Hi all,

The situation is we're here on 3 year TWPs (until May 2015) and myself and my wife have SIN cards beginning with 9. We're planning on applying for PR at some point within the 3 year TWP period and all being well staying here permanently.

We have two kids - a 2 year old (born in England) and a 2 week old (born in Canada who will shortly have a Canadian passport) and I'm trying to work out what we can and can't do with respect to planning for the kids' future, etc whilst we're on a TWP.

1. If I'm right, we can't apply for CTB or UCCB (if we're eligible) until our 19th month of TWP status - does this still apply for our Canadian newborn?

2. I want to set up RESPs for both of them. Can I do this while on a TWP?

3. Am I right in that the kids need SIN numbers to get an RESP? If so, can the kids get a SIN number while we're on TWPs? And can my Canadian child get a SIN number now regardless?


I've read all the official sites on this and I'm a little unclear, particularly with the 'complication' of one child being Canadian and me being on a TWP - I'm not sure which is the over-riding factor.

Thanks for any advice.

Why wait? Apply as soon as possible.

It is the parents that qualify for the CCTB. The nationality of the child does not matter. As temporary residents you do not qualify until the 19th month.

Yes, I believe so.

My reading of the rules is yes. As they are under 12 you will have ot apply for SINs on their behalf.

As far as the RESP goes, the advice we were given when we applied was to be sure that we were staying because they load on the costs of policy at the beginning and so if you try to cash it in early you can lose a lot of money. On a TWP, whether you are staying or not is somewhat out of your control.

Good advice. There is a nasty additional tax just to discourage you from doing this.

If you did start an RESP and then have to leave Canada you can leave the RESP in place. The beneficiary does not have to be a Canadian resident when they receive proceeds.

The "British" kids wont be able to get SINS if you are on TWP - their study permit should say not allowed to work .

We tried cos the them 16 yr old wanted a PT job . . . . not allowed

ooh but maybe Jonboy is right - if child is under 12 maybe , , , ,

The Canadian baby will get a full sin number not a temporary one, our daughter has a full one and we are still on temporary ones. So apply for its anyone and ask about the other kid when your there.

We're waiting on our PR before we start her RESP but thats mainly because we're broke at the minute anyway

Hi Cheesy
Congrats on your new baby! Your newborn should be issued with a SIN number (which won't begin with a 9) very shortly. You can then take the SIN number to a bank, along with the birth cert and open a RESP. Unfortunately the older child will not be issued a SIN number until you get your PR, so is not permitted to have an RESP until then.
I would echo the sentiments of others here - if you have decided that you wish to remain in Canada, then apply for the PR sooner, rather than later. The process always takes longer than what you had originally planned. Our TWP expired while we were waiting for the PR, so we had to pack up all the kids and our documents and travel across to the US to do a 'Flagpole' to get an extension on our TWP. So long as you remain employed, it shouldn't be a problem.
I hadn't heard about the 19 month mark for the Child Tax or Universal Child Benefit, but that sounds about right; we only receive UCB for our youngest who was born in Canada. The two middle children were eligible for UCB in the almost-five-years that we have lived here, but it was not backdated for them unfortunately.

Thanks for the advice everyone.