We have to move to Canada, We're excited, but have MANY ?s!

Hello! Well, I just googled Help with moving back to Canada and this wonderful forum came up. I'm hoping that a lot of people will respond and hopefully it will help my Husband and I out.
Okay, so when My Husband and I got back from our trip to visit some of his family in England in July, my Husband, the Canadian Citizen but has lived in Dallas, TX since he was 4, was stopped by Homeland Security in Atlanta,GA. They gave us a court date and told my Husband they want to deport him for smoking weed, getting caught with it, when he was 17 years old. He's not 27 years old and the only thing he's done since he paid his dues to the US society are go back to school, get a really decent job whilst going to school, getting married (to me), and add to his family (We just got 2 puppies after his puppy of 17 years died last DEcember). Anyway, he hasn't broken the law since and hasn't done anything expect pay his taxes on time. We've been out of the country 3 times since his smoking pot incedent, the UK in 2003 and 2005 and to Canada in 2004, never once were we stopped, but for some reason, I guess it's becuase it was our second honeymoon that we got stopped. We don't make much money and had been saving for the past 3 years to go on this vacation, so to be hit with deportation when we got back, was just well, a kick to the nutts.
So, we finally have a date for our departure, as we had to hire an attorney and he made it to where we can come back whenever, but we have to "Voluntarily Depart". I don't know how voluntary it is, but we are stoked about moving to Canada!

We're looking at the Ottawa area becuase he's got family in and around there, however, none of their homes are big enough for us to stay with them for a while. We need to find him a job and an apartment. We've been looking online and the hardest thing is he can't leave here yet to go up there to really look at a job or place to live becuase if he leaves before his final court date, the USA will consider him "Self-deported" and he will not be able to return to the US. And, well, he needs to be able to come back with me to see my family, and he wants to do that.so.if anyone knows of someone looking to sublet their place, or where we might be able to find an apartment locator that would be awesome.

We've found him a few jobs, but no one has called back. Is there a trick to getting a call back with jobs in Canada? See he hasn't live in Canada since he was 4 becuase his dad moved the family here becuase of business, so he doesn't, and I definitely don't, know exactly what we're getting into.other than I LOVE BEAVER TAILS and POUTINE!

So any help on anything would be much appreciated. We're pretty nervous, and like I said before we don't have a lot of money, especailly for a cross country move we're about to expreince, but and thoughts will be taken into great consideration.

Also, just a note to anyone thinking of coming to the states.if you pay for your Green Card to be a permanent resident alien, as they call you here, don't think that card is yours.My Husband and I did.maybe becuase we paid for it, but, at the last hearing we had to go to, the homeland security officer that interrogated my Husband took it from him! Luckily, we have jobs at the moment and an apartment here, so we were too S.O.L., but just FYI. It's getting crazy here, and I'm SOOOOOOOOOO glad to be moving to be with people that care about the wellbeing of their fellow man! Hooray for CANADA!

Let me see if I understand this.your husband was charged with smoking weed and possession when he was 17 years old correct? by whom? The US, or Canada, or UK or or or?

Are you a Canadian citizen, or American? You never mentioned. I'm guessing American, which would mean you will have to immigrate to Canada and your husband will have to sponsor you, which will take a few months to complete. You'll want to have a look at the paperwork at the CIC website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/ ... spouse.asp And there is a wealth of knowledge at http://roadtocanada.com with forums with other folks immigrating to Canada via marriage sponsorship.

The dogs will need certificates of health from your veterinarian, and proof of rebies vaccination having been completed at least 30 days before you move to Canada. Call your vet and ask them about it.

No idea about the job sitch in or around Ottawa, but maybe your husband's family has more insight on that, if that's where they live.

Thanks for the websites.

I'll start with my Husband.he is Canadian, never received his US Citizenship. He was 17 when we was pulled over and had weed in the car. It was a misdemeanor in the County court system in Collin County, which is right outside Dallas, TX. So it's not federal or anything. It's really silly actually.

I am an American Citizen, I was born here in Texas. I have checked out the website for him to Sponsor me, but he spoke with Service Canada and told them our situation, and they had said that I could file my paperwork when we got up there becuase we were having to move so fast and that I would have a 6 month visitors visa. So, I'm confused.do you think I should start the sponsorship paper work now? He also asked the Canadian Consolute here, and he said both would do. Any help is appreciated though.

We did know about the dogs needing certificates. We have talked with our vet about it and she stated she's done a few of those before, so I think we're okay there. If we have those and their bill of health, the Border patrol shouldn't give us any problems, right? I'm sort of scared they will, and our dogs are a part of our family.it would certainly hurt us both very deeply if we had to leave them anywhere.

Thanks again for the reply.

If you can, I'd get started on the paperwork now, and do an "out-land" application. Its faster by about a year. YOu can stay in Canada while its processing, but you won't be able to work until its completed most likely.

There's lots more info at Road To Canada, with people there who've either completed the process successfully, as well as those who are currently in it. They'll have more experience and info to impart than we will here.

If your dogs have the certificate of health and proof of rabies vaccination then no, you should have no problem with them, unless they're pit-bulls. Pit-bulls have been banned in Ontario, and they're not allowed at all.

nice to you we also move in canada in next year but it will conflict in my studies and we like to visit only my relatives their to vacation next year hope we see other.

Bear in mind the tax situation. As a long-term US resident your husband will be subject to expatriation tax, and as a US citizen you will always have to file a 1040 every year and file a Form 2555 to claim a tax credit for any tax you pay in Canada.

You should read the instructions for Form 2555 and your husband should read the instructions for Form 1040NR.

Your post interested me . I have been living in the USA since 1996 - I pay USA Taxes, I put my income back into the US economy, I have a child born on American Soil, I own a home here and I work - I got divorced from my American Husband 7 years ago [ after being together 10 years] and I got a letter from Homeland security 2 weeks ago giving me 87 days to give them MORE proof of who I am [ I gave them everything already] they stopped the renewal of my Permanent Resident Card. I have never committed any crimes not even littering and I am up to possible deportation because I went back to my Maiden name.
So right now I too am looking to move back to Canada - I am looking at Alberta.
I am also in need to sell my home here, get a job and move my furniture etc back over and like you I have to get a job and a place before hand.

I find it interesting that I am not the only Canadian being given their walking papers.
Suits me just fine I wanted to go home anyway.

Good Luck

So they're revoking your green card because you decided to go back to your maiden name?

that's daft! sheesh.

I know . So it seems . Unless I give them more proof . They already have my birth certificate, drivers license, Dissolution paperwork with the seal stamped on it and the Judge restoring me to my Maiden name, my finger prints, my photo . outside of that I am unsure of what more they want.
So go ahead deport me . Frankly I find it insulting.

Have they said what proof specifically? Like perhaps they're questioning your marriage itself, and thinking maybe you only married to get the green card? (most people who do that though get divorced directly after they get their card though, not a decade later )

Welcome to the land of the free eh? bleah.