Health Coverage

Canada's universal health coverage doesn't start immediately in most provinces, even if you are already a permanent resident or citizen - any supplemental insurance you purchase during the time you aren't covered must be bought within 5 days of arriving in Ontario, or the insurance companies will not provide coverage for you.

• Paying for health insurance prior to health coverage eligibility
• Private health insurance for new immigrants
• Applying for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan
• Canadian Health Centres (CHCs) - Some of these offer health services to people who do not yet have their health card (OHIP).
  

I'm still researching this, but one source shows roughly $167/month for coverage for Nickie, supposing 1 year coverage, and if we chose to cover me, about $126/month for 3 months. My dad, should he come with, would pay about $277/month for 3 months (assuming he is allowed to retain his PR status). Any pre-existing conditions in the preceding 3 months would not be covered, nor would any treatments that could be safely performed in the U.S. if we were to return there. This looks like basic emergency-related coverage, so that if you have a medical emergency and are too sick to travel back to the U.S. for treatment, you can at least get enough treatment to get stabilized.

This is only one insurer, so more research to follow. Obviously, some comparison shopping is in order.

Cold weather living, and settlement

For those of us who have lived most of their life in a place like Southern California, a place where "cold weather extremes" consist of 28-32F degrees and an occasional light hailstorm, we really need a primer on living in a colder climate. Here is some good info I've found on this:

Checklist and tips for safe winter driving
Winter safety
Winterizing your car
Driving in snow and ice
Cold weather tips - geared towards camping but still good info
How to dress for Ontario winters
How to survive a cold winter


Car tips from dad:
Block heater
Plenty of antifreeze
Emergency supplies
Lighter weight oil for easier starting
Pump brakes to avoid losing traction

General settlement information
Immigrating and bringing your belongings
Your first days in Ontario
Finding short-term accommodation in Ontario
Help finding work in Ontario
Ontario Immigration
Going to Canada

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)
Immigrating or settling in Canada
Moving back to Canada

Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC)
A newcomer's Introduction to Canada

Exporting/Importing a Vehicle, etc.

Canadian government offices will be closed tomorrow for Boxing Day, but after that I will need to start contacting them for various information. Here is a quick to-do list.

Follow steps at RIV website
- my car has a minor recall so there will be some extra steps here

• Have recall repair performed 1
  
• Obtain manufacturer's recall clearance letter 1 2 3
  
• Check Transport Canada's list of admissible U.S. vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Check vehicles for manufacturer's valid U.S. statement of compliance label 1 2 3
  
• Valid 17-digit Vehicle Identification Numbers 1 2 3
  
• Ensure vehicles have daytime running lights 1 2 3
  
• Trucks - Manufacturer's cargo capacity label if manufactured after April 1, 1999 1
  
• Determine additional costs, such as duty and taxes
• Gather title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of compliance label and manufacturer's recall clearance letter
• Find out about any additional provincial or territorial requirements, such as safety inspections and emissions tests
• Arrange for insurance on vehicles 1 2 3
  
• Notify U.S. Customs and follow procedures:
• Provide Certificate of Title including the VIN
  
• Provide 2 complete copies of Certificate of Title
• Submit this required documentation at least 72 hours prior to exportation
• Present vehicle for exportation at time of export
• Port Directors will determine at what location vehicle(s) must be presented
• Original document will be authenticated and usually returned
• Dirt must be washed from vehicles including undercarriages (see BIS contact info below to get requirements)
  

Things that can wait until after landing if we do an Inside Canada PR app:

• Check this - vehicles may be able to be brought in as "temporary" at first, then official importation filed later - this may work for Nickie as a temporary resident but it may be different for me as a citizen
  
• Obtain SIN from HRSDC
• Ensure that the Inside Canada forms are ready to go
• Photos - PR app
  
• Medical exam - PR app

Important Contacts:

Registrar of Imported Vehicles
1-888-848-8240
Fax: (416) 626-0366
info@riv.ca
Mon. to Fri.: 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight (EST)
Sat. and Sun.: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)

Canada Border Services Agency
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999 (English) ; 1-800-959-2036 (French)
Outside Canada: (506) 636-5064 (English); (506) 636-5067 (French)
www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

Transport Canada
In Canada: 1-800-333-0371
Outside Canada: (613) 998-8616
Fax: (613) 998-4831
www.tc.gc.ca

Border Information Services
In Canada: 1-800-461-9999
(204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064
24-hour recorded info
Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00 local time press "0" for an agent

Import Service Centers
(for Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requirements)
In Canada or U.S.:
Eastern ISC (Montréal): 1-877-493-0468
Central ISC (Toronto): 1-800-835-4486
Western ISC (Vancouver): 1-888-732-6222
www.inspection.gc.ca

General Motors (Oshawa, ON)
888-467-6853
905-440-7689

Toyota
1-800-331-4331

Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the Canadian equivalent of a Social Security Number (SSN) in the U.S. It takes about 3 weeks to get your card, and there is no charge for your first application. You need one in order to work.

I don't know if I have an SIN yet, so I will have to call them to find out what to do.

There is a toll-free number for callers inside Canada:

1 800 206-7218 option 3
Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (your local time), except statutory holidays

but if you call from abroad you have to call long-distance

(506) 548-7961
8:00am to 8:30pm (Atlantic time)

Here is where you can get the form to request a SIN:

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/sin

Update 12/27/06:
I called and found out that if you come into one of their offices in person with your Canadian birth certificate, you will receive your SIN on the spot and then it takes about 10 days for you to get it in the mail. If I do it by mail, I was told, I may be separated from my original birth certificate for up to 8 weeks during processing. This is obviously something better taken care of after landing.

To Do - first draft

This is a rough sketch of things to do. First, things that need to be done regardless of where we move to. Then mixed tasks including things that depend on circumstances, highlighted in blue. Completed items will be marked in red italics rather than deleted, so as not to remove potentially helpful information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish cleaning extra stuff out of the apartment

Sell the RV (it's in an RV storage facility) - I'd like to get it on the market within a week of today

1. Finish emptying out RV including bedding
   
2. Clean counters, tub, sinks, floor
3. Ask management - where is hitch lock?
4. Hire someone for RV detailing - who does management contract with?
5. Take photos of inside and outside for posting in ads
6. Double-check Blue Book value
   
7. List RV online and in print publications - post pics where possible

If RV sale goes well, we'll put more weight into considering going directly to Ontario

File for Dad's Travel Document - Application for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) (IMM 5524)

1. Finish polishing arguments for H&C
   
2. Gather documents to back up H&C arguments - Record of Landing (IMM 1000), driver's license and/or passport, mail sent to this address, etc.)
   
3. Gather Dad's information and fill out the application together
   
4. Get 1 passport-size photo, write name and date of birth on back
   
5. Get Money Order, Cashier's Cheque or Bank Draft - $45 USD or $50 CDN payable to the "Canadian Consulate General"
   
6. Mail application - contact info is:
   

   Consulate General of Canada
   550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor
   Los Angeles, CA 90071-2627

   Tel: (213) 346-2700, Fax: (213) 346-2767
   e-mail: lngls-td@international.gc.ca

   Territory: California, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada

If the RV sale goes well *and* Dad gets a Travel Document, I imagine we'll go directly to Ontario

Take detailed inventory of all items; this will be needed for the Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4) form, needed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (link here) when you cross the border. There should be 2 lists; 1 for items you've brought with you and one for "items to follow" that will be brought or shipped later. Anything not on these lists will get TAXED so be thorough. Returning residents (such as my father and I) get a $10,000 tax exemption, presumably to assist with importing your car tax-free.

Pack up less-frequently-used items

Label all boxes clearly; better yet, number them as well and keep detailed item inventory on a separate list corresponding with the B4 document - i.e. "Box A, 12 books."

Check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles at www.riv.ca to see if our cars are acceptable for import (Canadian auto requirements differ from those in the U.S.) - as of this writing, there is a document here - RESULT: yes our cars are ok, but always double check with RIV (see step below)

Call RIV at (888) 848-8240 (toll-free in Canada and U.S.), to confirm acceptability of our cars

Check on requirements for auto insurance in new location

Check on health insurance arrangements in new location (in Ontario, this would be just until we were covered by the Canadian healthcare system)

Look for work

Look for a new place to live in our chosen location

File "inside Canada" or "outside Canada" PR application for wife (breakdown of steps for this will be posted in the future)