Living in Canada and working for USA company remotely

Hi, I hope someone can help me! I want to move to Canada, but want to get my feet wet first. To that end, I've decided to sublet an apartment, short term. I will be there every weekend, mostly. Of course, my main residence is here, in the states, as well as my job. Canada is strictly for relaxation. Do I need to have papers to be a regular visitor? I'm so confused!

Thanks!

As an American citizen you are allowed to visit Canada for up to 6 months per calendar year (if you're visiting every weekend, you will have to make sure you don't go over the total allowed 180 days).

If you are renting an appartment however, the border officials may consider that you are defacto resident, and without a visa to allow you to be a legal resident, they can deny you entry and turn you back to the US indefinitely. You will need to prove to them that you do not intend to overstay, nor do you intend to stay illegally to try to circumvent the immigration process. Same as a Canadian has to prove in order to visit the US for extended periods.

Thank you so much. Okay, then one more question; how do I apply for residency? I know I don't have to give up my current citizenship, but I really don't know how to apply for Canadian, even though I'm not officially planning on moving there til December of 2009.

On what basis would you be applying for residency? Do you have a spouse in Canada, or immediate family, or a job offer or or or.?

None of the above! I just love Canada,
want to live there. I do eventually plan
on obtaining employment, and I have a
few friends there, but that's pretty
much it.I hope that's not going to be
an issue.

I have no idea then how you'd go about applying for residency. Check their website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp for info.

Hi, I hope someone can help me! I want to move to Canada, but want to get my feet wet first. To that end, I've decided to sublet an apartment, short term. I will be there every weekend, mostly. Of course, my main residence is here, in the states, as well as my job. Canada is strictly for relaxation. Do I need to have papers to be a regular visitor? I'm so confused!

Thanks!

Nope, plenty of people in the 1000 Islands area do this routinely. Just have your passport or enhanced DL or NEXUS card on you.

Thank you so much. Okay, then one more question; how do I apply for residency? I know I don't have to give up my current citizenship, but I really don't know how to apply for Canadian, even though I'm not officially planning on moving there til December of 2009.

Sounds like skilled worker, go to the CIC website and see if you qualify for it. Takes a couple of years at present to get it even if you do. The other alternative is to get a work permit which also gives you more points towards permanent residency (the Govt. strongly suggests you do it that way, as it only takes a month to process a work permit and you can work while your PR application is considered, however you are tied down to the employer who got your permit).

The big snag for a US citizen moving to Canada (and the reason why it's not terribly popular) is that you still have to file a US tax return every year, and the US foreign tax credit for non-resident US citizens maxes out at $87,500 (2007), so if you earn over that amount you would be subject to dual taxation on it. Have a read of the instructions for IRS Form 2555.

If you never hit that limit it's not a big deal.

Supposedly the Democrats want to repeal that limit, given the current goings on in the US though I think it is highly unlikely.

Plus Canadian income taxes are higher than US taxes, which is another reason Americans don't move to Canada in significant numbers, imo.

But hey we've got a public healthcare system. Somewhere. If you happen to find it, let me know.

LOL! Yeah, I have heard about the 'free' healthcare! Maybe I'll just be one of those lifetime commuters! I rather like calling my doctor on Monday for a Monday appointment, and paying my little 15.00 copay for the priveledge! Canadians pay for it taxation anyway. I was absolutly appalled when I went to Walmart, my favorite store, and everything was 2-22 dollars more expensive. But still, it's worth it, to me. I truly love Canada. And I can always shop at my local Walmart here, since I do pass one to get on the highway north! LOL! Thanks so much for all the info, seriously. I'm sure I'll be asking more questions.
As for the Democrats repealing anything at the moment.NAH. The democrats and republicans are way too busy flinging mud at each to worry about real issues.

You haven't experienced politics until you've lived in Canada.

There are four major Federal parties in Canada (or five if you include the Greens, which I don't), the Conservatives, the Liberals, the NDP and the Bloc Québecois.

In most of the country (except Québec) there are three main parties (Conservatives, Liberals and NDP) which follow the Federal parties except in BC where the Liberals are not connected to them and are right-wing and the NDP are the main left-wing party, except in the rural areas where it's basically the Conservatives against the Liberals. So you often see BC Liberal MLAs switch to the Conservatives when they run for Federal office.

Confused yet? If not, visit Québec.

And you haven't seen a Govt. in action until you've seen a bilingual argument over a budget measure in Parliament.

I have to say the biggest laugh I ever have is watching coverage of the Alberta Legislature, which is unicameral and the tories hold nearly all the seats.

Joe Iggy MLA (PC - Smalltown): "I would like to ask the Minister of Public Safety what my constituents should do if they have an emergency."

Sarah Asskisser MLA (PC - Spruce Grove): "I would suggest that they contact the emergency services. I believe they have a special telephone number for that purpose."

Arnold Backbencher MLA (PC - Le Duc) "Is it 911?"

"Yes, I believe so, I thank the gentleman for his assistance in answering the question."

Joe: "Would the minister happen to know how much money the Province spends on supporting the 911 service?"

Sarah: "I would have to look it up but I believe it's quite a lot."

Bill Gruff (PC - West Lethbridge): "I would like to ask the Minister for Housing and Infrastructure if he is aware that shoddy building practices in Lethbridge have led to some of my constituents getting upset."

Fred Fatass (PC - Drumheller): "The courts are available to redress these problems in the gentleman's riding."

Bill: "I thank the honourable gentleman for his considered opinion."

Mr. Speaker: "Now we move onto motions, does any member have a motion to make?"

Darhan Kang MLA (Liberal - Calgary NE): "Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from my constituents complaining of possible corruption in the allocation of Provincial funds to the Calgary Health Region and the effect it his having on the vaccination of pre-school -"

Mr. Speaker: "I'm afraid we've run out of time for motions, onto legislative business."

Bob Green (PC - Edmonton Gold Bar): "Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Road and Highways (Amendment) Bill, to amend schedule 1 of the Road and Highways Act 1982 to re-allocate municipal road levies to the Provincial highway fund in order to ensure uniformity of expenditure on highways throughout the Province."

Premier Ed Stelmach MLA (PC - Fort Saskatchewan): "ZZzzzzzzzzzz."

Truly, democracy is a beautiful thing to behold.

http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/backissues.php?season=5

click on episode 11 and watch "congrats Mr Stelmach"

OMG! That was so funny, Steve! I'm sorry, that was REALLY FUNNY! The 9-1-1 responses were priceless! However.for true fun.you would have to have seen the first Presidential Debate last night. Sigh. And LAUGH. On the one hand, we had McCain totally ignoring Obama. Refusing to address him directly even after numerous requests from the mediator to do so. No eye contact, nothing. All the while, explaining.OVER AND OVER.how he was so much more qualified because he was in the war. Yup. That WOULD be Vietnam.wouldn't it? And I'm sorry, but what you did in 1982, while I'm sure was.something.I'm confused as to what you did LAST year? Or.is it simply that you cannot remember what you did last year? I understand age does that. Then, we have poor Obama, trying to be the bad guy and take the low road like his constituant. Sigh (again). Stick with the high road, my friend, you're really not very good at fighting dirty.
Well, we'll see what happens NEXT!

But back to me! Do you know if I can/should apply for a Canadian drivers license or some sort of id? I plan on applying for my social insurance number in January.