Medical surveillance

[Manoj]

Hi,

My family has received COPR and my wife has received COPR with Medical surveillance code 2.02U. The code states she should be available for Medical surveillance within 7 days of landing in Canada. We are going to live in Ajax, Ontario for 10 days and plan to return to Canada later after few months. I have some questions regarding the same as below.

1. Is it possible to get a doctors appointment in 7 days? If not can we go through the Medical surveillance after we land in Canada during our next trip?

2. Are the medical expenses of the Medical Surveillance covered by the government or should we prepare financially for the tests?

3. We have not received a medical surveillance related form that is supposed to be received along with the COPR. Can i download it somewhere online?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Regards,
Manoj

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello Manoj,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

We can appreciate that you would be interested in this type of information and the process.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you will need to communicate with the provincial or territorial public health authority which has the responsibility to conduct a medical follow-up according to established protocols. At the same time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) notifies the public health authorities and obtains notice of compliance when a client starts medical surveillance.

You mentioned that you will be moving to Ajax, Ontario.

You can find information and details regarding the process on the Durham Region Health Department website in their Medical Surveillance of Tuberculosis (TB) document.

Here is an excerpt,

What do I need to do?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has provided you with instructions to report to your local public health unit with one of the following immigration documents:

• Medical Surveillance Undertaking form (IMM 535) or - In-Canada Public Health Follow-up letter
  If you live in Durham Region (Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington, Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge) and you are placed on medical surveillance, you must call the Durham Region Health Department at 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729 to speak with a Public Health Nurse.

Medical Surveillance Reporting Process:

1. Speak to a Public Health Nurse
The nurse will ask you for the following:

• Name- Address- Phone Number(s)- Immigration information- Health history or TB history in the past
  If you do not speak English, you may wish to ask someone to help you.

2. Fax the Immigration Document
Fax a copy of the Medical Surveillance Undertaking form (IMM 535) or In-Canada Public Health Follow-up letter to Durham Region Health Department Confidential Fax at 905-666-6215. Or you may bring it to:

The Regional Municipality of Durham
Health Department
605 Rossland Road East, 2nd Floor
Whitby, Ontario, L1N 0B2

3. Receive Letter Package from Durham Region Health Department
Durham Region Health Department will mail you a package including the following:

• Letter to you- Letter to your doctor - Assessment form to your doctor (Assessment for Tuberculosis)

4. See a Doctor

Bring a letter and the assessment form to a doctor of your choice in Ontario. The doctor will complete a medical exam, order a chest X-ray and if necessary other tests for you.

After all the tests are done, make sure your doctor faxes all the forms and test results to the Durham Region Health Departments Confidential Fax at 905-666-6215. All forms and test results must be received by the Health Department by the due date noted in your letter.

5. Review by Public Health Nurse
Once all the documents are received by Durham Region Health Department, a nurse will review your record and notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada that you have completed and met the requirements of TB medical surveillance.

6. Completion of TB Immigration Medical Surveillance
You will receive a letter from Durham Region Health Department to confirm that you have complied with the requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You should keep this letter with your immigration documents.

How long does the process take?

The Health Department will provide you with a due date to complete your medical exam. The average time for TB Immigration Medical Surveillance in Durham Region is about six months.

How much does the process cost?

[…]

Once you have applied for the OHIP, it takes about three months before you receive the OHIP card.

If you are not eligible for OHIP and do not have any insurance coverage, the costs for medical surveillance are your responsibility and are variable.

If you change your address or phone number, or if you are planning to travel outside Durham Region/or Canada, please also notify us by calling Durham Region Health Department at 905-666-6241 or 1-800-841-2729.

You can also find similar instructions in the Immigration Medical Surveillance for Tuberculosis (TB) - Region of Peel document.

Here are some excerpts,

How do I completed medical surveillance?

• Start the medical surveillance procedure after you arrive in Canada. You cannot start medical surveillance until you are in Canada. - Make an appointment with your doctor for the medical exam. The medical exam must be done by a doctor in Canada.- Bring the letter and the Physician Report - Medical Surveillance for TB to your appointment for the doctor to complete. You will have a chest x-ray and other tests if necessary. - Fax or mail the Physician Report - Medical Surveillance for TB to Peel Public Health - Keep a copy of the Physician Report - Medical Surveillance for TB as proof that you have completed Medical Surveillance.
  How long does medical surveillance take?

The average time for medical surveillance is 6 months to one year. Your doctor will examine you to make sure you do not have active TB disease. The signs and symptoms of active TB are: having a fever, cough, night sweats, coughing up blood and/or feeling very tired. If you have these symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Is there a cost for medical surveillance?

If you are eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), or Interim Federal Health Coverage, the cost of medical surveillance is covered.

Can I travel if I have not completed my medical surveillance?

Yes, you can travel but if you have not completed medical surveillance before leaving the country you may be questioned at the border or airport when you return to Canada.

While you are waiting for OHIP to cover you, or if you don’t have OHIP, you can buy insurance.

You can find some information in our Settlement.Org How can I pay for health care in my first 3 months in Ontario, or if I don’t have OHIP? article.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

=====
Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org

[Nataliya]

Please give some advise! I am sponsoring my husbend outside of Canada.my husbend already get letter from Ottawa when he wil get a COPR and land in Canada he need to pass through medical surveillance ? Surveillance its from 6 month to 1 year .Is it mean that all year he cant to work? Does this mean that he will not granted PR cart antil all surveillance its will be done? My husbend want to work after he arrive .please help us.with COPR is it possible to Work? Or they will granted him PR during his Medical surveillance?

[Nataliya]

Hi,we will really appreciate answers…if my husbend has COPR,after landing 3 month in Canada is it any chance to obtained OHIP,? Because to wait all year without health cover its too hard,untill medical surveillance its done…Can my husbend start to study or work after his landing with hisCOPR, during his medical surveillance? .