BC Services Card - help
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2021
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 10
BC Services Card - help
Hi, we arrived as new permanent residents on September 9 and made all the relevant applications, including for MSP. We didn’t expect this to kick in until December 1 but had a letter a couple of weeks ago instructing us to get BC Services cards which would then confer medical cover - on a temporary basis as we do not yet have PR cards which are required before the services cards are issued. Already getting confused? We were. On arrival at the ICBC offices we were told a) we would have to get our UK driving licences shredded and, b), the medical cover was only for vaccinations which we have already had. Conflicting information everywhere as another person had told us over the phone that we would get an MSP number and the medical cover would kick in immediately and last for a year until PR cards were issued.
We are reluctant to part with our UK driving licences as we are really on a six-month trial and are not 100% sure we are going to emigrate. I can’t imagine having a Canadian licence will help our insurance back in the UK.
Apologies for being so long-winded but we just don’t know what to do or what the truth of any of this is. So many conflicting sources of information online and from phone conversations with various government representatives.
any advice or comments would be hugely appreciated so thanks in advance.
Jenny
We are reluctant to part with our UK driving licences as we are really on a six-month trial and are not 100% sure we are going to emigrate. I can’t imagine having a Canadian licence will help our insurance back in the UK.
Apologies for being so long-winded but we just don’t know what to do or what the truth of any of this is. So many conflicting sources of information online and from phone conversations with various government representatives.
any advice or comments would be hugely appreciated so thanks in advance.
Jenny
#2
Re: BC Services Card - help
As for MSP, I'd stick to the official source - https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...ge-wait-period
HTH.
Last edited by christmasoompa; Nov 4th 2021 at 7:23 pm.
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2021
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 10
Re: BC Services Card - help
Thank you for your very quick response. I believe we can drive legally for 90 days then must have the BC licence. I’ve looked back to our pre-arrival services conversations and found an email stating that there are three types of BC Services cards: non-photo, photo ID and combined driver’s licence and Services card. This was in July this year. Is this outdated info?
Thanks.
Thanks.
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 66
Re: BC Services Card - help
Thank you for your very quick response. I believe we can drive legally for 90 days then must have the BC licence. I’ve looked back to our pre-arrival services conversations and found an email stating that there are three types of BC Services cards: non-photo, photo ID and combined driver’s licence and Services card. This was in July this year. Is this outdated info?
Thanks.
Thanks.
https://www.icbc.com/driver-licensin...r-country.aspx
You can and should register for MSP on arrival, it is active after the balance of the month you arrive and the two successive months. Also be sure to register for Fair Pharmacare.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...ge-wait-period
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/h...air-pharmacare
Non photo services card is restricted to minors, over 75, temp resident status and people with certain disabilities.
I have always had two cards, then I have two pieces of govt issued ID where required.
Last edited by Farmer on a bike; Nov 4th 2021 at 8:07 pm.
#5
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2021
Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK
Posts: 10
Re: BC Services Card - help
Thank you. I think I was mis-informed by the ICBC lady then as we only need the Bc photo services card at present. Not the one combined with a licence. She made an assumption… if we were non-drivers of course we would not need a licence card. LOL.