Moderator

all messages by user

9/28/2014 Topic: Need Proof of Marriage to be Eligible for OHIP Moderator	Hello Marwa, Thank you for sharing your situation with us. We can understand this is a frustrating situation to be in. According to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care your husband is eligible for his own OHIP coverage if he has an open work permit and is employed full-time for at least 6 months. Your foreign marriage is most likely already recognized by the Canadian government, if it meets specific criteria. To ask Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) if you are able to make changes to your work permit and if they will be able to issue a document proving that you are married, you may call them at 1-888-242-2100. The CIC call centre is less busy on Thursdays and Fridays; you may be more likely to be able to reach an CIC agent then. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Sarah Your Settlement.Org Team
9/28/2014 Topic: Is my PR status valid outside of Quebec? Moderator	Hi Jean Pierre, Thank you for sharing your situation with us. According to a call centre agent at the Ministère de l’Immigration Diversité et Inclusion, as a Permanent Resident of Canada, you do have mobility rights. This means you can live and work anywhere in Canada. However, applying under a Provincial Nominee Program and immediately moving to another province may be seen as misrepresentation. You might find it useful to read the Provincial Nominee Program manual (OP 7b). You may want to contact the Ministère at + 1-514-864-9191 to confirm this information and for additional information based on your specific situation. You may also wish to read Should I get help with my immigration application from an immigration consultant or lawyer? Some of our users asked similar questions. Their comments and suggestions might be helpful: After landing in Quebec - Move to another Province? Can I land outside of Quebec with a CSQ? Can I live and work anywhere in Canada? The information provided above is not legal advice. If you want legal advice please consult a community legal clinic or a lawyer about your particular situation. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Sarah Your Settlement.Org Team
9/30/2014 Topic: Passport with CBSA - Sponsorship Questions Moderator	Hello, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. Since we do not have all of the information regarding your situation, it is difficult for us to provide a definitive response regarding this type of application process. According to the CIC representative we spoke to when applying to extend your work permit (if you are applying before your work permit has expired) or applying for restoration of status (if you are applying after your work permit has expired), a photocopy of your passport is sufficient. The representative also said that if your passport has been seized by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), they should have provided you with a photocopy of it. We are not in a position to advise on why you may not of heard back from CIC yet after following the instructions you were given. We strongly suggest that you contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre directly for some information specific to your own situation. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ==== Julia Settlement.Org team
9/30/2014 Topic: Applicant Changed Mind About Moving In - Questions Moderator	Hello, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. I understand that this situation can be frustrating. You may find it helpful to use the Are you a renter with roommates? tool. Given the nature of your situation you may wish to contact a Community Legal Clinic in your area to advise you on your specific situation. Also, if you are low income you may qualify for Legal Aid . You can read more about applying for Legal Aid in our Settlement.Org How do I apply for legal aid services? article. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ==== Julia Settlement.Org team
9/30/2014 Topic: How can I get my IFHP document? Moderator	Hi There, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a frustrating situation. We suggest you contact or visit a settlement agency in your area to assist you with this process. You can find an agency in your area in our Services Near Me section. You also may find it helpful to read our What is the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP)? article. You may want to contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre again about your situation. You can opt to speak directly to an operator by following the options that are similar to your inquiry. The centre is generally easier to reach in the mornings of Thursday and Friday. You may have to call several times in a row before you are put into the queue. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ========= Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
9/30/2014 Topic: How do we obtain proof of entry for OAS? Moderator	Hi There, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. We can appreciate that this is a frustrating situation. As mentioned above, according to the Service Canada Call Centre, *"other approved documents that can prove your history of residence in Canada"* refers to: - CPP Record of Earnings (to prove you were employed in Canada when you re-entered) - 3rd Party statements from others such as neighbours, employers, dentist, doctor stating that you re-entered/resided in Canada during those dates According to the Service Canada Call Centre, there is also the last resort option of getting the Service Canada Processing Centre to provide a "Statutory Declaration". However, this is only a last resort, once all other approved documents or "proofs" have been provided and all other options have been exhausted. We suggest that you contact Service Canada directly for clarification if CRA issued documents will be accepted in your specific case. You can contact them here: In Canada or the United States, call English: 1-800-277-9914 French: 1-800-277-9915 TTY: 1-800-255-4786 You can access your CPP contributions on the Service Canada website yourself through the My Service Canada Account I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
9/30/2014 Topic: Landing in Ontario - Questions About PR Moderator	Hi There, Thanks for sharing your question and situation with us. The requirement you are in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date you establish residence in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residence); Means you cannot physically be outside of Ontario (in another province or country) for more than 30 days (total) in the first 6 months after you have moved to Ontario and have applied for OHIP. You may wish to follow the other user's suggestion to land as you plan and, upon your return, in 2015 apply for OHIP at that time as you will have made 'your primary place of residence in Ontario'. You may wish to confirm this information or make specific inquiries about your situation directly with theMinistry of Health and Long-Term Care I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: TTC Reimbursement for ESL Classes - Questions Moderator	Hello Annemi, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. It sounds like you could really benefit from travel reimbursement. We cannot tell you if you can get reimbursed, because every agency and language program is different. You may want to ask your ESL instructor (or another staff member) at the agency or school where you take classes if they reimburse ESL students for their transportation. You can also call 211 and ask if there is a program in your area that you may qualify for that does reimburse students. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ============ Sarah Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: Upcoming Tribunal Hearing - Questions Moderator	Hello Starburst, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I understand that this process is very difficult. 1 & 2) Is your hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board because you are challenging the eviction notice (N12 form) or because of your heating issues? If you could clarify, it would help us provide more appropriate resources and information. 3) You may want to get legal assistance to help you answer this question, if you have not done so already. If you qualify for Duty Counsel, you can get their help at the Landlord and Tenant Board if you arrive at least 30 mintues before your hearing. You may also be able to get help from a legal clinic or The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO). 4) It is illegal for your landlord to enter your home without notice, except for certain situations. You may want to get legal help and read this information from the Landlord and Tenant Board has information about hearings. It may help you decide whether to raise the issue of illegal entry during your hearing, and at which point during the procedure you may want to do so. 5) We cannot speculate why, but some of our users may want to share their own situations. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ============ Sarah Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: How can I take ESL classes? Moderator	Hello There, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I understand that this can be a very difficult time to balance work and classes. You may wish to use this English as a Second Language (ESL) tool to find out what kind of English classes are available to you. You may be able to find one that fits your schedule. There is also a program called LINC and they offer home study classes. You can learn more about this in the Can I take LINC classes at home? article. We also have the ESL corner which has language exercises that you can do for free. You can always call 211 for free and ask to speak to someone in your language for help if you find these resources don't meet your needs. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: Can I take English classes in Gatineau? Moderator	Hello There, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I understand that this can be confusing finding the right language classes. You may wish to use this tool from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to help locate classes in your area. There is also a program called LINC and they offer home study classes. You can learn more about this in the Can I take LINC classes at home? article. We also have the ESL corner which has language exercises that you can do for free. You can always call 211 for free and ask to speak to someone for help if you find these resources don't meet your needs. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: How can I find my category code? Moderator	Hello There, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I understand that this can be confusing finding correct line on the Confirmation of Permanent Residence documents. Dpending on the type of landing document you recieved it is on a different line. This link from BC Housing will show the different types of Permanent Resident documents that may help you find the code you are looking for. If you have an IMM5292 you should be able to see the category you came under on line 19. If you have an IMM1000 you can see the link to show you the section of your document where the category is listed. The code is also located on the back side of PR Cards. However you did mention you only have a copy of the front side. There is a listing of category codes on the Citizenship and Immigration website If you remember which type of application you submitted you may be able to find your code this way. If you are unable to find your category code we suggest you contact the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Help Centre for assistance. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS
10/1/2014 Topic: Will OHIP cover pregnancy if we go to BC? Moderator	Hello There, Thanks for sharing your situation with us. I understand that this can be a happy but stressful time when you are expecting a baby. There are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to OHIP coverage. There is a 3 month waiting period before you are covered by OHIP. Your wife may still be able to acces prenatal care for free or a low cost. You can find more information in the I am pregnant and don't have OHIP. What health care can I get? article. There is also some helpful information in the Giving Birth in a New Land – A Guide for Women New to Canada and Their Families. And for your last question, about coverage outside of Ontario, you may be covered for some things in certain situations. It may be best to contact the Ministry of Health INFOline toll-free: 1-800-268-1154 or visit a Local Service Ontario location to ask about your specific situation. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Theresa Information & Referral Specialist, CIRS Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: Arrived Late for Citizenship Oath Ceremony Moderator	Hello There, Thank you for sharing your question with us. Everybody over 14 years old is required to attend the citizenship ceremony. This means that every member of your family eligible for citizenship needs to attend the ceremony in order to get their Canadian citizenship. From your post, I was unclear if it was only your mother who received the oath invitation or your whole family. If you are unclear about the status of your application and that of your father’s, you may want to call Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for information. If your father is scheduled to attend a citizenship ceremony and is not able to attend, he should call the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre as soon as possible to let them know. It is important to try to attend the ceremony you are scheduled for. If you do not attend your ceremony after receiving a warning, it is possible your application could be considered abandoned. You can find out more about citizenship on Settlement.Org or CitizenshipCounts.Ca . I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ===== Julia Your Settlement.Org Team
10/1/2014 Topic: Extension of stay on Visitor Visa Moderator	Hi there, Thank you for sharing your situation with us. According to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website if you want to extend your stay in Canada, you must apply to do so. You can apply to extend your stay online. You can also find some information on the How can I extend my stay as a visitor? page on the CIC website and the Visitors to Canada CBSA page . You may also want to call the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Call Centre for more information. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation. ==== Julia Your Settlement.Org Team