Dual Canadian/ US citizen moving back to Canada

I was born and lived in Calgary for 28 years then moved to the US and have lived here for the past 16 years. Through this time i completed my US citizenship and now have dual. I have decided to move back to Calgary to take care of my ailing parents. Since being away, I finally realize nothing is more important than family. I have secured an excellent job already and paln to move back at he end of November.

My question is does anybody have any knowledge of what I will need to cross the border with some of my belongings as well as my vehicle. I will continue to keep a US address as well as maintain US tax filings and such to maintain my dual citizenship as I plan on moving back at a later date. Do I need to go attain all forms to import a vehicle or can I maintain US registration. I plan on getting an Alberta drivers license when I arrive.

Help! I have left inquiries at the Canadian consulate and border but have not gotten any satisfactory answers yet.[align=justify]

You need to put everything on a CBSA Form B4, anything you're bringing in later goes on Form B4A, and there is a section for declaring your car. The car has to meet Canadian import standards, check with RIV, or *cough* simpler yet the Canadian Tire on MacLeod Trail as they do about 90% of the conversions in Calgary I'm pretty sure.

The car has to undergo an Alberta vehicle inspection, CT can do that for you as well, then you can apply for registration of the vehicle.

You also have to declare the export of the vehicle to US Customs and get some goofy safety certificate that some US import/manufacturers are very awkward at giving out. You have to pre-warn US Customs 48 hours before hand at the border crossing where you intend on coming through.

Getting an Alberta DL is a simple swap, but they mail it out to you so be sure you have your actual home address properly established because you cannot use a PO box (how they tell I have no idea).

When you cross the border, (at the correct border crossing, you have to use a major crossing) you present the Form B4 to Customs, they inspect and assess duty, which will be zero unless you're bringing in booze or tobacco.

If you come through Sweetgrass, the CBSA officer will probably be asleep, so make sure you arrive midday. This may sound funny but when I came through Pearson the CBSA officer was out cold and behind a thick sheet of perspex and I had to bang on the glass for quite awhile until she woke up.

Seriously? No duty or import taxes?

I am also a Canadian-born dual citizen, and pan to return to Winnipeg in the next year. I was sure we would have to pay through the nose for every single thing purchased over the past 10 years!

Also, could you clarify about maintaining a U.S. address and taxes to maintain citizenship.I was unaware of any requirements.

Finally, any suggestions on my wife? She was granted Permanent Resident status,but then left the country to follow me to a job. It would truly suck to have to go through the whole process again, as expensive and time-consuming as it is. I have asked the Federal government numerous times about resuming residence or somesuch, and have yet to receive anything but a form answer.

If you're a US citizen you have to file a US tax return every year until you die. You cannot lose your citizenship if you don't, but it's an offence in the US not to file one so the IRS can come after you even though you're no longer resident (and I know for a fact they do). Even if you're only incidentally a US citizen (i.e. didn't know you were one) you have to file, the IRS usually requires seven years of returns if you've never filed.

As for your wife, if she's an LPR, best idea is for her to get citizenship before you leave if you plan on moving back to the US at some point. May not sound terribly practical but that's the whole point of why they make you wait years to get it, to make sure you're serious about it. Maintaining US LPR status if you live outside the country for a long time is basically impossible, is my understanding. If you give it up they can also refuse to grant it again. Check with USCIS on the details, because it does depend on how long you plan on being in Canada.

There is no duty or GST on personal effects, provided you've had them for at least six months. There are some exceptions, they mainly relate to alcohol, tobacco and unusual items like valuable works of art.

Thanks, Steve!

One clarification, however. When we married, she moved to Canada, and was granted legal PR status in Canada. She is a natural-born u.S. citizen. However, she left Canada to accompany me to a job in the U.S., and her PR expired in 2006 at any rate.

I'm hoping someone has some advice on the best way to get her back into Canada. We're hoping perhaps the Travel Document will be granted, counting her time accompanying me in the U.S. (all 10 years) as Residence, as so will allow her to renew her PR status rather than apply all over again (with her stuck unable to work all the while).

Cameron

If your wife gained her Canadian LPR thru marriage to you, she doesn't lose it as long as you remain married and living together, doesn't matter where in the world you live. You don't have to endure the process all over again.

She will however need to get a renewed card at some point.

Thank you, Reba!

You and Steve have lifted a burden from my shoulders with your kindly assistance!

We are Canadian born seniors who lived in the U.S., obtained U.S. citizenship and later, returned to Canada to be with family. We are now considering moving back to the U.S. permanently. Does anyone know what the tax implications would be with respect to RRIF's, selling home, etc.?

I will answer these on the tax forum of forums.serbinski.com