beans

Well I'm new to custom house and i have yet to pay any ridiculous fees..in fact i haven't paid a single fee yet :S as long as you do eft transactions its no problem..no fees

In Winnipeg, I just went to the City website, went to the police section and printed, filled out a form. Faxed it down with copies of my ideas with my credit card number. They charged it got it in a mail a few weeks later. Literally didn't have to go downtown or any of that #######..just used the fax machine at work! super convenient i'd try and see if your local police station offers that service because it was awesome.

woop woop congratulations i've been following your case and that is very exciting for you.

Good call Kritkit

I live in Maine..a very "Canadian" like state or thats how most Mainers say it anyways..and somedays the differences is overwhelming. I tried explaining to the girls at work the benefit of socialized health care. What it would mean to them if they lived in Canada. All they kept ranting on about is how could I deal with the thought of knowing someone was abusing healthcare. No matter how many times I said "Well, I never heard many stories about people abusing the Canadian health care system. I'm sure it happens frequently but I never hear much of it. But Dr.'s in Canada don't feel as great of a need to just give you something because you're here and you're paying for a service" and they just went on and on about what if they went to the doctors for a sore foot do you think thats okay? I said well if they feel something is wrong with them and they want to seek treatment that is their right to do so. I'm not a doctor, and if someone feels something is wrong then they have the right to go find out and get help for it.

The other things are: the lack of foreign food products in the grocery stores..I miss the superstore. Miss the labour laws, I hate that when I feel homesick that people (not my husband/family of course) will tell me to suck it up because this isn't Canada and its never going to be. They don't understand that I'm more than happy to pay taxes on items and income if I know its going to good causes.

And whats the deal with transit? In Winnipeg, I took the bus daily because 1. its eco friendly 2. its cheap and 3. i don't have to worry about parking, gas, etc. Here I take the bus and people look at me like I have the plague. don't get it.

America is great, and I'm glad I came here. But who knew a place so similar could be so very different. I agree w/ Kathryn on her view. I miss the sense of comraderie that you had with fellow Canadians vs. me first you second.

PS- sorry if this doesn't make sense my brain was in swirls thinking of all the examples where I missed Canada lol

Yeah the walk is not bad at all especially if the weather is nice but hey if he gets lost just get him to flag down a cab.

Here's a fun tip. "Forget" to bring the glasses. Most charts the 20/20 for DVA (distance) is TZVECL, 20/25 APEOTF, 20/20 for NVA (upclose) P3SEAR, 20/30 VJFXGH ..just kidding don't cheat an eye test. Its really just the communicable diseases that they're worried about. Not being able to see is more of a personal hazard. But when you can you should get that rx filled to save from the headaches and constantly having to trick your eyes.

Well come move to Maine and we'll see how awesome the pro-America chants are. I have no health insurance, I work in a doctors office with 3 employees (including myself). My husband has medicare, I'm not eligible nor can I afford to pay $900/month for health insurance for me only. I'd gladly pay my gst/pst/income tax or whatever to know I can get treated and not worry about the bill. I don't drink so I don't care about the price of budlight. A head of lettuce here is a dollar more than Canada, infact everything here costs more probably w/ the exception of booze and cigarettes. To rent a POS apartment is $800+/month plus your utilities. In Canada, my 1000 sq ft apartment had 2 bedrooms, included all utilities and central air, had a swimming pool was nice quiet and I paid $750/month. My main fear here is getting sick..what am I going to do? I have no idea. I like the States but sometimes I wish my husband immigrated to Canada instead.

What state do you live in? Some states like Maine have their own version of the HRDC which is how I found my job. I agree most websites seem very phishy. You can always use Monster as well. What kind of job are you looking for?

ughhhhhhhhhh

Hi Beans,

You don't have to file a U.S. return this year, however it may be more beneficial for your Husband to file with you jointly. You need to work out the two different scenarios - Married filing separately and doing it as a joint return, to see if you are eligible for credits.

For Canada, as Mal mentioned, you enter the date you left Canada and this will pro-rate your non-refundable tax credits etc. If you are going to do it manually then yes, you also need to get the provincial tax forms. As Mal also mentioned, much easier to do it online using Canadian tax software.

Okay thanks guys, honestly I'm not going to do US taxes this year because I don't see the point in it. And I tried doing my taxes online and they kept asking me for my husbands information. Like SIN etc. He is on SS disability. So what do I do about the spousal information?

Ugh...here we go: I'm easy I promise

My background:

Left Canada Aug 29,09-lived in MB.

Stopped working in Canada Aug 22 09

I did not apply for EI, do not have an RRSP or anything like that.

Didn't work in US for 2009

Received Greencard in 2010

I didn't tell the CRA I was leaving.

My questions:

What forms do I use for Canada and US?

How do I file my provincial taxes? Or do I even do them at all?

Congrats Minnew!

UGH!!!!!! So I got the job I applied for and started work on Thursday. On Friday our Jeep (aka the deathbox) dies. Now I have no reliable transportation to/from work except for transit. It doesn't operate on Sundays, and stops running at 6:20 PM M-Sat. So work closes at 6 and I have to hope that I get on the bus for 6:15 otherwise I'm SOL. GOD I HATE THAT JEEP. My husband refuses to ditch it just keeps trying to fix a lost cause. I think I'm going to have to use my income to save up and buy my own POS.

I agree with Sapphire. Conflict of interest is a huge concern in most areas. Accepting a job that is in the same field as the one you are currently in is a conflict of interest. Most companies will make you sign a contract regarding this. I'd be completely upfront as companies are aware employees don't stay for ever. Be respectful and honest and you should have no problems.

Its at an optometrist office in our mall and I'll be a tech/office clerk

My first job interview in American and my first interview in close to 3.5 years and I got the job

PUPPY!

awwwwww puppies.

I hate kittens bring on the puppies!

lol leave it to us canadians...i never had to deal with the montreal consulate but i hope for all the vj'ers that do a speedy process

Sorry to the OP for their situation it will get settled eventually.

As for the drama based on the rude comments: woot i like drama lol ahhhh

lol ooooooooooooo i gave you my hearttttt lol god i feel like i'm back to working at pharmaplus listening to their radio..interview is on tuesday

Its optometry tech/office clerk i'm super excited. i'm convinced the only way she called was because she's not from the us herself and us immigrants must stick together lol she has a heavy accent but i can't place where it is from

Letting the days go by let the water hold me down...

Anyways I got a job interview Its like the interview gods read my vent post and said "Fineeee we will call her..gah"

I WANT A JOB!!!!! Or even better than that I want at least a call back so I can sit down with someone and show them I'm not some crazy foreigner who doesn't understand American culture or whatever. I'm an experienced worker..my resume looks good. In Canada I could submit my resume for a job post and get a call the next day. Here? Things I'm qualified for, know I'm qualified for and I get nothing. I hate recessions