Parents coming to US from Canada as PR

[Melisandre 5]

Good afternoon all,

 

I am a naturalized US citizen. My parents are Canadian citizens, recently granted the family visa to move to the US as permanent residents. They received their visas on their Canadian passport in Montreal earlier this year and the visa expires in June. My parents' first trip since being granted the visa to US will be in April. They are not "moving" this visit, simply coming over for 2 months to stay with me and then go back to their Canadian residence for a couple more months to prepare for the move. 

 

I am kind of confused in regards to what happens next - I have reached out many times to NVC to get clarification but haven't received any. When they fly in from Montreal to US in April, would they just show the visa to the customs officer and that's it? Are they going to be questioned/interviewed at that point at the airport? My parents are sick and elderly so I want to have them aware and prepared for as much as possible and know what to expect. At what point would they receive their PR cards? As I was the petitioner in their application, is it going to be mailed to my home address for them? Or would it be mailed to their Canadian listed address?

 

Once they have arrived to the US, they plan to stay for about 2 months with me and then go back to Canada. and then come back again in a couple of months. I am just not sure what the process will be like from here on to obtain the actual PR card and what would be the next steps in terms of getting their Social Security and everything set up. I will really appreciate some guidance in this.

[Boiler 45,411]

Elderly and sick, the first thing they need to focus on is Medical cover.

 

Green Card is sent to their US address.

 

They will go through Secondary.

[Lil bear 4,171]

6 minutes ago, Melisandre said:

Good afternoon all,

 

I am a naturalized US citizen. My parents are Canadian citizens, recently granted the family visa to move to the US as permanent residents. They received their visas on their Canadian passport in Montreal earlier this year and the visa expires in June. My parents' first trip since being granted the visa to US will be in April. They are not "moving" this visit, simply coming over for 2 months to stay with me and then go back to their Canadian residence for a couple more months to prepare for the move. 

 

I am kind of confused in regards to what happens next - I have reached out many times to NVC to get clarification but haven't received any. When they fly in from Montreal to US in April, would they just show the visa to the customs officer and that's it? Are they going to be questioned/interviewed at that point at the airport? My parents are sick and elderly so I want to have them aware and prepared for as much as possible and know what to expect. At what point would they receive their PR cards? As I was the petitioner in their application, is it going to be mailed to my home address for them? Or would it be mailed to their Canadian listed address?

 

Once they have arrived to the US, they plan to stay for about 2 months with me and then go back to Canada. and then come back again in a couple of months. I am just not sure what the process will be like from here on to obtain the actual PR card and what would be the next steps in terms of getting their Social Security and everything set up. I will really appreciate some guidance in this.

They must pay the GC fee of $220 each .. recommended doing so before they come. They will present their passports at rntry and the CBP Officer  will access their files electronically and they will enter the US. They are LPR as soon as they enter. The visa page will be stamped and this becomes their temporary GC until the plastic cards are received ( weeks to months).  They can reenter the US, get their SSN, drivers licence, bank accounts, health insurance etc using the stamped visa 

 

As they are now LPR, my understanding is that they are no longer residents of Canada for health insurance purposes. I hope you are aware of how to get them coverage here.. and the challenges associated with that 

[Mike E 11,739]

13 minutes ago, Melisandre said:

When they fly in from Montreal to US in April, would they just show the visa to the customs officer and that's it?

they will clear U.S. immigration at YUL. They should inform the officer they have immigration visas. The officer will stamp their visa and they will become LPRs instantly. Don’t ask me what happens if the flight is canceled.  I’m sure it is a cluster. The downside of pre-clearance.  Personally if it were me I’d fly out of Billy Bishop or drive and avoid pre-clearance for this. 
 

Quote

 

Are they going to be questioned/interviewed at that point at the airport?

yes. Could be a secondary. 
 

Quote

My parents are sick and elderly so I want to have them aware and prepared for as much as possible and know what to expect. At what point would they receive their PR cards?

Usually within 90 days. Did they pay the green card fee? https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/
 

Quote

As I was the petitioner in their application, is it going to be mailed to my home address for them? Or would it be mailed to their Canadian listed address?

The green card will be sent to address in the U.S. that they give to officer in YUL. 

Edited March 6, 2023 by Mike E

[JeanneAdil 6,470]

they would go thru US clearance in Montreal with stamping the visa with I 551 there

[Dashinka 24,448]

59 minutes ago, Mike E said:

they will clear U.S. immigration at YUL. They should inform the officer they have immigration visas. The officer will stamp their visa and they will become LPRs instantly. Don’t ask me what happens if the flight is canceled.  I’m sure it is a cluster. The downside of pre-clearance.  Personally if it were me I’d fly out of Billy Bishop or drive and avoid pre-clearance for this. 
 

yes. Could be a secondary. 
 

Usually within 90 days. Did they pay the green card fee? https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/
 

The green card will be sent to address in the U.S. that they give to officer in YUL. 

Personally I would think if they passed preclearance and had their passports stamped, they would still be LPRs even if the flight was canceled.  To me it would be just like someone that entered via land and turned right back around as technically after passing preclearance one is considered inside the US.

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, Dashinka said:

Personally I would think if they passed preclearance and had their passports stamped, they would still be LPRs even if the flight was canceled.  To me it would be just like someone that entered via land and turned right back around as technically after passing preclearance one is considered inside the US.

Quite the interesting loop hole for immigrants who aren’t ready to move to the USA. 

[Melisandre 5]

7 hours ago, Lil bear said:

They must pay the GC fee of $220 each .. recommended doing so before they come. They will present their passports at rntry and the CBP Officer  will access their files electronically and they will enter the US. They are LPR as soon as they enter. The visa page will be stamped and this becomes their temporary GC until the plastic cards are received ( weeks to months).  They can reenter the US, get their SSN, drivers licence, bank accounts, health insurance etc using the stamped visa 

 

As they are now LPR, my understanding is that they are no longer residents of Canada for health insurance purposes. I hope you are aware of how to get them coverage here.. and the challenges associated with that 

Would you mind sharing a little more on how and where can we make the payment of $220 for the GC? My dad said they never asked or said anything about it at their interview in Montreal.
 

Since they're visiting this time, going back in 2 months, only coming with the intent to visit me, and have their residence still in Canada, wouldn't they still be eligible for Health Insurance in Canada as they're still Canadian residents? I thought Health Insurance is revoked if one is out of residency in Canada for over 3 months? I appreciate you sharing the details.

[Melisandre 5]

7 hours ago, Boiler said:

Elderly and sick, the first thing they need to focus on is Medical cover.

 

Green Card is sent to their US address.

 

They will go through Secondary.

Since they don't have a home address in US yet, I.e. haven't gotten a place, would my address be considered their US address, and therefore the GC be sent to my home address?

They were not asked or told anything about how to or where to make the $220 GC payment during the interview in MTL so I'm kind of lost. Any information will be helpful!

[Ontarkie 14,193]

2 minutes ago, Melisandre said:

Would you mind sharing a little more on how and where can we make the payment of $220 for the GC? My dad said they never asked or said anything about it at their interview in Montreal.
 

Since they're visiting this time, going back in 2 months, only coming with the intent to visit me, and have their residence still in Canada, wouldn't they still be eligible for Health Insurance in Canada as they're still Canadian residents? I thought Health Insurance is revoked if one is out of residency in Canada for over 3 months? I appreciate you sharing the details.

When they get their passport endorsed at entry and receive the stamp claiming entry as a US permanent resident. That there is the declaration Canada sees as the end of their Canadian Residency. Even when they return to Canada to wrap things up they are at that point a US Permanent resident visiting Canada. For US immigration and Canada health they cannot be a resident of both countries.

[Melisandre 5]

14 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

When they get their passport endorsed at entry and receive the stamp claiming entry as a US permanent resident. That there is the declaration Canada sees as the end of their Canadian Residency. Even when they return to Canada to wrap things up they are at that point a US Permanent resident visiting Canada. For US immigration and Canada health they cannot be a resident of both countries.

Thank you. Would you mind sharing  point of contact or link regarding this? I wasn't aware of this at all and now I'm concerned and thinking perhaps they should cancel their visit for now. 

[Mike E 11,739]

27 minutes ago, Melisandre said:

Thank you. Would you mind sharing  point of contact or link regarding this? I wasn't aware of this at all and now I'm concerned and thinking perhaps they should cancel their visit for now. 

Here it is again:

 

8 hours ago, Mike E said:

Did they pay the green card fee? https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/

 

 

 

Edited March 7, 2023 by Mike E

[Lil bear 4,171]

1 hour ago, Melisandre said:

Would you mind sharing a little more on how and where can we make the payment of $220 for the GC? My dad said they never asked or said anything about it at their interview in Montreal.
 

Since they're visiting this time, going back in 2 months, only coming with the intent to visit me, and have their residence still in Canada, wouldn't they still be eligible for Health Insurance in Canada as they're still Canadian residents? I thought Health Insurance is revoked if one is out of residency in Canada for over 3 months? I appreciate you sharing the details.

They are entering the US as immigrants .. that is what will be seen by Canadian authorities    
 

Yes .. if they cant manage these consequences then they need to not come until they have finalized things in Canada  but before the visas expire 

[Melisandre 5]

14 minutes ago, Lil bear said:

They are entering the US as immigrants .. that is what will be seen by Canadian authorities    
 

Yes .. if they cant manage these consequences then they need to not come until they have finalized things in Canada  but before the visas expire 

 

Thank you, would the link below apply in their case?

 

https://www.ontario.ca/page/ohip-coverage-while-outside-canada

 

They're from Ontario. It says they can be outside of Canada for 7 months. They're only planning to come over for a few weeks, and go back. They will be keeping Ontario as their primary residency and continue to live in Canada and keep their jobs there at least for next few years. They are not ready to give up their home/lives in Canads yet and their visa expires in June. We just wanted to make sure their visa is validated, then they can go back and come back once ready.

 

[Ontarkie 14,193]

31 minutes ago, Melisandre said:

Thank you. Would you mind sharing  point of contact or link regarding this? I wasn't aware of this at all and now I'm concerned and thinking perhaps they should cancel their visit for now. 

BC is the only one that I am aware of that keeps coverage for the rest of the month after the move to the US. As they do charge a healthcare fee in advance. 

 

Here is a link how they figure out when you stop being a resident of Canada they go by the same rules for taxes - https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/individuals-leaving-entering-canada-non-residents/leaving-canada-emigrants.html

 

OHIP is a pain to get straight answer from some members will say they called and they were told that they don't lose it right away. Sadly this is not true and many have ended up with a bill years later. Too many times the person answering the questions is just in a call center reading a screen and they see examples of students, and snow birds and give out that answer. But the things is students and snowbirds do not ever claim to be a US resident, ppl entering on a IR/CR/K visas do  take up permanent residency in the US. They are not tourists and the health care stops at the border once that stamp is in there passports. When your parents do their exit taxes the date they originally crossed/visa endorsed is the date they will use.  If they use the health care after that date someone will eventually put two and two together. What Province are your parents leaving? That is the site you need to really look into as it could be like BC and give them a month. Also if they are selling a house. It is better to do so before they leave. Selling it after they are no longer residents opens a bunch of other tax stuff they can avoid. I'm not sure what all it entails but I was advise to sell before the move and many on here have wished they did so too. Something about paying more taxes maybe because it is no longer the primary residence.