Does anyone have a list of "things to do before we leave Canada"? I tried the link from http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showtopic=65374 but the link's outdated or the original thread's been removed

I have only a vague idea of what I need to do. Since I don't own much worldly belongings, this is my list so far:

- notify Canada Revenue Agency of my change of residency status...?? How does one do this? Or do you simply tell them your change of address?
- How do you cancel OHIP (health insurance)? Or will it be cancelled automatically once the CRA knows about your change of residency status? What about the voter's list stuff?
- consolidate bank accounts
- cancel car insurance
- inform banks, credit card companies, university, etc. of my change of address
- ask doctors for my records (has anyone done this, or will most doctors fax info to your new U.S. doctors when required?)
- I've only worked one full year as a teacher... is it worth the hassle to transfer however little RRSP I've accumulated? Can I even claim E.I. with my one year of employment later on?
- say goodbye to family and friends...
- pack all worldly belongings into two carry-ons and two checked baggages haha (I've read contradictory msgs on VJ about how long the I-95's good for... I've read "one year" and "ten years" @_@ Who's right?)

Sorry for asking so many questions!

Good list so far . . .
Yes, get a Change of Address package from the post office. It iwll have an offficial postal change of address - fill that out and pay the fee so your mail will get re-directed, then use the postcards to send your change of address information to friends, families, account holders, etc. I also prepared a form for various accounts that I could fill in the name, address, account numbers, etc. to switch off telephone, cable, utilities, hydro, etc. and arrange for the last reading to be taken on such and such a date and to send the final bill to my new address. I also used the same form to change my credit card information (VISA, MC, Gas cards, Dept. stores, etc) and the various Government offices. I made photocopies of all forms and actually had to use one to verify to my cable company that they had received the form - it was sent with my cheque and they cashed the cheque. Look to see if the accounts have a separate mailing address from payment address for correspondence.

My doctors were happy to give me photocopies of my relevent information
If you have medical insurance in addition to OHIP which you probably do have if you are a teacher, request a proof of coverage letter from them. You may need to prove you had health insurance if you get added onto your new husbands health insurance.

I cashed out my RRSPs and paid the tax on them and made arrangements with my bank to change the account to a minimal fee account that I could then access via online banking so that I had a Canadian account for final cheque deposits and income tax rebates. It also means you can write the last cheques for accounts that you close (ie. utilities, cable, telephone, etc.);

purchase travel or health insurance to cover the time between when you leave Ontario and you get added to your husbands account - visitors insurance to the US is often available from BLue Cross, things like that


Bring along originals of all of your immunization records, school records, birth certificate, etc. You may need the immunization records to prove you have had all of your shots for teh AOS

remember to notify Canada Pension Plan of your change of address as well as Canada Revenue Agency, and your teacher's pension. The easiest way to notify all Federal and Provincial government sites is to ask your Member of Parliament and your Member of Provincial Parliaments offices if they would send in address changes to all Federal (MP) and Provincial (MPP) public offices - that is the surest way not to miss any one.

Get copies of your prescriptions from your doctor and if you wear glasses, your eye glass prescription. The prescriptions won't transfer but you can give them to your new health care providers in the US and they will know exactly what you had. Try to ensure you have sufficient supplies for about 3 months just to ensure you won't run out before you get coverage or an appointment. There are waiting lists for doctors here in the US as well!

Those are things that come to mind - if I think of more I will add them!

From my understanding you can qualify for EI here in the US but best to read the sticky at the top of this forum for more information