torontogal4388

I have a bunch of questions actually and am hoping a financial planner or accountant type can help me. Or, in the alternative, someone can direct me to an advisor.... I live in a tiny town in Upstate New York and they haven't a clue here how any of this works.

I worked 40 years in Canada and am currently collecting Canada Pension while I reside in the US. I am eligible for OAS later this year.

Question 1: If I work the 40 quarters here in the US (I currently have 8 quarters in) will I be eligible to collect Social Security AND my CPP and OAS. My mother did (while living in Canada) but had to declare the US SS on her Canadian income taxes. My question is... is it an either/or now... you can only collect from one country?

Question 2: If you have to choose... which economically is the better payor?

Question 3: Canada recently changed the rules for collecting OAS at 65. Now you can defer it and gain 6% per year up to age 71. However, if I choose to do that does that simply mean more money will be clawed back for taxes because I reside in the US? This is a real tough one... do I hold off collecting only to find out taxes are wrecking it? Or do I start collecting this year and invest the money in dividend stocks held in a Roth IRA.

Sorry, but I will have to make decisions soon and there are just too many factors to consider and too many possibilities of making a financially damaging decision that I will have to live with the rest of my life and I can't seem to find anyone who can answer these questions. Any help would be very much appreciated.

MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone!! Hoping you all have a beautiful day and a healthy, happy and blessings beyond measure throughout the year ahead <3

Thanks! Wonderful to have this over with.

Wooo Hoooo! Finally, got the letter today. APPROVED!! Dated December 5th. MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone

Good Morning April filers!! I haven't been on for a while... busy buying a home and moving. I just had a good look at March filers progress. All in all they are a much smaller group than us. Of the Vermont filers, 8 have been approved - the last one was October 3rd, and 18 are still waiting for any news. The way I'm viewing this is that we April filers, if we're lucky hahaha may be getting our approvals as a Christmas present! it would not surprise me to see some not come through until January 2015.

I think we all just need to focus on other things for the time being... enjoy life and keep busy! Whatever is going on in Vermont it certainly isn't I-751 approvals. At least our letter grants us a full year before we start to sweat.

Wishing you all great blessings and a happy patent journey through all of this.

Generally... just sitting back and waiting

Soooo, once the bio is done, we just sit and wait... months and months and months (6 maybe)... to see if they send request for further info... or YES, approved.

Have a Wonderful time. I"m so looking forward to a full week in TO!! Kinda homesick.

Got the Biometrics notice today, scheduled for 5/27/14 in Albany. Guess its a long Memorial Day weekend for us

and heading to Toronto to visit son and family the following week. Yeehaw!

California Service Center (15 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
USER19000............03/31/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
SMS78................03/31/14.......04/07/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
CARYH................04/01/14.......04/03/14......04/30/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 04/18)
MRS.R................04/01/14.......04/02/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
PURSUEURDREAM........04/03/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 04/28)
CRYSTALSOUND.........04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
LAINIEB..............04/08/14.......04/14/14......05/07/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 05/01)
PENNY LANE...........04/08/14.......04/10/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
SIMPLYNICE12.........04/14/14.......04/15/14......05/09/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 05/07)
STERNUM888...........04/18/14.......04/21/14......05/16/14......--/--/--
KISH.2328............04/18/14.......04/21/14......05/23/14......--/--/--
HINDI................04/21/14.......04/23/14......05/29/14......--/--/--
MDM24................04/24/14.......04/28/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NENE815..............04/26/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PETER_MIRIAM.........04/29/14.......05/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (34 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
MIKE N SANDY.........03/28/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
SILVERLINE75.........03/29/14.......04/03/14......05/06/14......--/--/--
DOUG&PAM.............04/02/14.......04/04/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
GEORGERAMSARAN.......04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--
MYAFI1985............04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 04/23)
DIMPLES..............04/05/14.......04/10/14......05/16/14......--/--/--
UP AND AWAY..........04/07/14.......04/09/14......05/08/14......--/--/--
JAY21................04/07/14.......04/10/14......05/14/14......--/--/--
APRILPAM77...........04/08/14.......04/11/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
MAKA.................04/08/14.......04/10/14......05/25/14......--/--/--
PETERANDROBIN........04/09/14.......04/11/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
WRIGHTFAMILY.........04/09/14.......04/21/14......05/14/14......--/--/--
GAMUT................04/09/14.......04/14/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
BOND007..............04/09/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
TORONTOGAL4388.......04/10/14.......04/14/14......15/27/14......--/--/--
MESSI10..............04/10/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NY123................04/11/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
KELAD................04/12/14.......04/16/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SULHAQ...............04/12/14.......04/15/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
KHUSAL...............04/12/14.......04/16/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NEVIN................04/12/14.......05/05/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SL2014...............04/13/14.......04/18/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
JOYBEE...............04/14/14.......04/18/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NEELA & JITU.........04/15/14.......04/18/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
EVOPC................04/15/14.......04/17/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SCRAPPYPICKLES.......04/16/14.......04/17/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
GOOGLED..............04/17/14.......04/22/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
MADISONJAX...........04/17/14.......04/22/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
ALEX AND SOFYA.......04/21/14.......04/28/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PATRICK&SARAH........04/21/14.......04/22/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SNAPDRAGON...........04/23/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
MDBR.................04/24/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

LIZKA................04/24/14.......04/??/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PETER D..............04/26/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
VICANO...............04/28/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--


IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.
* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.
* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.
* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA. Also please check that you have not deleted the name of the Service Center.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your petition
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.
* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

CONGRATS Neela&Jitu's

Our check was cashed 18 days after we submitted... seems about right from what others are saying.

YAY, just got my NOA1 in the mail

California Service Center (9 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
USER19000............03/31/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
CARYH................04/01/14.......04/03/14......04/30/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 04/18)
MRS.R................04/01/14.......04/02/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
PURSUEURDREAM........04/03/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
CRYSTALSOUND.........04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
LAINIEB..............04/08/14.......04/14/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PENNY LANE...........04/08/14.......04/10/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
SIMPLYNICE12.........04/14/14.......04/15/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
STERNUM888...........04/18/14.......--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/--


Vermont Service Center (25 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
MIKE N SANDY.........03/28/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
SILVERLINE75.........03/29/14.......04/03/14......05/06/14......--/--/--
DOUG&PAM.............04/02/14.......04/04/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
GEORGERAMSARAN.......04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--
MYAFI1985............04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--(Early Bio 04/23)
DIMPLES..............04/05/14.......04/10/14......05/16/14......--/--/--
UP AND AWAY..........04/07/14.......04/09/14......05/08/14......--/--/--
JAY21................04/07/14.......04/10/14......05/14/14......--/--/--

APRILPAM77...........04/08/14.......04/11/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

MAKA.................04/08/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

PETERANDROBIN........04/09/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

WRIGHTFAMILY.........04/09/14.......04/24/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

GAMUT................04/09/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
bond007..............04/09/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

TORONTOGAL4388.......04/10/14.......04/14/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

MESSI10..............04/10/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

NY123................04/11/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
KELAD................04/12/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

SULHAQ...............04/12/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NEVIN................04/12/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

NEELA & JITU.........04/15/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
EVOPC................04/15/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
MADISONJAX...........04/17/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
ALEX AND SOFYA.......04/21/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SNAPDRAGON...........04/--/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

Hi Kelad. We filed two days before you and are also waiting for any sign of activity. Patience seems to be the name of this game. I note ones that filed on the 8th are starting to hear so our time is coming soon

Morning VJers! Still waiting for NOA1. But I have a question. Early on i had some fun with border crossings and I'm pretty sure they already did my biometrics at that time.... fingerprints and mug shot (face pic). Does that still stand or will I have to do a new one?

HECK, I messed it up. Sorry 'bout that.

California Service Center (9 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
USER19000............03/31/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
CARYH................04/01/14.......04/03/14......04/18/14......--/--/--
MRS.R................04/01/14.......04/02/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
PURSUEURDREAM........04/03/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
CRYSTALSOUND.........04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
LAINIEB..............04/08/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PENNY LANE...........04/08/14.......04/10/14......05/02/14......--/--/--
SIMPLYNICE12.........04/14/14.......04/15/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

STERNUM888...........04/18/14.......--/--/--......--/--/--......--/--/--


Vermont Service Center (17 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
MIKE N SANDY.........03/28/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--
SILVERLINE75.........03/29/14.......04/03/14......05/06/14......--/--/--
DOUG&PAM.............04/02/14.......04/04/14......05/01/14......--/--/--
GEORGERAMSARAN.......04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--
MYAFI1985............04/04/14.......04/07/14......05/13/14......--/--/--
DIMPLES..............04/05/14.......04/10/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
UP AND AWAY..........04/07/14.......04/09/14......05/08/14......--/--/--
JAY21................04/07/14.......04/10/14......05/14/14......--/--/--

APRILPAM77...........04/08/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
PETERANDROBIN........04/09/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

TORONTOGAL4388.......04/10/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

KELAD................04/12/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NEVIN................04/12/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
EVOPC................04/15/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
NEELA & JITU.........04/15/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
ALEX AND SOFYA.......04/21/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--
SNAPDRAGON...........04/--/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.
* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.
* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.
* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA. Also please check that you have not deleted the name of the Service Center.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your petition
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.
* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

Adding myself to the VermontSC list...

California Service Center (6 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

USER19000............03/31/14.......04/01/14......04/30/14......--/--/--

CARYH................04/01/14.......04/03/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

MRS.R................04/01/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

PURSUEURDREAM........04/03/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

LAINIEB..............04/08/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

PENNY LANE...........04/08/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (7 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

MIKE N SANDY.........03/28/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

SILVERLINE75.........03/29/14.......04/03/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

DOUG&PAM.............04/02/14.......04/04/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

GEORGERAMSARAN.......04/04/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

MYAFI1985............04/04/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

DIMPLES..............04/05/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

SNAPDRAGON...........04/--/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

TORONTOGAL4388.......04/10/14.......04/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyone's NAME & DATA. Also please check that you have not deleted the name of the Service Center.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your petition

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

Its oddly comforting knowing we're not alone

Thank Harpa. We all become so paranoid when it comes to these filings. You've certainly given us some peace of mind. THANKS!

I sent in my I-751 Packet on April 10 and still have seen nothing to confirm they received it. Now I'm worried.

I had received the Notice from Homeland Security to file, and we did so exactly 90 days before GC will expire.

The package was sent Certified Mail Receipt USPS to:

USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
P.O. Box 200
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001

Attention: I-751 Filing

I keep checking my bank account too and there is no activity on processing the check either.

Should I be worried?

Hi there check out expatforum.com and go the Canada Forum under "Expat Country Forums" I used this Forum when I moved overseas.

Thank you, I will.

Moved from Moving Here and Your New Life In America forum to Canada regional forum.

Thank you Ryan.

I believe this belongs in the Canadian forums so if it is moved that would be good.

I have lived in the US for exactly one year today. I will make no comment on my experiences except to ask my fellow members how I would go about reversing the process and instead moving me and my US husband to Canada. I'm worried it would all be too onerous, however, I would like to know exactly what would be involved so that we can make an informed decision. Thanks for any input you may be willing to offer.

I had no income in the US for the 2012 calendar year. I was told I only had to file in the country where I earned income which was Canada only for 2012 taxation purposes. Green Card is in good standing.

I am a recent permanent resident to the US. Been here 10 months now and I entered on a CR1 with a Green Card.

Does anyone understand tax related issues regarding a permanent resident purchasing land in NY? I may be in a position to do so within the next several months and wondered how the residency/non-residency laws apply to this question. I have not gone thru ROC and will not do so for another year. Would I be considered a deemed resident of NY for purposes of land purchase?

Wonderful post Luke!! You are a great example of how to fly in a foreign land. Thank you.

I'm Canadian and have been here (US) with my dear husband for about 3 months now. Seems I have gone through every emotion under the sun. Yup it sure is different from all the visits I made. Very difficult to not compare the million and one subtle differences between the two "sister" countries. But one must stop at some point and just empty your mind and consciously acquire new ways of perceiving all that one is exposed to.

The toughest part for me, like many, is the isolation! Equally tough and in may ways more important, is the loss of so much that defined me and made me feel good about who I was in my old life - career, friends, co-workers, financial competence - my whole being. I was very proud of my career and my competence - now that is GONE. My credentials do not translate to my new locale and I must start over from scratch. I must re-engineer WHO I am. Grasping the emotional implications of that is enormous.

Daily you also fight down fear. Fear that you will not be able to regain the respect and economic strength you have enjoyed through much of your adult life. Fear that you will never again be perceived and respected as you once were.

I am mature (early 60's) and am suddenly finding myself thrown into revamping my resume (basically gutting it to a 60 second flash add), learning social media marketing, etc. and utterly changing careers in order to HOPE to obtain gainful employment. 40 years of hard work POOF! GONE! I also believe, as some have said on here, that Americans would rather hire Americans. In some respects I don't blame them when the economy is in such a trashed state. So then the fear kicks in - career success gone, changing careers, alien work history and qualifications - damn that's bad. How can I find any HR person even willing to work with me on this. There is no incentive for them. None. Opps - here comes fear again.....

I also note that most Americans only know America and are ignorant of all other nations and the quality of non-American education. This too impacts your job search in a very major way. Holy sh*t Batman! Will I ever recover??

YES. I MUST. Or lose my sanity. Daily I work at moving forward.

There are good days, and there are bad ones.

Bad days include trash talking myself and feeding in to my fears, missing the familiar, resenting the grand "illusion" of America we didn't know we had in our heads. This is a very tough "survival of the fittest" country. I've learned that even asking about the health and wellbeing of my husband's co-worker is considered "minding someone else's business". Boy do I have a lot to learn. And yet I never loose the thought that Americans as a whole are really lovely people.

sorry .... I ramble... forgive me, I'm new to America LOL