JlovesA

I know you've already made up your mind, but just FYI, you don't get double taxed because there's a tax treaty. I still commute back to Canada for my job (I live near the border). Keeping Canadian employment is not a great situation for multiple reasons, but it's doable.

I know you've already made up your mind, but just FYI, you don't get double taxed because there's a tax treaty. I still commute back to Canada for my job (I live near the border). Keeping Canadian employment is not a great situation for multiple reasons, but it's doable.

I know you've already made up your mind, but just FYI, you don't get double taxed because there's a tax treaty. I still commute back to Canada for my job (I live near the border). Keeping Canadian employment is not a great situation for multiple reasons, but it's doable.

Family One, I think you're probably better off speaking with an immigration lawyer. This situation is uncommon and people here are having difficulty just understanding the question (judging by the other responses here).
 
Best of luck to you during this stressful time. I will be rooting for your child. 

I lived on the border when I emigrated, so I went over one evening to endorse the visa, turned back around, then moved the next day. I had no issues doing that at all. I also returned a few more times over the next week to bring in the last bits of my possessions.

Hi there, I lived in two different border cities while my husband and I dated and while I waited for my CR-1. We dated for 5 years and then I moved after we had been married for 2 years, so I was crossing for 7 years!! I never had a single issue. I always printed out my most recent pay stub, along with something from our HR software that showed I was actively employed (and later, it also showed my husband's name as my spouse). I was always up front about my situation. Later when I was renting my own apartment, I would bring proof of my lease. I never once had to show any of this stuff, but it made me feel less nervous about the possibility of being hassled. 
 
Over the course of those 7 years, I would cross approximately every other weekend, with some longer vacations occasionally.

Hi there, I lived in two different border cities while my husband and I dated and while I waited for my CR-1. We dated for 5 years and then I moved after we had been married for 2 years, so I was crossing for 7 years!! I never had a single issue. I always printed out my most recent pay stub, along with something from our HR software that showed I was actively employed (and later, it also showed my husband's name as my spouse). I was always up front about my situation. Later when I was renting my own apartment, I would bring proof of my lease. I never once had to show any of this stuff, but it made me feel less nervous about the possibility of being hassled. 
 
Over the course of those 7 years, I would cross approximately every other weekend, with some longer vacations occasionally.

It's so common for people in border cities to have a cross-border relationships. Just being up front and having proof you're doing things properly will go a long way. Good luck, but you will be fine!

Hi there, I lived in two different border cities while my husband and I dated and while I waited for my CR-1. We dated for 5 years and then I moved after we had been married for 2 years, so I was crossing for 7 years!! I never had a single issue. I always printed out my most recent pay stub, along with something from our HR software that showed I was actively employed (and later, it also showed my husband's name as my spouse). I was always up front about my situation. Later when I was renting my own apartment, I would bring proof of my lease. I never once had to show any of this stuff, but it made me feel less nervous about the possibility of being hassled. 
 
Over the course of those 7 years, I would cross approximately every other weekend, with some longer vacations occasionally.

My certificate showed up in the mail today! Phew!
 
If it's helpful to anyone, I applied for my passport at USPS on April 30th with expedited processing. USPS said they received it around May 11 (I forget the date exactly). It was approved June 7, and in my hands June 10th (regular shipping speed).  Today, July 9th, I got my naturalization certification back. Glad to be DONE. Good luck to everyone else, I hope you'll be done soon, too!

My certificate showed up in the mail today! Phew!
 
If it's helpful to anyone, I applied for my passport at USPS on April 30th with expedited processing. USPS said they received it around May 11 (I forget the date exactly). It was approved June 7, and in my hands June 10th (regular shipping speed).  Today, July 9th, I got my naturalization certification back. Glad to be DONE. Good luck to everyone else, I hope you'll be done soon, too!

Yes, but the new ones can communicate with the microchips embedded in you by the Covid vaccine. See reptilian overlord reference above.
 
(yes, I’m kidding.)

Hey there,
 
My situation is a little bit different in that I do still commute into Ontario for work, but I live in Michigan.
 
The first time you have to file both taxes (and maybe forever), definitely hire an accountant who specializes in cross-border workers. You may have to hire one who doesn't live in the same town as you, but I can tell you they are plentiful in Windsor, Ontario.
 
My own tax situation is pretty straight-forward. I generally get a return from both countries. There's an accountant in my family who does my Canadian taxes now, and then we have a US accountant who does our joint US one.
 
I don't think working in one country and living in another is as complicated as people imagine, but I will say it does suck having to convert my money. 
 
By the way, if you have any Tax Free Savings Accounts, I would suggest talking to a knowledgeable accountant about that. The IRS does tax them, so that can potentially cause problems. I'm not super well versed in financial stuff, but I can tell you I still have an RRSP and a GIC in Canada, and haven't had any issues reporting those to the IRS. I bank through RBC which allows me to have accounts in both countries and transfer my paycheques easily between them. It's not cheap but it's convenient.
 
Hopefully some of this is helpful. As I said, I'm not very financially literate since I let professionals handle things for me, but I can try to help if you have any other questions.

I took your advice and called up USCIS  My interview will be on the 13th of January. 
 
 

FYI, RCMP detachments in Ontario do not do fingerprints or criminal record checks for the general public. Ontarians need to attend the local police of their jurisdiction or a Corps of Commissionaires office.
 
(source: I work there)

I’m all done now! 
 
My oath ceremony was yesterday in Detroit at the USCIS field office. I was surprised there were about 30 people naturalizing at the same time. There was really no speech or anything, they congratulated us and we all took the oath at the same time. Then they called us up one by one to get our certificate. It was pretty anticlimactic but I’m glad it’s all over with.
 
It took a lot longer for everyone to get checked in and seated then the actual ceremony. Once everyone sat down, we were out in probably 15 minutes.
 
It feels really weird to be finished with immigration stuff. It hasn’t sunk in yet!

Just a quick update!
 
Monday, 11/09 I finally had my interview and passed! I was only asked 6 questions as far as I can remember and the usual yes/nos.
 
Today I woke up with a notification confirming my oathtaking ceremony date, with date to be revealed soon.
 
Anyway, the questions are:
1. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
2. If the President cannot serve, who becomes President?
3. Name one state that borders Canada.
4. What ocean is on the West Coast of the US?
5. What are the two Cabinet-level positions?
6. Who signs bills into laws?
 
Wishing everyone a positive update on your cases! I guess my journey ends here. I'm so glad it's over  

Hello and welcome fellow Ann Arborite!

Congrats to your husband! Too bad our oath ceremonies aren't the same day. I was really hoping they were still doing the drive-thrus so that my husband could come with me. We're also pretty disappointed that it's going to be an underwhelming conclusion to a long journey. Still glad to be done, but it's not at all how we imagined it would come to be (we also wanted to throw a big party).

Update:  My husband had his N400 (Naturalization) interview on Nov. 5 and he was approved!  His oath ceremony is on Nov. 25 and it's an in-person (group) ceremony.  However, I am not allowed in the USCIS building to witness which is very disappointing.  I'll write details about the interview and oath experience on our timeline.  If you have specific questions, you can send me a private message or post on this thread.  Wishing you all the best wishes in your journey. 

Thanks to those of you who helped me with my tax transcript panic. As it turned out, I didn't have to show any documents at all (just my green card, passport, and driver's licence).
 
I aced the civics test. The officer was more concerned with the unusual situation of how I still work in Canada. They seemed pretty concerned with the possibility that I still maintain a residence over there (which I do not) or perhaps if I stay there for more than 6 months during the year (which I also don't). All in all, it was pretty easy experience, albeit a little stressful from all the questioning about my life (which I probably should have expected). The officer was nice, I liked him.
 
My interview was at 10:40am, and at 4:30pm exactly, I got the email saying the oath ceremony was scheduled. I called this morning to find out when it is, and the big day is November 20th. I'm surprised it's only 11 days after my interview; that seems pretty quick compared to a lot of timelines I've seen! I'm not complaining, though. Again, you cannot leave the USA for 2 weeks beforehand and they do check (the officer told me as much). 
 
I guess this means I'll get to celebrate American Thanksgiving as an American (dual!) citizen. Cool!

Thank you! There were quite a few people in the interview waiting room; it seemed like everyone who was coming in the door was there for an interview (who knows what type of interview, though).
 
FYI for you and everyone else going to the field office soon. They have a covid-19 screening but it's kind of confusing the way they're doing it, especially for people whose first language isn't English. The security officer said really fast, "Read the 4 questions on that wall and I just need a yes or no to them." The people in front of me were struggling to understand as she didn't point out anything. There's a big poster on the wall, right before the metal detector. There's a lot of text on it, but at the top there are 4 screening questions (just stuff like "have you had a fever?"). I said "No" aloud 4 times and the security guard actually yelled, "Someone finally followed directions!!!" I can totally understand how the other people in line found it confusing. I wasn't even sure if I was doing what they asked.

Congratulations! So happy that you got approved and that there is some movement from the Detroit office. 

Thanks to those of you who helped me with my tax transcript panic. As it turned out, I didn't have to show any documents at all (just my green card, passport, and driver's licence).
 
I aced the civics test. The officer was more concerned with the unusual situation of how I still work in Canada. They seemed pretty concerned with the possibility that I still maintain a residence over there (which I do not) or perhaps if I stay there for more than 6 months during the year (which I also don't). All in all, it was pretty easy experience, albeit a little stressful from all the questioning about my life (which I probably should have expected). The officer was nice, I liked him.
 
My interview was at 10:40am, and at 4:30pm exactly, I got the email saying the oath ceremony was scheduled. I called this morning to find out when it is, and the big day is November 20th. I'm surprised it's only 11 days after my interview; that seems pretty quick compared to a lot of timelines I've seen! I'm not complaining, though. Again, you cannot leave the USA for 2 weeks beforehand and they do check (the officer told me as much). 
 
I guess this means I'll get to celebrate American Thanksgiving as an American (dual!) citizen. Cool!

Thanks to those of you who helped me with my tax transcript panic. As it turned out, I didn't have to show any documents at all (just my green card, passport, and driver's licence).
 
I aced the civics test. The officer was more concerned with the unusual situation of how I still work in Canada. They seemed pretty concerned with the possibility that I still maintain a residence over there (which I do not) or perhaps if I stay there for more than 6 months during the year (which I also don't). All in all, it was pretty easy experience, albeit a little stressful from all the questioning about my life (which I probably should have expected). The officer was nice, I liked him.
 
My interview was at 10:40am, and at 4:30pm exactly, I got the email saying the oath ceremony was scheduled. I called this morning to find out when it is, and the big day is November 20th. I'm surprised it's only 11 days after my interview; that seems pretty quick compared to a lot of timelines I've seen! I'm not complaining, though. Again, you cannot leave the USA for 2 weeks beforehand and they do check (the officer told me as much). 
 
I guess this means I'll get to celebrate American Thanksgiving as an American (dual!) citizen. Cool!