moving to US

[Wis-Can 0]

If you go back and read my post, you will see I wrote dual citizenship, not residency. I plan on keeping my house here in Canada which is why I would go the dual citizenship route. Some social programs may be available to the original poster if he were to go the dual citizenship route, which is what I was saying,... that's all. Since I don't know the details of his disability its hard to comment on whether he was entitled to coverage or not, and from who. I am very lucky as my disability pension continues no matter where I live. I have a friend, who was married to a man in Texas, who came home for medical treatment as they just couldn't afford it. She stayed a green card holder and didn't want to do the naturilization route. Its hard to comment when you get so few details....hopefully with what everyone posted he can find some answers...take care.

If you are not physically present in a province for a certain amount of time each year, you will not be covered, citizenship or not. Each province has their own rules and regulations when it comes to residency and covering healthcare expenses.

For example, here are the eligibility requirements for the province of Nova Scotia:

To be eligible for Nova Scotia Medical Service Insurance (MSI) benefits you must be:

* a Canadian Citizen or �Permanent Resident� (Landed Immigrant)

* a resident who makes his/her permanent home in Nova Scotia and is present in the province 183 days every calendar year.

* You must be registered with MSI to be eligible for benefits.

You can keep your home in Canada all you want, but if you don't plan on staying in it for the bulk of the year, you won't be covered, sorry!

Talk about a topic getting off course......the original poster has a disability...I responded as I too have a disability that is covered by the WCB of Nova Scotia and is covered no matter where I live, in terms of payments, medical treatment, doctor visits, meds, physio, anything relating to the injury. I was letting him know that depending on the cause of his disability, it could be possibly covered. He needs to check that out. Nothing to do with MSI. I don't know where he lives at so each province does have their own rules on medicare. I don't think personally, that if you have a major medical issue or issues, that moving to to the US would be a good idea under any circumstances. But that's just a personal opinion. I am choosing dual for a number of reason, my home, and if God forbid,I get seriously ill, I can come home, and the main reason, I am a Canadian born and breed...now possibly once I do move it will mean more to my honey that I am a US citizen and not a landed permanent resident but for now that's our plan.

[Cassie 8]

If you go back and read my post, you will see I wrote dual citizenship, not residency. I plan on keeping my house here in Canada which is why I would go the dual citizenship route. Some social programs may be available to the original poster if he were to go the dual citizenship route, which is what I was saying,... that's all. Since I don't know the details of his disability its hard to comment on whether he was entitled to coverage or not, and from who. I am very lucky as my disability pension continues no matter where I live. I have a friend, who was married to a man in Texas, who came home for medical treatment as they just couldn't afford it. She stayed a green card holder and didn't want to do the naturilization route. Its hard to comment when you get so few details....hopefully with what everyone posted he can find some answers...take care.

If you are not physically present in a province for a certain amount of time each year, you will not be covered, citizenship or not. Each province has their own rules and regulations when it comes to residency and covering healthcare expenses.

For example, here are the eligibility requirements for the province of Nova Scotia:

To be eligible for Nova Scotia Medical Service Insurance (MSI) benefits you must be:

* a Canadian Citizen or �Permanent Resident� (Landed Immigrant)

* a resident who makes his/her permanent home in Nova Scotia and is present in the province 183 days every calendar year.

* You must be registered with MSI to be eligible for benefits.

You can keep your home in Canada all you want, but if you don't plan on staying in it for the bulk of the year, you won't be covered, sorry!

Talk about a topic getting off course......the original poster has a disability...I responded as I too have a disability that is covered by the WCB of Nova Scotia and is covered no matter where I live, in terms of payments, medical treatment, doctor visits, meds, physio, anything relating to the injury. I was letting him know that depending on the cause of his disability, it could be possibly covered. He needs to check that out. Nothing to do with MSI. I don't know where he lives at so each province does have their own rules on medicare. I don't think personally, that if you have a major medical issue or issues, that moving to to the US would be a good idea under any circumstances. But that's just a personal opinion. I am choosing dual for a number of reason, my home, and if God forbid,I get seriously ill, I can come home, and the main reason, I am a Canadian born and breed...now possibly once I do move it will mean more to my honey that I am a US citizen and not a landed permanent resident but for now that's our plan.

I don't think the topic has gotten off course at all, actually. The OP wants to know the ramifications of moving to the US when one has disabilities/medical issues and their medications are covered by provincial healthcare. We are giving him info based on that.

The OP has a disability, but he did not mention Worker's Comp, which is a different kettle of fish, methinks. He mentioned WSP, which is British Columbia's healthcare program. This is what they list initially as their eligibility requirements:

An individual must be a resident of B.C. in order to qualify for medical coverage under MSP. A resident is a person who meets all of the following conditions:

* must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence;

* must make his or her home in B.C.;

* must be physically present in B.C. at least 6 months in a calendar year; and

* dependents of MSP beneficiaries are eligible for coverage if they are residents of B.C.

Pretty much the same as Nova Scotia.

The questions the OP must answer are: what are the requirements of his wife's healthcare insurance plan for adding a spouse? What are the ramifications of adding him to her coverage? Does he get disability payments, and do they carry over into the US? When all the information is gathered, what is the best plan for them -- together in Canada, or together in US?

I have a few major medical issues, and technically I had a short term disability at the time, but we did our research as far as health insurance was concerned, because it was a major factor in whether or not I would even be able to move to the US. Fortunately, my husband has been blessed with jobs that have pretty good insurance. Before the OP can make a decision, his wife needs to do some research into her policy and other things that we have brought up in this thread and then make a decision that is best for them.

Edited September 26, 2008 by Cassie

[thetreble 19]

Cr-1 usually get their SSN fairly quickly!!

Depends where you live flames. I didn't apply for my SSN until AFTER I became a PR and it still took 2.5 months. There are a bazillion people where we live that is why.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Remember it takes years to become a U.S. Citizen, Wis-can. You don't just move on down and bam, you are one.

If people from Canada opt to become U.S. citizens when they are able to apply for it (3 years of being a permanent resident) they will be dual, unless they renounce their Canadian citizen (who the heck would do that anyway)

The OP needs to read up on what their provinces regulations are and if they will be covered even if they don't live in that province for a number of days. I'm suspecting probably not.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Cr-1 usually get their SSN fairly quickly!!

Depends where you live flames. I didn't apply for my SSN until AFTER I became a PR and it still took 2.5 months. There are a bazillion people where we live that is why.

I dont understand, As a CR-1 (not a k1, k3, or whatever, a cr-1 or could be a ir-1)one doesnt have to wait!! If u checked off the box it may or may not come. After 10-14 business days no SSN card, u simply head down to ur local SSN office!

I was in no hurry, so after 3 weeks, no ssn, so went to the office reapplied (downloaded the form from ssn.gov) and 1 week later, it was in my mailbox

[Wis-Can 0]

Remember it takes years to become a U.S. Citizen, Wis-can. You don't just move on down and bam, you are one.

If people from Canada opt to become U.S. citizens when they are able to apply for it (3 years of being a permanent resident) they will be dual, unless they renounce their Canadian citizen (who the heck would do that anyway)

The OP needs to read up on what their provinces regulations are and if they will be covered even if they don't live in that province for a number of days. I'm suspecting probably not.

Yes I do realize it takes years to become a US Citizen. I do know however, unless it has changed, when you go through the naturilization process you end up taking the oath , (I pasted this from another website) you do renouce your Canadian citizenship.

The current oath is as follows:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

The Oath of Citizenship is not a federal law. Technically, any oath is legal, as long as it meets the "five principles" mandated by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1953. These principles are:

allegiance to the United States Constitution,

renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances to

defense of the Constitution against enemies "foreign and domestic"

promise to serve in the United States Armed Forces when required by law (either combat or non-combat)

promise to perform civilian duties of "national importance" when required by law

There has been some controversy about the wording of the oath, parts of which are based on the British Oath of Supremacy which was written in the 16th Century. As a result, some have suggested much of the language is antiquated and confusing. In the fall of 2003 the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services planned to change the oath of citizenship in time for Citizenship Day (September 17).[citation needed] The proposed oath was as followed:

Solemnly, freely, and without mental reservation, I hereby renounce under oath all allegiance to any foreign state. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward is to the United States of America. I pledge to support, honor, and be loyal to the United States, its Constitution, and its laws. Where and if lawfully required, I further commit myself to defend the Constitution and laws of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, either by military, noncombatant, or civilian service. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God.

From what I have read the US State Department does not favor dual citizenship as a matter of policy but they do recognize it. We are lucky because in Canada they do not recognize the renouciation and require all its citizens who choose to give up their citizenship to go to a Canadian Embassy or Cosulate and sign a form in the presence of Canadian Officials. At one time, now this may have changed as well, I am certainly not a lawyer, when a person was going through naturilization you had to state your desire to remain dual. Again, this may have changed. It really doesn't matter, as I said, Canada doesn't recognize it. So in theory you do renouce your Canadian Citizenship when taking the oath, but according to Canada "not until you sign in front of them."

Ok, I've had enough talk about dual citizenship. Have a good day.

[Reba 2]

But CANADA does not recognize that verbal renunciation made to US authorities. In order to OFFICIALLY renounce your Canadian citizenship, you have to go to Ottawa, kneel at the foot of the the Governor General and the Prime Minister, then hop around on one foot three times and say the magic words. And do some paperwork or sumthin.

As far as Canada is concerned, once a Canadian always a Canadian. No matter how many other citizenships you collect.

[Cassie 8]

In order to OFFICIALLY renounce your Canadian citizenship, you have to go to Ottawa, kneel at the foot of the the Governor General and the Prime Minister, then hop around on one foot three times and say the magic words. And do some paperwork or sumthin.

:lol:

[Wis-Can 0]

But CANADA does not recognize that verbal renunciation made to US authorities. In order to OFFICIALLY renounce your Canadian citizenship, you have to go to Ottawa, kneel at the foot of the the Governor General and the Prime Minister, then hop around on one foot three times and say the magic words. And do some paperwork or sumthin.

As far as Canada is concerned, once a Canadian always a Canadian. No matter how many other citizenships you collect.