What exactly do I have to do after landing?

[anonymity]

Hi everyone,

Got the COPR and finally landed onto Ontario a couple days ago.
Now what exactly do I have to do?
I heard that I need to wait 3 months to get the health card, so I'll apply for that in 3 months?
Only I need is COPR paper for SIN number and health insurance?
Anything els that I have to do?

Thank you.

 

[GoonerClank]

Hi everyone,

Got the COPR and finally landed onto Ontario a couple days ago.
Now what exactly do I have to do?
I heard that I need to wait 3 months to get the health card, so I'll apply for that in 3 months?
Only I need is COPR paper for SIN number and health insurance?
Anything els that I have to do?

Thank you.

Apply for health card now. it takes three months before it gets into affect. You might want to get basic health insurance to cover you for the first three months. (i.e. blue cross, etc). For health insurance you need to prove that you live in ontario. So a utility bill with your name on it is also required. You will probably need your passport too.

If you plan on working you will need a SIN card

Other things I would look at doing...

1) getting a bank account
2) If you are driving, i would look at maybe getting the drivers book and looking at taking your test too.

Others people may have more ideas too

 

[truesmile]

Agreed. Apply NOW. Ontario has a very short list of acceptable 'proof of address' documents (one of which is a Utility bill with YOUR name on it). Another one is a photo ID drivers license. We couldn't apply for OHIP until she got one of those (that's just our case anyway).

 

[keesio]

I saw that list just know. Assuming all goes well (fingers crossed) and my wife lands in Ontario, she will not have any of those on the list unfortunately. All utilities are in my name, she will not be working, no drivers license yet, etc. I guess i will need to have her create her own bank account ASAP.

 

[Rob_TO]

I saw that list just know. Assuming all goes well (fingers crossed) and my wife lands in Ontario, she will not have any of those on the list unfortunately. All utilities are in my name, she will not be working, no drivers license yet, etc. I guess i will need to have her create her own bank account ASAP.

Don't worry, you have 3 months to apply. So in that time you should be able to set up at least 1 of the required proofs of address the OHIP office requires.

There is really no advantage to getting OHIP early as you have to wait the same 3 months anyways before you're covered. My wife went a day before the 3 month wait was over. You get a temporary OHIP number on the spot immediately. So it doesn't matter if the card takes a few weeks to arrive in the mail, you are still covered in case of emergency.

 

[tahsinmohammad]

As far as I know one can apply for the Ontario Health Card the day they landed but it will valid after 3 months waiting period (i.e If you landed on 1 July 2013 and applied on the same day.The validity date starts from 1 Oct 2013).

Correct me if i am wrong...

 

[Rob_TO]

As far as I know one can apply for the Ontario Health Card the day they landed but it will valid after 3 months waiting period (i.e If you landed on 1 July 2013 and applied on the same day.The validity date starts from 1 Oct 2013).

Correct me if i am wrong...

There is a VERY specific list of documents that OHIP will accept to prove your residency in Ontario. http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-9998E-82
Odds are nobody just arriving in Canada for the first time, will have any of these yet, so would not be able to apply for OHIP right away.

Really there is no advantage to applying anytime before the 3 months waiting time is up. Newcomers to Canada will take a while to set up at least 1 of the proofs of residency they require, and then can apply anytime within the first 3 months.

 

[keesio]

Really there is no advantage to applying anytime before the 3 months waiting time is up. Newcomers to Canada will take a while to set up at least 1 of the proofs of residency they require, and then can apply anytime within the first 3 months.

Ah I see. It is 3 months from the landing date and it doesn't matter when the application was sent it. If I recall when I landed (many many years ago), you go to the OHIP office and if you qualify, you can get it right there and they give you a piece of paper you can use until your card gets mailed to you... is that still correct?

 

[dbss]

Ah I see. It is 3 months from the landing date and it doesn't matter when the application was sent it. If I recall when I landed (many many years ago), you go to the OHIP office and if you qualify, you can get it right there and they give you a piece of paper you can use until your card gets mailed to you... is that still correct?

Only if the three months period has passed

 

[dbss]

There is a VERY specific list of documents that OHIP will accept to prove your residency in Ontario. http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca/mbs/ssb/forms/ssbforms.nsf/FormDetail?openform&ENV=WWE&NO=014-9998E-82
Odds are nobody just arriving in Canada for the first time, will have any of these yet, so would not be able to apply for OHIP right away.

Really there is no advantage to applying anytime before the 3 months waiting time is up. Newcomers to Canada will take a while to set up at least 1 of the proofs of residency they require, and then can apply anytime within the first 3 months.

two pieces of ID:

Passport
Lease from your landlord with your name and your wife's name on it. For me it was just a piece of paper with my name and landlord's name and address and basic stuff written on it.

 

[Rob_TO]

Ah I see. It is 3 months from the landing date and it doesn't matter when the application was sent it. If I recall when I landed (many many years ago), you go to the OHIP office and if you qualify, you can get it right there and they give you a piece of paper you can use until your card gets mailed to you... is that still correct?

Yes you get your OHIP # right away on a piece of paper, that you could bring with you to a hospital if needed. I think if you apply withing a week or 2 of being eligible you will get this paper to cover you during the time you're waiting for actual OHIP card in the mail. The paper will have an eligibility date when you can start using it.

 

[Rob_TO]

two pieces of ID:

Passport
Lease from your landlord with your name and your wife's name on it. For me it was just a piece of paper with my name and landlord's name and address and basic stuff written on it.

Yes, lease agreement is one of the official documents on the list that OHIP will allow.

 

[keesio]

Yes you get your OHIP # right away on a piece of paper, that you could bring with you to a hospital if needed. I think if you apply withing a week or 2 of being eligible you will get this paper to cover you during the time you're waiting for actual OHIP card in the mail. The paper will have an eligibility date when you can start using it.

Great, thanks!

 

[truesmile]

Ok guys. DO yourselves all a favour and apply NOW. Seriously, they WILL argue with you over the date that you claim to have "moved" to Ontario, best get that argument out of the way ASAP. Just going on personal experience...

 

[Rob_TO]

Ok guys. DO yourselves all a favour and apply NOW. Seriously, they WILL argue with you over the date that you claim to have "moved" to Ontario, best get that argument out of the way ASAP. Just going on personal experience...

There should be no confusion here. It's the landing date clearly stamped on your COPR by the immigration officer. Only confusion would be if you landed in another province, and then moved to Ontario afterwards.