Alan2005

You can't be defending this?

You shouldn't need your original COPR for anything. If you do need the information on it - it should be no different to ringing up the tax people and asking for an option c printout. Something that is quite straightforward and quick to do.

Novocastrian

I'm curious. What is the residency requirement for OAS? Straight question, I've no idea.

PMM

Hi


OAP? 40 years for full pension, 10 years minimum and then you get 10/40th of the maximum.

Novocastrian

Is OAP what JonboyE was referring to? I think it was Old Age Security, the low income supplement to CPP.

BTJ

I thought GIS was the low income supplement to OAS (the "how much time have you spent in Canada?" one) and CPP was the average income linked one.

JonboyE

That is right. Old Age Security (OAS) is a pension based on how long you have been resident in Canada between 18 and 65. As PMM says above, you need 40 years for the full amount, and a minimum of 10 years to qualify for anything. Full OAS is around $550 a month.

Note that the rules are different if you are not in Canada when you retire.

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) is a pension based on your contributions during your working life. Full CPP is about $900 a month.

Guaranteed income supplement (GIS) is a top up for people who qualify for OAS but do not have any (or sufficient) CPP.

Not many people reading this will qualify for anything like full OAS or CPP so we had better get saving.

JonboyE

Eligibility conditions: To qualify for an Old Age Security pension, a person must be 65 years of age or over, and

must be a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada on the day preceding the application's approval; or

if no longer living in Canada, must have been a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada on the day preceding the day he or she stopped living in Canada.

A minimum of 10 years of residence in Canada after reaching age 18 is required to receive a pension in Canada.

A minimum of 20 years of residence in Canada after reaching age 18 is required to receive a pension outside of Canada.

*The residence requirement may be met under the terms of a Social Security Agreement.

Beneficiaries incarcerated as a result of a sentence of two years or longer in federal penitentiaries or a sentence of 90 days or longer in provincial or territorial correctional facilities may not receive OAS benefits while incarcerated. Read more.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/i...overview.shtml

JonboyE

I am not defending anything, just being practical. OAS is based on residency and the only documentary proof you have of when you became resident is your record of landing.

el_richo

Don't they officially record this detail when landing and activating the visa?

JonboyE

CIC do. However, CIC records are not available to Service Canada who administer OAS. You have to prove your period of residence to Service Canada. To do this you either need your original ROL or apply ot CIC for a duplicate.

el_richo

Good to know, thanks.

Steve_

Clearly you haven't bothered to talk to CBSA or read the transport regs. A citizenship certificate is not a travel document. Read the bold bit in the centre of this page that says: "A citizenship certificate is not a travel document. Any Canadian citizen wanting to travel outside Canada should obtain a Canadian passport." If you get to a POE then you don't need anything really, CBSA will accept almost any proof, however the transport regs require the carrier to check before boarding, and a citizenship certificate is not acceptable. A British passport is acceptable for a visitor. Put the two together and then you do have proof but CBSA were so vague when I was talking to them and so was the airline that I decided that waiting to get a Canadian passport was the more sensible option.

Steve_

It's an offence for them to let you board, that is their concern. Like I said if you can get to a POE and talk to CBSA they will let you in with almost anything, if you're a citizen you have a right to enter the country regardless. Even the US with all their WHTI nonsense will in reality let US citizens enter with nothing, but they don't like to say that. But I've sat in secondary and watch people enter who've lost their passports or whatever. They just look through their records and find you.

Souvy

Should obtain, or must obtain?

My experience may be a little old but in 2005 I travelled from Ottawa to Phoenix (and back) using my citizenship card.

Atlantic Xpat

I believe the stern guidance on the citizenship card not being a travel card is more in the "you can't travel on just your citizenship card, you need a passport" line. My primary travel document will be my UK passport. The citizenship card is *merely* for re-entry into Canada. Anyway, I called AC and the lady in the call centre at least, said I would be able to travel on my passport. I guess I'll find out next week!