CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

Health care rules changed for foreign workers

Friday, 3 April 2009

Effective Thursday, April 2nd, all temporary foreign workers or foreign graduates in Ontario on "open work permits," along with their spouses and dependants can now receive OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) as long as they are employed full time in Ontario for a minimum of six months and have lived here for at least 153 days.

Immigration Canada last April relaxed rules to allow foreign students who graduate from a Canadian university or college to work here for up to three years — an attempt to keep talented people with Canadian credentials to stay here. The rules also apply to some temporary foreign workers.

Previously, open work-permit holders were denied OHIP because their work visas didn’t name a Canadian employer or indicate their prospective occupation as stipulated under the old immigration law. Without the employer's name, health officials would not issue them health cards.

According to immigration, 63,673 international students came to Ontario last year and 11,000 postgraduate employment work permits were issued. It also admitted 66,875 temporary foreign workers.

If you are interested in Visas to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.