Is there an "Idiot's guide to moving to the US"?

exsailor66
New Member



Joined: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 6
Location: Savannah, GA

Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 1:24 pm

 

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Thanks for the snarky remarks. FYI, I finally received my SSN today, AFTER it went to Homeland Security for their OK. I typed that very slowly for you.

My point was not to somehow get special treatment, but that there should be another immigration class for people who are easy to check out, aren't a burden to the system, and are putting foreign money into the US economy and IRS coffers at no cost to the system.

The security clearance point was to say that my background is simple to check out. I KNOW that they don't follow you unless you are still serving, and are attached to a US unit. Geez!

When I drove a desk, the easy files flew into my outbox first, so that I could spend the appropriate time on the ones that required more research. If those easy ones are sitting there waiting in line, the inbox grows unnecessarily.

Thanks for the friendly responses.

Mike
aka Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

P.S. Administrators, please beam me out of this forum.
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.and in the end,.

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Reba
Moderator


Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1495
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 6:43 am

 

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Sorry you felt we're being snarky, that wasn't the intent at all. I was simply answering your questions as I know them to be processed by the US government as I've been through it myself.

If you've applied for an immigrant visa to the US, and checked that box on the DS form for the SSN, Homeland Security (Dept. of State) passes that on to the Social Security Administration (sometimes), and the SSA creates your SSN. Not DOS or HS. Why would Homeland Security need to have anything to do with creating a tax ID for immigrants? No matter their security clearance in their home country? Of course, things may have changed in the 3 years since I've endured the paperwork. Please, excuse my ignorance if so. I'm just here to try and help.

Its all well and good to wish that USCIS had different processes and quicker processes for special people but they don't. Canadians on immigration forums wish it every day, just because they're Canadians. Wishing won't make it so. We all have to go through the same processing. Although we can be thankful we're not from Iraq or somesuch, because citizens of those countries ARE treated differently and take far longer to process.
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READ ME FIRST!! Immigration Information for Canadians who want to move to the US for any reason.

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kelseymc
New Member



Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Calgary

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:02 am

 

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I still live in Canada and went into a Bank of America to open a bank account while I was visiting in Arizona.

The only glitch was they requested a US address. thankfully my brother lives in the US and I gave that.
(I am sure a box address would work)

they are able to send all information, card and pin number upto Canada with no troubles.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1662
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 9:25 am

 

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[*]do I need a new drivers license & plates for my car?

Obviously, as you would if you moved to another Province in Canada.

[*]how do I get an SSN?

Apply in person at your local Social Security office when you arrive, bring your passport and valid I-94.

[*]what do I need to get a bank account?

SSN helps but is not absolutely necessary. Photo ID.

[*]what are the best banks?

Most US banks imx are rubbish, the interest rates they pay on standard saving accounts are criminal imo. Think more carefully about different investment instruments because Americans are not big on saving.

[*]what do I have to tell the Canadian government?

Depends on many questions, where are you moving, how long you are going to be there, what you are doing, etc.

You really, really need to talk to a specialist accountant because there are so many issues if you are working temporarily in the US to consider.

If you leave Canada permanently, there is an exit tax on people who have resided there for more than 5 years. Plus there is a 10% non-resident tax on investments, e.g. bank interest on your savings account. If on the other hand you maintain any sort of substantial presence in Canada, you are considered resident for tax purposes. The one case I've heard quoted by accountants is a guy who moved to the middle east, still had a valid Ontario DL and his stuff in storage in Ontario and the CRA considered him resident for tax purposes.

There can be major tax benefits moving your tax residency to the United States. If you don't want to, you can file Form 8840 with the IRS, which basically means you carry on paying income tax in Canada, but you will have to file a T1 and 1040NR every year.

Depending on where you move in the US the tax rules are different, for example if you move to Florida and buy property you will get hit with very high property taxes as temporary residents do not qualify for the homestead exemption.

Some States have income tax rates not much lower than Alberta or BC, so if you move from one of those provinces to California for example for a short period, there's no point to moving your tax residency, especially when you factor in your health insurance payments in the US.

If you're on a TN-1 you need to be really careful about this sort of thing because if you ever get refused entry when you reapply every year, you could find yourself in a really sticky situation tax wise.

I've used this company in the past to help me with this sort of thing: http://www.serbinski.com - he seemed reasonably competent but not cheap. There are various other similar companies around the country.
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Steve.

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usagisisa
New Member



Joined: 01 Nov 2007
Posts: 5

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 9:30 am

 

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Thanks for all your tips guys! I did get my SSN finally, after a long wait in the SSA office. Yikes! Now I just need to choose a bank, set up an account, then I can get my cell phone etc.etc.
Oh, wait -- I need my US address first!

I wanted to get an ING Electric Orange account -- good interest no fee chequing option, but apparently I still need another US chequing (pardon me--checking!) account. Can't get that until I have my US address. Hard to rent a place when I have no US credit history. This is becoming a circular little adventure.

Honestly, I want to give you my money.why is that so hard?

**sigh**

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