gathering documents before the big move (driver's abstract, credit report etc)

[teama&a 3]

Hello,

I'm trying to prepare for the big move by gathering important documents I might need once I am in the US. Since these papers may take a few weeks to issue I figure this is a good time to get started. I have a few questions if anyone has any input, I would appreciate it.

1) Is a driver's abstract necessary for switching a driver's license? If so, Ontario offers so many different ones, which driving record is necessary?

2) Do they keep your Canadian license when you switch it for an American one (New Jersey to be exact)? I would like to keep my Canadian one as well, if possible.

3) Do I need a personal credit report/check to open a bank account, or sign a lease with my husband?

4) Does the car insurance company require a letter of experience from my current car insurance company or is this extra?

5) Is a copy of my medical file necessary for health insurance/finding a new family physician?

6) Am I missing any other important documents I should order before I move?

I really don't want to pay for documents that I may or may not need, especially considering that I have to send my passport to the embassy so I will not have a form of photo ID on me and this might make things difficult when dealing with Service Ontario etc.

[Gracenp2 14]

Hello,

I'm trying to prepare for the big move by gathering important documents I might need once I am in the US. Since these papers may take a few weeks to issue I figure this is a good time to get started. I have a few questions if anyone has any input, I would appreciate it.

1) Is a driver's abstract necessary for switching a driver's license? If so, Ontario offers so many different ones, which driving record is necessary?

2) Do they keep your Canadian license when you switch it for an American one (New Jersey to be exact)? I would like to keep my Canadian one as well, if possible.

3) Do I need a personal credit report/check to open a bank account, or sign a lease with my husband?

4) Does the car insurance company require a letter of experience from my current car insurance company or is this extra?

5) Is a copy of my medical file necessary for health insurance/finding a new family physician?

6) Am I missing any other important documents I should order before I move?

I really don't want to pay for documents that I may or may not need, especially considering that I have to send my passport to the embassy so I will not have a form of photo ID on me and this might make things difficult when dealing with Service Ontario etc.

3) To answer you second question, most Apartment complexes require a credit check for both occupants in order to sign that lease. It will be easy as this is done online. The bank account you do not, you simply need a picture ID and an SSN.

4) NO

5) Yes, that would be very helpful.

Hope this helps..

[Caykay1 71]

4). Some insurance will take that and mostly it gets you a better deal. I have mine from Ghana and my foreign drivers license and it save me almost $90 each month.

2) yes bring it over. It will save you some bucks with some insurance company. They want to know years you've been driving.

[teama&a 3]

thank you both for your assistance

[dburnt 59]

Hi,

1) Not sure what you mean by abstract, but if it is your record of tickets, etc., I had one from Service Ontario and one from my insurance company, and no one looked at it.

2) I had a choice...if I wanted to keep my Ontario one, I had to do the driver's test in Florida (written only). If I didn't want to do the test, DMV has an agreement with Canada to swap them out (they actually send it back to Ontario). I've never had a need for the Ontario one...it would be invalid legally as you must have your address updated within 5 days of moving, and Ontario won't issue you one with a US address.

3) To open a bank account, you need a Social Security Number. That was all I needed. No idea about a lease though.

4) My insurance asked for nothing - they don't have any agreements, so they didn't want it (I had one). You do need to time the insurance with the registration switch. I got an extension on my out of province from Ontario for 6 months, so could take my time doing the registration switch.

5) My doctor provided me with a disk, which my new physician wouldn't take. I printed the whole thing out, and they took copies of pertinent records (specifically surgeon's reports and major test results). Not required, but it gave me peace of mind.

6 ) If you're importing your car, you'll need the compliance letter, and need to make sure you get the proper paperwork at the border. Ensure that you have proof that it is paid off if you had a loan to purchase as well - I had to have proof of purchase for the compliance letter, and the discharge of loan.

The only other thing that I didn't prepare for, that I should have, was transferring my money. I have an RRSP (which you can leave with no penalty) but also had a few small investments. I wanted to have cash available in Canada for when I travel, but didn't think about the reporting requirements to the IRS (you must report your foreign holding, including any investments or bank accounts over a certain amount).

You only need Ontario photo ID for Service Ontario - you could use your health card if you don't have a driver's licence :-)

[teama&a 3]

This was very helpful...thank you so much!

My insurance company has given me a letter of experience, I don't need any further coverage since I've decided not to bother with bringing my to the US with me. As for the driver's license, I wanted it more as a form of ID when I go back to visit etc.

I am glad you mentioned the money, I am not sure whether I want to close my Canadian accounts or not. I too have savings in a TFSA as well as some investments. I was planning on keeping my Canadian account open as well as holding on to my Canadian Visa card, I figure both will be useful when we go back to Canada to visit my family in the future.

Hi,

1) Not sure what you mean by abstract, but if it is your record of tickets, etc., I had one from Service Ontario and one from my insurance company, and no one looked at it.

2) I had a choice...if I wanted to keep my Ontario one, I had to do the driver's test in Florida (written only). If I didn't want to do the test, DMV has an agreement with Canada to swap them out (they actually send it back to Ontario). I've never had a need for the Ontario one...it would be invalid legally as you must have your address updated within 5 days of moving, and Ontario won't issue you one with a US address.

3) To open a bank account, you need a Social Security Number. That was all I needed. No idea about a lease though.

4) My insurance asked for nothing - they don't have any agreements, so they didn't want it (I had one). You do need to time the insurance with the registration switch. I got an extension on my out of province from Ontario for 6 months, so could take my time doing the registration switch.

5) My doctor provided me with a disk, which my new physician wouldn't take. I printed the whole thing out, and they took copies of pertinent records (specifically surgeon's reports and major test results). Not required, but it gave me peace of mind.

6 ) If you're importing your car, you'll need the compliance letter, and need to make sure you get the proper paperwork at the border. Ensure that you have proof that it is paid off if you had a loan to purchase as well - I had to have proof of purchase for the compliance letter, and the discharge of loan.

The only other thing that I didn't prepare for, that I should have, was transferring my money. I have an RRSP (which you can leave with no penalty) but also had a few small investments. I wanted to have cash available in Canada for when I travel, but didn't think about the reporting requirements to the IRS (you must report your foreign holding, including any investments or bank accounts over a certain amount).

You only need Ontario photo ID for Service Ontario - you could use your health card if you don't have a driver's licence :-)

[NikLR 13,227]

TD and RBC offer US accounts as well as Canadian ones if you wantbease of transferring money. I opened an RBC account in both Canada and the USA to be able to transfer EI money and if I need to transfer money to Canada for something (like money for my mom to buy a xmas present or something... cheaper than mailing!) I used that to get a US credit card based off my Canadian credit to start building my credit history here.

I wouldnt worry about any drivers abstracts. In Colorado I was able to just transfer my license over. Your Ontario license is void once you dont live there anymore. Keep in mind when you become a resident of the USA you are no longer a resident of Canada.

Btw I apologize for extra letters between words. I have fat little thumbs and the keyboard is small on my phone. Lol

[Lemonslice 4,754]

This was very helpful...thank you so much!

My insurance company has given me a letter of experience, I don't need any further coverage since I've decided not to bother with bringing my to the US with me. As for the driver's license, I wanted it more as a form of ID when I go back to visit etc.

I am glad you mentioned the money, I am not sure whether I want to close my Canadian accounts or not. I too have savings in a TFSA as well as some investments. I was planning on keeping my Canadian account open as well as holding on to my Canadian Visa card, I figure both will be useful when we go back to Canada to visit my family in the future.

Note that you will need to report your savings over a certain amount to the IRS and that, from my understanding, TFSA are not "TF". For an overview, you can read this: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/taxes/tax-time-2016-us-citizens-tax-shelters-1.3446226 [talks about US Citizens in Canada, but see https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/introduction-to-residency-under-u-s-tax-law ]

If you have more than a mini savings nest, I strongly advise you to double check with a tax advisor (not a tax service place, but a real fiscalist/accountant).