Millions of Questions on moving back to Canada

Hello .. So I have begun to apply for jobs in Ottawa and want to move back. I have lived in the USA since 1995 - I don't know how to manage the transition. Sell my home in the USA ... how do I manage my 401K and pension. What do I do about school enrollment for my child who'll be going into Grade 6 if we hold off moving until June. Can I take my car and hold off on the inspection until I finally own it free and clear[ which would be potentially a year after the fact].
I want to buy a home when I get there - Should I apply for a Canadian credit card while still in the USA to establish credit? Does the first time home buyer under CMHC still apply even though I've own and sold homes here in the USA?
There seems to be so much involved I want desperatly to move home and it feels like it is too much... tell me it is possible and not as complicated as I've read through posts on here. I want to be next to family again vs. alone here in the USA.
Any tips, advice, comments based on experience would be grateful.
Thanks

I don't think its all that difficult to move back. What posts here have made you think that?

I haven't moved back yet, so I'll leave the answers up to those more experienced.

-- Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:09 am --

Hi there,
It's really not too bad when you're moving back home. It's just a matter of filling out forms and updating ID, etc. There are questions you have I haven't but here's my experience:

Household: Whether you are bringing your belongings back with you or having them follow, you will need to have the appropriate forms filled out for CBSA. You'll need to declare when you left and when you return to start Canadian residency. Super easy and no issues, just a cursory glance at the manifest and a stamp.

OHIP: Again, very easy. I had to sign a declaration of when I left and when I moved back. I had my Cdn ID and was good to go. New photo card sent out in the mail, waiting period three months.

DL: I wasn't gone long enough to forgo that so it was an easy address change and new DL arrived quick.

Real Estate: I'm in that process now, from what my agent tells me, if you haven't owned a house in the past five years in Canada, you could qualify for first-time home buyer with CMHC, not certain if there are any exclusions for owning U.S. real estate.

Job: Like you, I was applying back north. The disadvantage was not being locally available, I had plenty of interest but it wasn't til I was back here that a job fell into place. People want to see you back in country, it seems. I wound up bunking with family until I found a job.

Credit: If you've lived in the U.S. for over a few years, the bank will run both SSN & SIN's for credit. I can't remember if it was two years (I think)or four they told me at Scotia, but they run both when you've resided in the U.S.for a length of time.

Partner: If you have an American 'significant other' then there is more paperwork to have ready when you move back to Canada, but that's a whole other story, lol.

I'll leave it to others in regards to taxes, etc.

Sell my home in the USA ... how do I manage my 401K and pension.

Tax treaty takes care of the 401(k), you don't have to do anything with it really, you might need to declare it to the CRA in limited situations. But you do need to tell whoever holds it that you have moved to Canada are no longer resident in the US for tax purposes. Pension transfers can be done too.

What do I do about school enrollment for my child who'll be going into Grade 6 if we hold off moving until June.

Qualifies for Canadian citizenship, just get her/him an SIN and that's it pretty much.

Can I take my car and hold off on the inspection until I finally own it free and clear[ which would be potentially a year after the fact].

Mmmmm, you might be able to fudge it that long but it would be tricky. As a visitor you can drive it for up to a year in Canada without registering it - but you're not a visitor. You don't own it so you cannot import it. The usual solution is to get a loan from somewhere else to pay off the financing, a loan that enables you to hold the title for the car. Also bear in mind that returning residents are only duty exempt on the first $10,000 value of the car.

I want to buy a home when I get there - Should I apply for a Canadian credit card while still in the USA to establish credit? Does the first time home buyer under CMHC still apply even though I've own and sold homes here in the USA?

Having a Canadian credit card for a short period of time isn't likely to convince a lender of your credit history, which will be zilch whether you have a card or not. More logical approach is to try a lender who can check your US credit history. You aren't a first time buyer if you've owned a home outside of Canada.

There seems to be so much involved I want desperatly to move home and it feels like it is too much... tell me it is possible and not as complicated as I've read through posts on here. I want to be next to family again vs. alone here in the USA.
Any tips, advice, comments based on experience would be grateful.
Thanks

CBSA forms B4 and B4A are what you're after. Make sure you and your child have valid Canadian passports or NEXUS cards.