application Received'. This is why the overwhelming majority of people have to wait ~ 17 months before MSP will deem them eligible...which is tragic!

To answer the last question...there's really no reason to apply before you have an official AOR from CIC, but even then...it's going to be a tough fight.

 

[DustinBrett]

Well I have the government documents and several example letters from others so once the AOR arrives I am going to write a letter to MSP that will be more like a training manual explaining to them exactly why we qualify. Hopefully that will be enough. I was also thinking her having the open work permit might be another way to apply for MSP, possibly.

On a related note, yesterday was my birthday and my wife told me she is pregnant. We have only been trying for 3 weeks. So this MSP stuff becomes even more important. I don't mind paying out of pocket for initial tests if it's not crazy and hopefully we will have coverage in the not so distant future. An option for pregnant women I found also is http://www.bcwomens.ca/our-services/pregnancy-prenatal-care/maternity-care-for-new-immigrants which could be good if we can prove "financial hardship" which I could defiantly show that we don't have $20k lying around to pay for a pregnancy out of pocket. If I get the run around for 6+ months then we will make a new plan. My wife will get good medical care, I will see to that in 1 way or another.

 

[Ponga]

Congratulations!

I don't know if the OWP will make any difference, since it will likely have something at the bottom that states that it does not confer Temporary Resident status.

If you are successful, based on the Inland application, the good news it that the waiting period would only be 2 months (and a few days). The wait is 2 months, plus the balance of the month that the application is received (IF they do their job correctly). This would make her eligibility date Feb 1, 2016

The eligibility based on the OWP (if that works) would probably be ~ June 1st, if the OWP is received by March 31st.

Regarding the bcwomens option, did you see this:

You will not be eligible for care in the New Beginnings Maternity Clinic if:

You are in Canada on a student work visa or a visitor visa
You are in Canada on a worship visa
You are in Canada on a work permit visa
You are a landed immigrant within the 90 day waiting period for MSP coverage and cannot provide evidence of financial hardship


The OWP might backfire here.


Good luck!

 

[DustinBrett]

Thanks for the info.

I came to the same conclusions as you about these things and those dates.

Ya I saw the work permit visa thing, I am not 100% sure what to think about that because we aren't solely here on a work permit which I feel is the circumstance they are suggesting in that exclusion. Either way if we don't hear about the AOR by Jan we will try our luck with the bcwomens thing before we have the OWP. I am going to keep on top of things with all of this including calling and writing very detailed applications.

 

[Ponga]

Here's the real crux of the problem:

(From MSP's own website):
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/eligibility-and-enrolment/are-you-eligible/applicants-for-permanent-resident-status


...the MSP application should be submitted with copies of as many of the following as possible:

a photocopy of any immigration document he/she may hold
any relevant letters issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
proof that the application fee for permanent resident status has been paid to CIC online or through a financial institution
the identity page of the spouse/child’s passport and any other pages stamped by CIC or the Canada Border Services Agency
a copy of the spouse/child’s birth certificate if he/she is a United States citizen.
pages one and two from the CIC e-Client Applications Status website showing the receipt date of the application and when the application was accepted for processing.


They are the same day! When the person at CIC received the parcel that contained the application, that is the date that they also accepted it for processing!