I've had enough! I want to come home.

I've lived in the US for almost 10 years now and I want to move back to Canada but I'm really nervous/clueless as to how to go about doing it. I left Canada when I was 13/14 years old and now i'm 24. I'm a graphic designer but I'm nervous as to how to go about getting a job when I live in the US. I'm also concerned about the fact that I don't have any credit/family/references in Canada as my parents and sister all live here in the US also.

So I was curious if someone could hopefully take me by the hand and tell me their experiences/step by step process for moving home. how did you get a job? did you get a job first or move first? roughly how much did it cost you? how did you overcome the no credit/no references issue? was it an easy process or a hard one?

I really need help with this and I'm very serious about getting home before the end of the year.

thanks.

Just make sure you have US citizenship before you leave. Because if you change your mind and you don't have it, you will regret it!

If you have Canadian citizenship the physical process of moving is relatively easy, you just need to declare everything on CBSA Form B4 and B4A, you might need to have alterations made to your car.

Otherwise it's not much different from moving from one State to another in the US, i.e. you need to get a new DL etc. The tax forms are different but it's not a big deal.

Personally US references don't matter to me as long as I can get hold of the reference, that's all that matters. Other employers might take a different view, depends on the company you work for. Family is irrelevant when it comes to moving other than feeling homesick.

Credit can be a problem, but Canada isn't as anal about it as the US. What I would suggest you do is to open a bank account in Canada now (you can use a US address), stick a couple of thousand dollars in it, and in a year the bank will trust you with a credit card. Once you've got that you've got a history.

The cost of moving is pretty much the same as it would be moving internally in the US.

Awesome! thanks Steve, appreciate the help!

If you have credit here in the US, get a credit card with a bank that has offices in both countries. Like American Express, RBC, HSBC etc etc.if you have one of their cards, you can then change it to a Canadian dollar account once you move.

Finding a job is the same process in Canada as in the US. Even some of the same websites, but with a .ca at the end instead of .com

Where do you want to move to? Canada's really big! Check the local newspaper website for classifieds (jobs & real estate). Register with a temp agency or find a head hunter who specializes in graphics design companies.

Unless you've got a few thousand dollars in the bank right now, you will probably want to find a job before you move, so that you'll have income to pay your rent and buy food and whatnot. Cost of living is a bit higher in Canada, depending where in the US you live now, and where you intend to move to, it could be quite a lot higher, or not so much.

how much would you suggest I save up before I move? i figured I would move first than get a job as it will be a heck of a lot easier. I also have a freelance graphic design business on the side that nets me quite a bit of income so it's honestly not a huge deal.

I was thinking of saving $8000 that would allow me 4-5months when i get back to search for a job. does that sound about right? I'm looking to move to the Toronto area or the kitchener-waterloo area.

That *might* do for a short while, but consider the average rent in Toronto is well over $1000 per month (for a very small apartment!) plus utilities (electric, water, cable, phone etc etc), plus you'll have to usually pay first & last months rent up front.

Toronto is great though if you don't have a car, because you can get anywhere by public transit. Dunno what the transit situation is like in Kitchener, I never spent much time there.

If you have an income or can find a job before you move, that would be great. It may take a few months to find a job, or it may take a week, no one can really say.

thanks for the advice. I've actually been finding places in Toronto for the size I need for $600-$800 a month all utilities included, so honestly I think i'll be fine.

thanks for the heads up though.

yeah, but which neighbourhood?

all over really. theres no specific area.

$600-$800 in TO is pretty good.compare it to NY rents and its crazy in NYC