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Single woman wanting to move back to Canada

I'm a 29-year-old Canadian woman who recently decided she wanted to move back home to Alberta. I've been in the States since I was 13 and have a U.S. Green Card, but I am still a Canadian citizen. Bas...

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Canadians in the USA

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pdxgrrrl
New Member

Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 1
Location: Portland, Oregon

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:44 pm

I'm a 29-year-old Canadian woman who recently decided she wanted to move back home to Alberta. I've been in the States since I was 13 and have a U.S. Green Card, but I am still a Canadian citizen. Basically, I'm wondering how easy it would be for me to move home. I have no husband, no children, not much stuff (I'd probably just fill my car with my belongings), and two cats who are up to date on their shots. I have years of American work experience for two rather large companies in both Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles, California (I never worked in Canada -- was too young!) and I hold a Bachelor's degree (in English) from an American university.

So, how easy would it be for me to move home? Is it as easy as just packing up the car and going, considering my cats have their shots and I have my Canadian passport and birth certificate? How difficult would it be to import my car? I technically own it, but I still owe money on it to an American bank. Is that going to cause problems? And would I have to give up my green card or can I hold on to it for a while just to make sure Canada is still home and I won’t be heading back to the States?

If anyone has any suggestions, I’d appreciate it. I’m really looking forward to getting out of the States as soon as I can. (Just in time for winter!)

Thanks! Laughing

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1506
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:25 pm

Check with the bank you have the car loan with, they may make you pay it off before you leave. As for importing it, it is considered "personal goods" so it is not taxable or dutiable, however, you may need to make a few mods to it after you move. Others here are more knowledgeable about importing cars.

As far as keeping your PR status in the US, you will have to apply for a re-entry permit BEFORE you leave (I have no idea how long they take to process, but with USCIS, don't count on anything less than 3 months), and that is only good for 1 year I think. Anything more than 1 year and you forfeit your PR status in the US. And you have to keep up with the IRS by filing your taxes on time.

Check out the info on the USCIS website

Quote: Maintaining Permanent Residence
Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.
Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.

Your cats may need a "certificate of health" from their veterinarian. Call them to find out if they do it (not all do for some reason) or if they can recommend a vet who does.
_________________
READ ME FIRST!! Immigration Information for Canadians who want to move to the US for any reason.

g-op
CanuckAbroad Regular

Joined: 25 Sep 2008
Posts: 32
Location: montreal

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:05 pm

If you have had a green card 5 years, apply for USC before you move back, then if 10 years from now you want to move back no problem your a US citizen. If not surrender your I-551 at the US border or US Consulate on form I-407 if you are moving back to Canada for good.

gescores
Junior Member

Joined: 24 May 2008
Posts: 25
Location: Virginia

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:33 pm

as for your car, just ask your bank, and don't forget to call your insurance. The bank shouldn't care if you have been a good payer, but the insurance company is unlikely to give you more than a couple of months. You are not importing your car when you cross the border. You will import it when you will register it in Alberta. You have 3 months to do so in Alberta (6 months if you claim to be a non-resident, but I would go with the 3 months deadline).

You will definitely need to declare your cats and have their vaccination records (from a certified veterinarian). The rabies vaccine is the most important, since the USA is not considered rabies free by the CFIA.

As for green card I have no idea. My wife is on a TD and a stay at home mom since 1 month and already bored, so I'm thinking to give a call to my company immigration lawyer to plan for a change to EB2

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Calgary

Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 9:45 pm

pdxgrrrl wrote: how easy would it be for me to move home? Is it as easy as just packing up the car and going, considering my cats have their shots and I have my Canadian passport and birth certificate?

You need to complete CBSA Forms B4 and B4A to declare all the goods you are bringing in, there is no duty on personal effects.

Quote: How difficult would it be to import my car? I technically own it, but I still owe money on it to an American bank. Is that going to cause problems?

You must hold the title for it otherwise it's impossible. You have to get the headlights altered by Canadian Tire as well, have a look at www.riv.ca - you have to make an appointment to declare the export on the US side before you can import it into Canada.

Quote: And would I have to give up my green card or can I hold on to it for a while just to make sure Canada is still home and I won’t be heading back to the States?

Under the tax treaty you cannot be a permanent resident of both countries, if you are a green card holder but have Canadian citizenship and live in Canada, essentially that makes you a resident of both countries, which means you pay taxes twice on your income as you meet the definition of "resident" in both countries. So you basically have to give up your green card, because it's a declaration of permanent residency in the US.

The obvious solution is to apply for US citizenship. You already meet the residency requirements for it, I don't think you have to sit around and wait for it to be issued, you just go to the consulate here to take the oath.

You can be a non-resident US citizen, the snag is there is a limit on the US foreign tax credit of US$85,700, so if you earn over that you still pay taxes twice on the amount over that limit. You still have to file a US tax return every year (forever as a citizen). However anyone who has lived in the US for 8 or more years out of the last 15 has to file a return for the next ten years even if they're not a citizen, so you can't avoid that. But you're not actually subject to US taxes at that point, except on US-source income, whereas as a citizen you would be on amounts over the $85,700 limit.

If you ever plan on going back though the only (simple) legal way to do it is to get US citizenship.
_________________
Steve.

can_bos
Junior Member

Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Posts: 16
Location: boston

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:09 am

You may need to install a block heater for the US car.

I left Alberta for 16 years now and don't want to go back.

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1676
Location: Calgary

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:18 pm

If you've got a garage I really don't see how you would ever need one, my neighbour has a Honda Civic and he left it out in -40 last February and didn't have a problem.

The only people I've ever met who've said they needed them have really old cars, and they leave them outside.

Anyway I prefer the cold to the snow, which Boston gets plenty of!
_________________
Steve.

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