PGWP Series: OHIP Renewal

How to renew OHIP coverage once your status has been restored after PGWP approval? 

I gotchu!

The process was mostly the same as our initial one, which can be found on this link. We also had to wait for the new permits to be mailed out to us before going for renewal.

The only thing was we had to go back because our employment letters weren't up to par. To make sure you won't make the same mistake, here's the additional requirements given by Service Ontario for those renewing OHIP under OWP or Open Work Permit and PGWP or Post Graduate Work Permit:

The employment letter must be:

• Printed on the employer's company letterhead
• Must state that employer is working full-time
• Must include employee's current title or occupation
• Must state that the employee is working for an employer located in Ontario
• Must state position start date of full-time employment
• Must state that the employer will employ the employee for a minimum of six (6) months and/ or can state that the employee is permanent
• Must include employer's contact information
• Must have original or e-signature and dated by employer
• Original, and not a photocopy, scan or email. 
• Not an offer or acceptance letter.

Since I wasn't able to change my employment letter, I submitted three latest paystubs as proof of my Ontario residency. This was accepted since I applied as Mr. A's dependent.

Initially, we went to Mississauga's Westdale Mall first but we forgot Mr. A's updated employment letter so we had to go back and get it. To not make the day a complete waste, we decided to go to a nearer location in Milton Mall (and less waiting time) and finished everything in less than 15 minutes.

Also, if you're still not PRs by the time your OHIP renewal comes around, don't be using the forms that Service Ontario sends by mail. You will be given new forms specifically for temporary residents once you get to Service Ontario. The guy at the Westdale reception was pretty uptight about this and got pretty snippy with me when I asked why. 

IS Series: Convert Your AlHosn Vaccine Certificate to ON Vaccine Certificate with QR Code

 I'm not exactly sure if converting our vaccine certificates has any bearing on our daily life here in CA, but we decided to have it registered in case it might be required later on. Currently, we're already being asked for proof of vaccination for in-door dining so in case we do transition to face to face classes, we have it ready.

To do so, click on this link and answer a questionnaire. It will start out with the below question, and you just have to answer as truthfully as you can and have your own certificate ready for upload. Bear in mind that these are for Ontario residents only, other provinces may have their own procedures in converting international vaccine certificates.

After filling everything up, you will get two confirmation emails stating that you have successfully registered your vaccines and to wait for review. We did ours on February 10th and we received our enhanced certificates just today, February 25th, so it took about 16 days including weekends. Our 4th dose wasn't included though but we do still have our own AlHosn Vaccine certificates ready just in case.

You have to also have your OHIP ID no. ready during registration so you can access your vaccine certificates once it's ready for download.

That's it folks! Need to continue my training now :) See y'all around!

UPDATE: 25/02/24 

Yes, it does have an impact when you want to avail of further COVID boosters. Residents are required to update their vaccination status online if they want to schedule appointments with designated vaccine centres.

For the Peel Region, please visit this link to register your out of province (and country) COVID vaccine status: Peel Region COVID Registration 

IS Series: Getting OHIP Coverage

Ola from newly covered TRs! :P

 So I just got back from Service Ontario with spanking brand new OHIP coverage :) Sadly it doesn't cover Mr. A's prescriptions but at least consultations are free. We'll have to research more on additional coverage but at least we're one tick off our settlement list.

If you're like us and you don't know where TH to start, here's what we did:

1. GETTING OUR DOCS READY

For the full list of accepted documents, you can refer to this link: OHIP Documents

There are three (3) required supporting documents to present to Service Ontario, and everything should either be original or printed out (if electronic documents). Since we were new residents and we didn't have much paperwork yet, what we prepared were as follows:

• Originals of OWP (for Mr. A) and my SP and WP along with Mr. A's Certificate of Employment. The COE stated that he's working full time, position, start date and that he will be employed for a minimum of 6 months on his company's letterhead. (Proof of OHIP-eligible status)
• Mr. A's and mine's most recent paystub, printed, and with our address (Proof of residency in Ontario)
• Original PHL passports (Proof of identity)
• Completed OHIP registration forms with our signatures.

We actually brought original and stamped bank statements from RBC but the officer said they cannot honor it (maybe only for credit card statements where it's mailed to you). Good thing I received a paystub a day before our appointment or else we would have to go back.

2.  SET AN APPOINTMENT

Not all Service Ontario locations entertain new OHIP applications especially for temporary residents so we went all the way to Westdale Mall to process ours. People can actually walk in since there was no line but you do have the option to book an appointment so you're guaranteed service. To do so, just click on this link to set it: Service Ontario Westdale Mall.

Service Ontario exterior (Westdale Mall)

If you're applying with a dependent, you only have to book one appointment for the both of you. Good thing the office is located inside the mall = no outdoor lines! When we got our SIN, we had to line up for 4 hours outside a Service Canada Center and we both got really sick afterwards! We had to spend NYE in bed with a sore throat and cough when we should've been doing photo ops in Blue Mountain Resort T_T

And THAT'S IT FOLKS! Temporary slips will be issued with your OHIP numbers while your actual cards will come in the mail about a month after. Travel time back and forth from Eglinton to Westdale Mall was almost an hour but the actual application process took less than 10 minutes.

view from Mr. A's workplace

Mr. A had to go back to work right after so I dropped him off before going home. 

The weather was -14 but felt like -20 (it rained and snowed the night before). I had to brisk walk home because it felt like my nails were about to come off my toes and I can't feel my fingers anymore -_-

'Til the next post!