Hi!

I have 2 questions for the Canadians on the forum who have already moved to the US:

1- Did some of you build some kind of checklist of things to do before leaving Canada (bank accounts, Canada Revenu Agency, etc....)

2- How did you proceeded with the actual move? Did you hire a moving company or did you rent a truck and did the move by yourself? (Did you have any problem crossing the border with all your belongings?)

3- Did some of you have experience with what documents are required to move with a dog? I guess I need to have vaccination papers up to date? Is there anything else?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Yohann.

1. Yes, I had a long list, including:
--checking with my bank on how to continue paying on my student loan, got set up with online banking
--get a copy of my medical file and/or dental file
--checking with my CPA who did my tax returns if there was anything I had to worry about in that respect (ie. when I get ready to file my last Canadian Income Tax)
--rerouting my mail to my parents
---get in contact with the tax people if you still get the GST tax rebate cheque, once you move to the US you are no longer eligible to receive it. So if you have direct deposit you need to make arrangements to stop the payments -- if that doesn't go through in time, don't spend any cheques that do get deposited after you move because they will make ways to collect it.

2. I choose to have my stuff moved through a moving company that was well experienced in Canada/US moves. They had a checklist for me so that I could assemble all the paperwork for them -- they made it really easy. I left the documents with my parents, they came and picked up my stuff, and delivered to me without a scratch or anything broken within a couple of weeks (it takes a while to get stuff from Nova Scotia to Oklahoma!). Was definitely worth the money for us.

3. Do a search in the threads here in the Canadian forum, this topic has come up a couple of times. Vaccinations definitely need be up to date, and you need proof of that, and I think you need another piece of paper from the vet r/t health of your pet.

Good luck to you

Hi! Here's my .02:

1. Remember to cancel your provincial health coverage
2. Close bank accounts or transfer funds.
3. Give away your plants (you cannot bring them over )
4. We did not do anything RE: Canada Revenue - but you will have to file one more return as an emigrant next year (I'm assuming you have filed this year already)


We moved with UPack. It is cheap and quite reliable. Though you do have to pack and load/unload your stuff. Make sure you are allowed to have the trailer hanging around both in Canada and in the US. Some cities do not allow trailers parking in the street so see if you have an alley or some big space. If you don't have too much stuff, you can hire a "relocube" with them.

good luck, L.

I did Uhaul. That way the stuff arrived with me and I knew where it was and if anything was broken it was our fault.

They barely glanced at my list of items that I was bringing and I was not very specific

"books" - $50
"kitchen stuff" - $500

good luck whichever way you decide to do it

I packed everything into two suitcases and boarded a plane. Left alot of stuff at my dads to bring back when I get my kids for the summer. Seemed expensive to ship everything down. If you have a place to store it at a friends or family you may want to bring it back as you fly...drive back for visits.....

crap! I didn't tell the tax people... I think I got a gst cheque!
who do I tell!!!???


I obviously told EI...

Do I have to tell someone else??

Plus the canada revenue agency???

uh oh..I thought our gst rebate was from the PREVIOUS year spent on gst!! My accountant didn't tell me to do anything..and I'm due for a cheque hmmm I'll see if I can get him on the phone tomorrow..

should I just go on the CRA website with my epass and change my address there>?

as soon as you move and become a resident of another country, you are no longer eligible for the GST rebate. I also was disqualified for a student loan reduction program because I was a resident of the US, even though the timeframe they would have looked at far as my income was concerned was before I moved. Doesn't matter to them. Even when I contacted them to cancel my GST rebate cheques, one still was direct deposited. They soon sent me a letter telling me to pay it back -- ever so efficient when it comes to collecting their money!




I can't remember if I put this in the PM, but I would call them directly, IMHO. can't guarantee they'll get it right even then!

I just took everything i could into 3 suitcases (amber brought 2, but only packed enough to fit into 1).. I just left everything there for my family to bring down when they come for the wedding

I opened up my wallet, threw out all the contents, made a list and canceled stuff I would no longer use (movie rental memberships, etc)

Changed my address with Epass on the Canada Govt web page

Kept open a bank account. Keep only a few $$$ in acct. Transfer $$ toit with Customhouse.com when traveling to Canada, its free!! Plus can send money from Canada to USA! Comes in handy for bday money,lol The bank is presidents Choice, which told me I had to close it when I moved! So I gave them my parents addy in SK! RBC and TD seem to be better choices, from what people have posted on here

I rented a Uhaul, My experience was fine, truck was fine, others have beefs with Uhaul (broken down trucks, truck not there when gone to pick up) At the POE they did not even look in my truck!! I had an inventory list (nothing fancy) they were not that interested in it!! The Customs dude was more interested with his card game he was playing on the computer!!!

I still haven't figure out who to contact for the GST/ baby bonus crap...so i'm sure I'll owe them $$$

I've notified several gov agencies, EI obviously has my american address, but I can't change the address online for anything else...the Epass stuff looked like i needed to register while I was still in Canada - because they wanted to send a password or something to a CAnadian address only.

perhaps i've just missed something

well i'm with you..I'm still recieving $$ i did try to change the info though

Yes, once they see your tax return they will ask you to pay it back. I know someone who moved to the U.S., one cheque came for her after they left and I promptly tore it up and threw it in the garbage.

They wanted that cheque back - they wrote to her for it - long story short they needed a letter saying it had never been cashed and over a period of months they cancelled the cheque and wrote to say it was all good.

We do have an epass that we signed up for a couple of years ago, they do send your password in the mail, it's really quite a handy service.

Anyway, just doing a google search I found this:

Other changes - Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax
Call 1-800-959-1953 to tell us:

if you or your spouse or common-law partner is no longer a resident of Canada; or
if any of the personal information, such as your name, marital status, or the spousal or child information shown on your Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) Credit notice is not correct. You can also write to them at any service center, the addresses are here.

Other changes - Universal Child Care Benefit
Call 1-800-387-1193 to tell us:

if your or your spouse or common-law partner's immigration or residency status changes; or
if any of the personal information, such as your name, your marital status, or your spousal or child information, shown on your Canada Child Tax Benefit notice or your Universal Child Care Benefit notice is incorrect. link

question obviously when you do your last set of taxes you put non-resident from such and such date...I'm just finishing up mine for 2007 to send in...no income I was a student in 2007 in the us till mid dec......we didn't get married till feb but would I put no longer a resident from 2007 on or would I just file as a resident and then refile next year to say I'm not?

sold/gave everything and packed the car..

bought all new things..

I had a checklist and a moving list i listed all items brought in each box and numbered the boxes. they never looked in my truck and just scanned over my list. I made sure i left all plants in Canada.
I contacted all govenment agencies baby bonus, GST,Income tax and IE as well as Health card let them know i was moving to the US and that i would no longer be a resident.
I rented a U-haul and packed myself it went very well.
As for my dog i brought her with me she had to be vaccinated and the vet gave me a sheet with all her vaccines including heart worm and i was also issued a Internationl Health certificate which had to be done within 10 days of moving to the US. I had no problem bringing her with me.

Good luck on your move

Really be critical when packing. I brought 3 suitcases and a few boxes. I know it's hard, but for many things, mailing them later, or going back for them later would be a complete waste of money for me. When packing, I had one suitcase of t-shirts, and shorts. Silly. I took only one or two of each, gave away everything else, and after I'd moved and it got warmer, I went out and bought a few more. Other than clothes, and sentimental things (pictures, children's art drawings, some momento's) I basically just gave things away and came with the clothes on my back!

If I move to USA from CAN at 65 would I still receive pension and RRQ (Régime des rentes du Québec)

If RRQ is the Quebec equivalent of CPP (Canada Pension Plan) and you have been contributing all of your adult life, yes. It is based on contributions over a specific qualifying period, not ultimate residency. Canadian pension income falls under the Canada/US tax treaty btw to ensure fair taxation for pensionable Canadians living in the US and pensionable Americans -or Canadians with US based incomes - living in Canada.