OHIP, Visas and Other Surprises!

I was amazed at how many of the 22 countries we’re visiting require separate Visas to enter the country and on top of that, the various limitations. For example, going to Vietnam requires a Visa. But you need to identify if it’s less than a month or more. Also, you need to declare if it’s a single entry or in/ out (which you need if you’re going to Laos and Cambodia before flying out from Hanoi). In all, we need about a dozen Visas including Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Tanzania, India, Vietnam, Laos and even Australia. And Visas are not cheap; for Tanzania, it’s relatively inexpensive at about $75 but for Bhuttan, it’s $200 U.S. even if it’s just for a few days. And for some countries, you need to apply months in advance. Literally as I’m writing this, the Brazilian Consulate has our physical Visas and we need them before we leave on Friday- YIKES!

Another pleasant surprise was the requirement to contact OHIP and identify you would be out-of-country for more than 183 days. You are only allowed to do this once-in-a-lifetime. Plus, if you already have an OHIP card that extends past the date you're coming back, they take it away and issue you one for the date you are returning. Not to go into too much detail here but apparently the Canadian and Ontario government computer systems don’t talk to one another and the only way to guarantee your exit/ entry is to limit your OHIP coverage to ensure you come back!
A Drivers’ licence is another surprise that you might have to manage around. My Driver’s licence is expiring mid trip and when I asked Service Ontario for an extension, I couldn’t get one!! I had to wait for 180 days before my expiry to get an extension (and there was no way to get around the rules). So on Dec. 10th first thing in the morning I was on their website applying for an extension so that I could drive when I’m out of country July- December, 2016.

And getting all the relevant needles was another surprise. Depending where you’re going, Hepatitis A&B, Tuberculosis, Yellow Fever and Typhoid shots are necessary/ mandatory and you need proof to enter certain countries. Plus you have to have shots staggered over a period of months to take effect. It’s the planning that was the surprise. Oh, you also need to take Deet for mosquitoes, Florastor for the runs, Immodium if you can’t go (sorry)…. the list goes on.

Just thought you'd be interested in knowing that there can be quite a few surprises if you're ever planning to do this. Planning is crucial.