Hi

My wife will arrive in Canada in Feb and make a spousal app within Canada. I've got a few questions about day to day things that I wanted to ask.

What's the situation with driving, I know she can't swap her UK licence until she's permanent resident and can only drive on her UK licence for a little while?

Also, I know OHIP doesn't kick in until 3 months after PR is granted, and I know u can get insurance for this 90 day period, but does anything exist to cover her for the period she is in Canada waiting to get a PR decision?

Finally, I know that she isn't allowed to work or study during the period her PR application is considered. Does this exclude all study, even part time or short term courses?

Many thanks

John

Hi John
Are you sure about points 1 and 2 ? In NS you don't have to be a PR to get a canadian DL (have to take a test though), we also got medical coverage before PR.
As for study, i think all she would be able to do would be a vocational course, not too sure though.
If your'e not 100% sure it's worth looking into again.
HTH

John...I'll take it you are canadian, ans are not farmiliar with the way things work? If you are in Toronto ontario, then she can just walk into any MOT office or outlet, and have her uk licence swapped, providing she has held it for more than 2yrs. This was not the case when I came here.

On the health issue, I had to get health coverage thru bluecross when I came here on work permit, even though I had coverage thru work. Once your wife aplies for the PR from inside, she can apply for a study permit at the same time, and that will come before the PR. There are some courses she can take that don't need a permit also, you will have to look into those thru local colleges.

Also when it comes to car insurance, you are better off adding her onto yours as an occasional driver, that way she gets to build a history. The same applies to builder her credit history.

John
surely she can study - if you are thinking of a uni course she will have to pay as an international student (and once she becomes PR let 'em know and the fees will reduce!)

Also, you might like to know that there is a yahoo group that is "Focusing on spousal applicants immigrating to Canada." check it out at ...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canadian_immigration/

All the best

Clare

Only if the course is <6mths in duration, otherwise she'd need a study permit. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/permit-who.html

She can drive on her UK license for three months, but tell her to check out an international driver's license before she leaves the UK (I think these last for a year). At the end of the three months she will have to take written and practical tests to continue driving legally. OHIP (Ontario medical) does not kick in until the beginning of the fourth month.

Are you sure about the driving thing? I don't think that is the case, perhaps you missed the news about Ontario signing a reciprocal agreement with the UK

She can literally walk into any ministry of transport office in Ontario, and have her licence swapped, providing she has had it for over 2yrs.