to_hope

Never mind this question. I forgot that I worked for one day as a substitute teacher in Canada so I am filing there for sure and I'm just going to have my tuition form re-written for the IRS.

Hi all,

I haven't posted here in so long I almost feel guilty about asking for help now! I have a tax question and was hoping for some insight. I am thinking to ask a professional, but thought I'd see here first. My situation:

- I moved to the states in April 2009

- I only worked for 2 weeks in Canada January 2009 as a nanny, made around $500. The family is not claiming anything on that money.

- I did not have any income in the USA in 2009, but I did receive $4500 in scholarship money from my school (I am a graduate student).

Do I have to file in either country? I do have a tax form stating my tuition expenses, but my school made it for the Canadian Revenue Agency not for the IRS. Should I have it switched or file it in Canada?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I have tried googling, but I can't make sense of what I read. So overwhelmed!

Don't forget that if you move out of the US you will lose your green card unless you can prove that your move is temporary. And if you do lose your green card, you have to start the immigration process all over again. I know this because it happened to my wife. Wait until you have US citizenship before moving unless you're absolutely certain you won't live in the US again.

Good advice. We often think about moving to Canada someday, but both agree that we will wait until I become a citizen first. There is no way I'm going through US immigration again!!

Good review. I used the same POE as you and also had a smooth process. All the best with unpacking!

a guy came in behind us and had some how been working in the US and living in the US for 6 months at a hospital without a TN visa without ANY kind of visa without a driver license and without a wallet and without a passport!!! i was standing there listening thinking wholy god how did he get away with that for so long..

Yikes. I'd hate to be this guy.

I know I only had 2 of the 3 shots when I went to my medical. I got the third before my interview, but did not need to provide proof; they didn't even ask about it. I don't know i they will inquire in the future though; since the Gardisil requirement is so new, I don't know if anyone here can answer that question.

Hey to_hope,

Since I know you IRL, and we were at similar stages throughout this whole process, and continue to be, I thought I should comment.

I'm glad to hear your adjustment to the States is coming along nicely. I totally hear you about needing a break from the whole visa information overload, after the process has been completed. Visa Journey is GREAT! but when you finally make it, you do need that break. Hopefully you coming back to the board will inspire me to check in more often. I really do need to find ways to get my Canadian fix in, every now and then. Is it just me, or can it be incredibly lonely being the only Canadian around?

I'm so jealous of your opportunity to spend the summer in Florida. It must be amazing! Say hi to the ocean for me I have yet to make it down to the shore since I've moved to the States.

It's good to hear that things are coming along swimmingly with your husband. Isn't it nice to finally be living the way we should have been living ages ago?

And I'm totally with you on the taste of American milk...it's just weird. I want the milk bags back,.... please?

Anywho, just wanted to say it's good to see you back on here!

--Kerri

Yes it can be lonely being the only Canadian! 2 weeks ago a couple we met here in Florida invited us over for dinner and we found out that the husband in Canadian (from Ontario even). Right away it was like instant connection!

And yes it is awesome to be living as we should have been! I was thinking about you the other day when my husband and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary since that is how long you and your husband were apart. Crazy! I don't know how you did it.... but people always say that to me to and I say, "Well- it was our only option! Either swim or.... swim." haha.

The ocean says hi back! (It is actually the Gulf of Mexico... and it is 90 DEGREES right now! Crazy warm water.)

I used a plastic blue accordion file from a dollar store. It was great not only to have thing organized for the interview (gave me peace of mind), but also for now; all my documents are in one place and I can find them when I need them.

I also saw people just bring their things in shoppings bags from clothing or grocery stores too.

My biggest words of advice are to never ever EVER try to cash a Canadian cheque in a US bank. Never.

I even had a heck of a time trying to cash a US money order here. It was from a Canadian bank so I guess they figured the funds were Cnd, even though it clearly said US FUNDS on it. Dummies

:head desk:

We bank with a Credit Union, and I banked with the Credit Union and Royal Bank in Canada. Here, I'd not bank with anyone other than a Credit Union.

I use a credit union here too (opened it years ago when I was first a student); my husband uses National City. We are currently deciding which one to go with now. I've heard a few bad stories about Fifth Third Bank, so I'd stay away from them.

Nice to hear that others can relate! In a few weeks I will be visiting my parents in Ontario (with whom I lived while I was waiting for my visa)- it will be the first time I've gone back since I moved. I'm sure it will bring up a lot of emotions, but mostly I am just plain excited!

TimandJoyce- I am glad to hear that you already have some potential friends. Being around the right people makes a world of difference, homesick-wise I've found.

Congrats! I'd love to see these photos you took

I haven't posted on here in quite a while since I made the move from Ontario to Michigan. I needed a break from everything visa-related! Lately I've been thinking about this forum a lot and thought I'd come back to say hi. I want to stay on for a while and hopefully share my experiences with those who are just starting their visa journey. Plus I'm sure I'll still need some help over the next few years!

Anyways, after I moved to Michigan I settled in for just a few weeks before my husband and I moved again to Florida- but just for the summer. He has an internship down here for 10 weeks, which is almost complete; we're in our last week here. Moving to the states has actually involved minimal culture shock. The worst part was figuring our health care (incidentally a few days ago I saw people protesting Obama's proposed health care reform, calling it "tyrannical" ). I have yet to get a Michigan driver's license or get my name on my husband's bank account, BUT I did take a big step today when I transfered my savings from CAD to USD! I've been watching the exchange rate like a hawk, hoping it would par out, but I finally took the plunge and transfered at about 90 cents on the Canadian dollar. What a relief it is to have that behind me.

Moving in with my husband has gone very well overall. He has been incredibly supportive though the whole process. I did have some moments of homesickness when I wondered if I made a mistake by moving to the States, but those moments are coming to me less and less. I can say I'm more in love with my husband now than I've ever been and I'm so happy that we made it through the whole visa process together.

Making new friends is never easy, but we go to a church down here in Florida which really helped (in Michigan I still have friends around from college). For those who haven't moved yet and are worried about meeting people, I would recommend checking out a local church.

Other than that, I'm getting used to the taste of American milk and letting all the lame Canadian jokes roll off my back- most of the time. I hope everyone on here is doing well and feel free to ask me any questions. I'm going to go look around and see what has been going on around here over the last few days and weeks...

Congrats! Wow there are a few folks going to Montreal in June on here. Enjoy it and all the best for the interview!

Congratulations!!

Congratulations! I hope you have a great time in Montreal- you are lucky to be going in a beautiful month!

Congrats!

Congrats! I'm so jealous to see people wearing Tshirts in your photos... it was so cold when we were there! It looks much more enjoyable in warmer weather.

Thanks! It really was so fun to open the envelope and find it inside! Something tangible -- it is really finally sinking in that I'm not "just visiting" my husband anymore. And it is GREAT!

Congrats!

I got my PR card in the mail yesterday! Just wanted to share .

I just wanted to update you all that my husband got his visa today and it was APPROVED!!!

Congrats!!

It will be sealed with tape and there is a piece of paper attached that says in HUGE PRINT - DO NOT OPEN -

SO hopefully he'll read the sheet that comes with the envelope. Tha passport will just be loose in the envelope, it'll just fall right out.

Yea mine said DO NOT OPEN in big letters too.

Congratulations!! What a great day

Congratulations!! So happy for you

my last job before I moved was working in the kitchen of a maximum security prison.... I got the job through a friend that worked at the prison..

but before that I was always a nanny, which is what I am now... I take care of 2 adorable boys...

I was a nanny too! I cared for three children: when I started the little girl was 18 months and she had 6 week old b/g twin siblings. I was with the family until last January (minus a 4 month break for my last semester of university)- the twins just turned two yesterday! I miss them so much. Their mom and I email almost every day- you really become close with a woman when you love her children!