I am the USC and I am regretting that I didn't become dual. I've lived in Canada for 12 years with my Canadian husband and have been extremely blessed by Canada's approach to healthcare. I would say my biggest fear or hesitation for leaving Canada is losing this wonderful healthcare. I really should have become dual, but I didn't. So as we move to the US and I am gone from Canada for more than 6 months, i lose my status here. Thankfully my husband and two children are citizens of Canada.

I am wondering if it is reasonable, possible, legal, to somehow continue being a resident by flying up here for a visit every 6 months or so. to be a resident we would have to continue to file tax returns in Canada... but I am wondering if in the end it would be worth it.

Has anyone else pondered this?

Can you not become a dual? I'm the USC but I have plans of becoming a dual, my Canadian husband plans on doing the same thing. The only worthwhile thing of becoming a citizen, for my husband, is not EVER having to deal with the USCIS again. Our plans are to eventually move to Nova Scotia and settle there, where my husband is from.

I don't know if I have time. We plan to move in November.

once I move to US, I know I stay a canadian citizen.. but if I file taxes every year even if I'm not working in Canada, does that maintain some kind of status for me? Or do I have to fly back ?

I'm just not sure what you need to do to maintain stuff in Canada... And what would you have to do to get healthcare (ONT) back and so on?

My dad's all freaking out about how I should have a baby (THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE) IN Canada cuz I'll be covered by OHIP

I (the Canadian citizen) am awaiting approval of my N-400 (Naturalization application), but my husband (USC) and I intend to move back to Canada and for him to become a Canadian citizen when we retire. That way, we can choose to live in either Canada or the U.S. anytime we want.

I've read that Canada taxes based on residency, not citizenship. I'm not sure if you need to come back to maintain residency or not. That is what I am curious about myself. I ordered the book about working in the US as a Canadian citizen for my husband. It will be interesting to see what it has to say.

I have definitely thought about having another baby before moving to the States. We have two already, but we are undecided on a third. I'd hate to have another just because it's "free" up here.

maybe I'll just have to call Sask health to see what the rules are. I'm also interested in seeing how long we'll be covered once my husband's job ends.

for you to be covered by a provincial healthcare program, you have to be a resident of Canada. A visit every 6 months or so won't cut it, I'm afraid. Most if not all provinces have residency requirements for starting/maintaining provincial coverage.

Liz, you'll always be considered a citizen of Canada, unless you write them with a request to in effect cancel your citizenship. Residency, however, is another thing. For tax purposes, I am no longer considered a resident of Canada -- you will either check off a box on next year's returns or fill out a form to let them know. if you have property, investments and other stuff that continues to earn you income you will have to file income tax returns after next year.

We're going the dual-citizenship - move back to Canada route as well.

Good info Cassie!

We're also doing the dual route eventually. I'll apply for citizenship here in 3 years and then decide when we'll move back to Canada. When we do, we'll get him his Canadian PR status and then later citizenship and then, like others plan to do, we're free to live in either country and not have to deal with immigration on either side!

Hi Dearheart,

My husband is an Australian and a PR in Canada, has lived here for 8 years. We recently applied for his Canadian citizenship (takes 12-15 months btw according to the letter we received). In the course of doing this I then read that he would have still maintained his PR status as the fact that he is living with the Canadian citizen - even in another country - it's still considered 'residency'.

Now this does not equate to health care coverage, as already mentioned, as you must be physically living in the province for x number of months to be eligible.

What it does mean though is that you won't lose your PR status in Canada (from my understanding). You might want to drop them a quick email just to confirm

Sorry, Canadian citizenship in itself does not make you eligible for healthcare. Healthcare eligibility is based on where you physically legally reside. It varies by province but generally they require you to be physically present in the province for 6 months of the year or at least 183 days of the year.

With that being said, just want to add the downside of the Canada's "great" health care system. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of our system in Canada but by no means is it a total blessing. My friend has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She is on a wait list for treatment. The tumor has grown an inch in a month and she has already had to wait a week to hear when she can be scheduled for surgery. The long waits for crucial treatment are just a reminder of the frustration people have with the Canadian system and the downside to goverment run healthcare.

I am sorry to hear about your friend and her problems with CDN Healthcare. This is why I will always prefer US Healthcare. If you can pay for it, you can get it done nearly immediately.

I'm sorry to hear about your friend too. That's the thing, it's the 'if you can pay for it'. What about people who don't have glossy insurance and can't afford to pay, I guess they get some treatment eventually.

It's a tough thing. I don't think Canada's system is perfect by any stretch, I think it needs vast improvement, at least everyone is covered though, such as it is.

The other thing is if her friend could afford to pay, she could go to the U.S. to be treated.

Maybe in an ideal system those that could afford to pay would have access to private care in Canada, however still be required to pay in to the public system at the same rate they do now.

My Sister and her family have very good insurance in the U.S.. My Brother in law hates his job and would like to quit, however my Nephew had to have spinal surgery in January and there have been other complications from the antibiotics of all things (he is well on the road to full health again now). The thing is because this is a pre-existing condition, my brother in law can't really afford to quit his job and switch to another company - they could continue to pay for the insurance themselves at the rate of over $800 a month.

It seems to me that's a very backwards system and is intended to keep people in their places. I hope the new administration will address that.

Healthcare has been an issue on the last 3-4 administrations plates. Clinton tried to push it hard, it didn't happen. It has also been a top "to do" for incoming or potential presidents. NO ONE has solved it. The US just isn't set for universal healthcare, it's too "dog eat dog" down here.

the argument over which is better aside, it is illegal in Canada to continue to use provincial healthcare insurance if you are no longer permanently residing in Canada. Yes, people do it all the time, however, if they get caught, they will be financially liable to pay back, and/or could serve time in jail.

then that's settled.

Yea its nice to know we will get good health care because we can pay for it.

But my only problem with the US system is that there is people who can't afford it. I think its a great system if you can afford it. But there are a lot of people in this Country who live well below the poverty line.

It's just sad. The one thing I liked about Canada is that I knew I was getting the same health care as everyone else (for the most part). I wasn't being given a shorter straw based on income or insurance.

PS: I wouldn't let a movie Michael Moore made scare you, he has a way of giving you only one side of the story to make his point. I agree the man is talented but I would look further into things yourself. Don't let him tell you what to feel. Sicko was a great film, but I take everything Moore has to say with a grain of salt.

aye -- it isn't cheap to pay back! I had to go to the emergency room for a gall bladder attack while home during Christmas and I had to pay $400 up front to get looked at because I was no longer a resident of Nova Scotia, and then another bill came when we got back to the US. 4 days later (after the gall bladder attack) I fell and hurt my arm, but I refused to go have it looked at because of the cost. Turns out I had fractured it.

The US system has its good points, but if you don't have insurance, you're screwed.

And unfortunately 'people who can't afford it' is a pretty sizable amount of Americans.

trailmix - wow! I will definitely look into it. Thanks to the others answering my questions. I in no way want to do something illegal. I understand how it works now. I found an interesting link for immigrant insurance. I know when my husband and I were first considering moving down, health care was an issue first on my list. We are a single income family. I specifically emailed my cousins who live a similar lifestyle to see how they do it. In the end, what they said was, God provides. So, I won't worry. We will look into our legal options and trust that the God who is bigger than health care and insurance companies will care for us. (Now, I know I may have started a whole new controversial thread in itself with that statement.) Thanks to those who have answered my questions....

I just called Immigration Canada and trailmix, you're right! I won't lose my PR status! Wa-hoo! I am so excited. So if we should want to move back to Canada I will not have to go through immigration again this way. Wa-hoo! I am so darn excited! Thanks, trailmix!

You're welcome!

trailmix, great info for Canadian PRs!

ok jumping in on this late because I've been too busy to check VJ the past few days. The same 3 out of 5 year rule applies to all Canadian PR's, however those of us lucky enough to be married to Canadian Citizens get to count the time we spend with our spouse as "time in Canada". Kind of cute that our loves are our own personal piece of Canada.



US health care sucks-we spend nearly double per capita than Canada yet fewer people are covered AND the US ranks near/at the bottom of the developed world in basic metrics like infant mortality (Lativa is the only developed country with higher infant mortality than us) and survivorship with chronic diseases. If you have some rare cancer you are better off in the US, but if you have high blood pressure or diabetes or that uterine parasite (I love the Onion) known as a baby you are better off in any developed country other than the US. The only reason that we STILL don't have universal health care is because the very powerful insurance lobby has convinced Americans that they deserve 40% of our health care money-that if we deny them that money we would be beholden to that oh so scary "government bureaucracy" which for some reason is worse than the insurance bureaucracy whose only goal is to maximize premiums and minimize payments for treatment. This is a case where true adherents of capitalism should be on the side of universal healthcare-the better product for less money, instead of what the US has a more expensive system for much poorer results.

And no, I've never seen Sicko-the stats that I've quoted can be found in the annual UN World Health Report

This is true. My husband works for a health insurance brokerage and you should see some of the bullshit presentations that the carriers present. Total lies, inaccuracies, data skewing, implied cause and effect when one has nothing to do with the other, scare tactics, etc.

I've been happy with the Canadian health care system. I've used it for minimal and moderate care and surgery but friends and family have used it for much more dire surgeries (i.e, complicated, life threatening, etc.) without delay. I suppose it all depends on physical access... if you live in a big city (like Toronto) then there are more surgeons and specialists available. Also, I've never equated any "waiting" to be because of "the system" but because of the number of doctors/specialists available and the way the country is populated. Not saying it's "perfect" but I think it's way better for a variety of reasons which many here in this subforum have already stated.

That is so smart of the Canadian government.

As I have mentioned before, I have had reasons to use both the US and the Canadian health, hospitalization and emergency care systems - and I will take the Canadian one anytime. I do have a chronic health concern and I know that some of the copays cost more than the actual prescription did back in Canada - for the exact same product, same packaging, everything except the French labeling. For a medical emergency last year, it took me 6 hours before I saw a doctor after I was admitted at emergency - and saw only one nurse 3 hours after I was put into the examining room - and all she did was take vitals. Once I saw the doctor things happened quickly, I was diagnosed with a stroke and admitted (it turned out not to be a stroke but the symptoms were virtually identical). Upon arrival at emergency It took an hour going through emergency admissions doing the financial paperwork while sitting there with half my body numb and unfeeling, unable to use my arm and barely able to shuffle while dragging my one leg. My emergency visit in Canada with a severe kidney infection had me through admissions and to a doctor within 15 minutes where I was immediately admitted and getting an iv inserted within half an hour. My brother just last week in Ottawa was rushed to emergency and within 2 hours was in surgery for a perforated bowel. (he is still there for another few days as well). He would have died if he had been in the US because the doctor would not have seen him in time - in fact, there have been several highly publicized news stories in the US media about people with perforated bowels dying while waiting to see a doctor in hospital - or being turned away, in one case, because she didn't have insurance.

Anyway, a private buagaboo - and sorry for somewhat hijacking the topic.

Trying to put all this together...for those of us who aren't planning to have both of us have dual citizenship, is there a way for the USC to have permanent PR status in Canada? For example, if after the Canadian got US citizenship, the Can/Am couple moved to Canada for X months and then returned to the US, would the USC continue to have Canadian PR status? And then be able to return to Canada and get health care after X months even if s/he had a pre-existing health condition? And if so, how many months are X?

Just "what if" thinking.

Hi vanee,

Your thinking above is correct.

The U.S. citizen moves to Canada with their Canadian Citizen spouse and applies for PR status. Once the U.S. citizen has their PR status approved (not sure how long this currently takes and it will vary of course) their 'residency' for Canadian PR status is still considered to be ongoing, as long as they are living with the Canadian Citizen spouse - even if they are living in Istanbul together.

The health care scenario you give is true also, X months depends on the province.

I tried to edit but it wouldn't let me, to add this:

As far as pre-existing conditions go, if the condition is deemed to be a condition that will unduly cost the health care system - when applying for PR status - the person can be denied if they consider that treating that condition will be unduly costly to the healthcare system (I assume this is in place to dissuade people from trying to get PR status only to receive treatment for a condition).

This doesn't apply, obviously, if you are already a PR.

The USA system isn't perfect either if ur rich. Have friends that are very wealthy. He has heart problems, and when he makes the decison for surgery (he is a wuss) he can get in for the operation just like that!! She has other problems and is having an extremely hard time finding a Doctor. many dont want to take on new patients!
We have fairly good insurance as well. Last April i phoned around to get a physical completed, and was hard to find a DR taking new patients!! Some said sure--in 6 months!!! Always plus and minuses.

The Canadian vs. US healthcare is one of the reasons we're moving back to Canada in the near future.

I *think* but I'm sure I read somewhere that if you are married to a Canadian citizen you won't be denied PR status for medical reasons.

I have read some of the comments and based on my personal experience I see our Canadian system running onto major problems.
I am losing my family doctor in Canada because he is going into private practice and I cant afford it. It is almost impossible to find a new doctor and I know many that can't get one and don't have one. The experience in hospitals is not much better either. We get the impression its free but we do pay for it through taxes. I dunno but I am not getting any comfy feeling here either.


Steve

It still isnt easy to find a DR here in the USA. I had to phone MANY dr's to get in for a simple physical, and we have good insurance (wife works for govt)

Im in a Registered nursing (RN) program, and every student has to have a completed physical. Guess what, I know a few students ( that have lived in the USA thier whole life) had a hard time finding a DR to do their physical!! Always good and bad of every system, and many depends on where you live. My parents live in Sk. dad has had 3 heart operations and he never had a problem seeing a DR. Never going to be perfect

I seem to remember that too Reba. you might actually have an interview to prove that the marriage isn't just to get you into Canada/on insurance, but I'm pretty sure that it's in the same category as not having to meet the income requirements for spouse sponsored immigrants

To make things easier for dual citizenship guys, all you have to do is make sure your Canadian passport is kept updated...if you let it expire, I understand it takes some time to "reactivate" it, much easier to just keep renewing it.
If Jim & I were considering coming back to Canada, after all this US Immigration is done, I would start with the Canadian Immigration process ASAP. I work with Immigration Consultants who work with employers & they say that the process here is just as lengthy as in the US (unlike what they tell you on their website). You just never know what the future brings so be prepared earlier rather than later! Good luck everyone!

jen

my experience with Canadian immigration: Time from filing to visa 9 months-and that included 2-3 months where our app was lost in the mail. I haven't heard of anyone getting through US immigration in less than year.

Same as the US, once you get your PR visa you have to actually move to Canada-you can't just get it then hold on to it for years. My visa was only valid for a month or 2 because the visa expires when your medical expires.