neiks

You can complete a NR73 Detemination of Residency Status (Leaving Canada) to get the CRA ruling for your situation.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/nr73/nr73-08e.pdf

In Canada now. Will be back Monday, then Tuesday, Wed, Thurs.... Although, don't really consider it "home" more like "work". lol I do need to go "home" to the cottage at the lake soon to check and make sure it hasn't washed away with the spring thaw.

CDAgirlMI, on 04 March 2011 - 07:22 PM, said:

It is advisable to show your Passport AND greencard when entering Canada.

I was asked to show proof I lived in the US (while crossing into Canada) once.

I give both pieces of documentation no matter which country I'm entering.

Never in a zillion yrs would I show my greencard when entering Canada! I would confidently say I am a Cdn citizen--with a Cdn passport, I would be more than happy to chat with ur supervisor,lol But thats me! lol

Yes, Immigration wise a Canadian passport gives you the right to enter Canada....but, if you produce your Canadian passport you may be asked to produce proof of what your status in the US to determine your residency and how you will be classified for Customs purposes. I'll give you an example, A person pulls up to land border in US plated car and hands me his Canadian passport. I will need to verify that they have legal status in the US to legally drive that US plated car in Canada without having to import it. So, there is indeed a possiblility a person may be asked to produce their greencard, visa, etc...

I just replied to this but it didn't post for some reason.

Here it is again:

Sorry Brad, your out of luck. Your vehicle will have to be imported into Canada. It doesn't matter if you say your "just visiting" the point is that the vehicle is going to be left in Canada for a long period of time. There is no provision in the Canada Customs act for people to "store" their none imported belongings in Canada. Remember that you do have a $10,000 per item exemption as a returning resident to Canada. GST will be payable on the remaining value over $10,000.

Only way around this is to store the vehicle with someone in the US.

Sorry, but looks like your going to have to "deal with some gun slinger".

So true, Just had a lady the other day sent back from the US office to dispose of her kinder eggs. They were big ones shaped like santa. Seems like Christmas and Easter is when they really start "cracking" down on them. lol.... Funny thing is that I bought similiar things in the dollar store in the US at Christmas time. It was a chocolate shell with a capsule with a tiny toy inside. They must be OK though as they came from China.

That's a great point Kathryn. People definately need to be aware of that and consider it. I know that the tax implemention is going to be a big factor in deciding if I will apply for US citizenship.

What exactly do you want to know? How one becomes a "dual" citizen? Pros and cons of it?

It took over a year for me to receive my sons Canadian citizenship card due to the hang up about the photo. I actually called the service center to check on it and amazingly enough it showed up within a month of the call. It was like they pulled it out of the pile and processed it after I called.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/262102-dual-citizen-baby/page__p__4027336__hl__canadian+citizenship+card__fromsearch__1#entry4027336

Some more info.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/233247-how-long-does-it-take-to-receive-canadian-cit-card-for-baby/page__st__30__p__3850103__hl__canadian+citizenship+card__fromsearch__1#entry3850103

Here is the previous post.

Really isn't any shortcuts. You will have to apply for the babies Canadian citizenship card.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/certif.asp

There was a thread in regards to it awhile back.

Wouldn't worry about it too much unless it is a big ticket item or an item is unusual or where the value of it may not be apparent or varies depending on the quality, ie a piece of jewellery. Most BSO (border service officers) will know values of general gifts, clothing, household goods etc and take your word for it.

We were looking at the beretta px4 storm I think it was called? It seems to be highly reviewed. I dont know if I have to join the NRA at the range here lol we haven't gotten that far yet and my husband has only used base range to shoot at before so it will be new for him to go to a public range with me too lol.

Yes, that is the exact same one I ordered, Beretta px4 storm. It's ready for pick-up so hoping to get it tomorrow.

My new Beretta 9mm I ordered should be in today. Yipee!!! I plan on getting my concealed weapons permit because in our state if you don't have one and I transport it in a vehicle to the range it has to be on the dash or on the console in plain site. I'm not comfortable with that so I would want it out of site in my vehicle. Also I plan on locking it up in our gun safe at the house. If we didn't have the safe I would use a lock box for sure.

Another totally crazy thing for me to think of is that when I join the range I have to join the NRA. Never thought in my all my "Canadianism" that I would be a card carrying member of the NRA. I'm going to get one of those big NRA stickers and stick it on my vehicle, too. lol.... Just funny and very ironic to me especially considering my occupation.

I may be wrong but can a person not rent car seats from car rental companies? Or maybe that is only if you are renting the car? Maybe something to check into?

Are you a still a resident of Canada or do you have your status in the US? A Canadian resident bringing any good into Canada purchased from abroad (in this case US)to be used by that Canadian resident in Canada may be subject to duty and taxes. A non Canadian resident can bring their own personal goods into Canada for their use while in Canada.

But also remember if you are a Canadian resident you are still entitled to an exemption depending on your absence from Canada. Gone 48hrs or more you can bring goods back valued up to $400. Gone for 7 days you can bring back goods up to $750.

Just looking at your signature it looks like you have your greencard already, so you would be considered a non-resident of Canada for Customs purposes thus you would be allowed to bring in your dress to use at your wedding as long tax and duty free as it's not going to be staying in Canada. Hope that helps!

Border officials for the main part are not jerks--yes there are some jerks, but ever organization/forum has them,lol--they have an important job to do!

Flames, you know I am still lurking around here TY

So I know I could get an extension but worried that they will not even let me cross now that I got the visitor record.

I'm assuming the visitor record was issued for 6 months. As long as in that 6 month period you get married and start the Canadian applicaiton process - including getting it filed and in the FOSS system, you should be fine. You will have to file for an extention on the visitor record thru the Vegreville processing centre. As long as you keep up with completing the necessary steps in the PR processing you probably won't have any issue with getting your visitor record extended and as long as you are crossing the border with a valid visitor record you should have less problems.

Queries on your immigration status isn't something that can be delt with at the booth at the POE - so you may still be sent for additional questioning into the immigration office to check the status of your application.

So you are wanting to immigrate to Canada or are you? Just replied to your most recent post that was unclear as well.

Seriously, you really need to pick which country you and your spouse are planning on living in. Immigration for both the US and Canada are lengthy and expensive processes and full of waiting, fustration, and hearthache as I'm sure everyone on this board will agree.

Applying for immigration to both countries at the same time isn't going to be looked at positively at the border when you try to cross. The intent of PR status in either country is for the person to "live in that country" and make their home there. Not to float back in forth. I personally, think you are in for more problems applying for both at the same time than what you think will be a "benefit" to which gets processed faster. It's not a race.

Ok as some may know we have decided to get married and then immigrate me and the kids to Canada and apply for the Cr1 from there. Last time I crossed the Emerson border I got hassled majorly and ended up with a stamp and letter attached to my passport.

I'm not clear on this. From this statement it sounds like your intent is to live in Canada. Are you wanting to immigrate to Canada and get your legal Canadian PR status or you just wanting to hang out there until your spouse's CR1 is complete in the US?

If your just wanting to stay in Canada ("Visit") while your spouses application to the US is pending then you are probably only going to be allowed a 6 month visit max and there probably will be no extention. Extensions past the 6 month period are generally issued for persons that are in the process of applying for Canadian PR status. So long story short be prepared for the "hassel" everytime you cross.

You should be fine as long as it's not fresh fruit or vegetables. Citrus fruit is a big no no and depending on "what's going around" in terms of disease in plants most veggies are ok too.

Doesn't matter if you still pay taxes in Canada and still have a residence in Canada you probably still won't be eligible for health care in your province unless you are physically in that province for at least 6 months + 1 day.

I am still a "factual resident" of Canada as per CRA for tax purposes but I do not qualify for provincial health care as I do not "reside" in Canada for over 183days of the year. I still work in Canada, have a residence in Canada for my use and maintian substaintial ties.

So, if you think it's sad that you move to the US and don't get Canadian healthcare anymore and don't pay taxes in Canada - try paying all the Canadian taxes, provincial taxes and still NOT being able to use the healthcare.... that really sucks!

When you got to Canada to visit your wife just answer the questions asked by Canada Customs. If they ask purpose of your trip - just tell them to visit your wife and if your questioned more just tell them your working on her immigration to come to the US. It's really not a big deal. People visit their spouses back and forth all the time while waiting for immigration. Only reason that you may have problems is if you are planning a long visit, are bringing your entire household with you, or you just don't have any substantial ties to the US such as a job, residence or other reason to return to.

There really is no reason to try to "skirt the issue" that your visiting your wife in Canada by saying "family" instead of "your wife". If anything if you said "visiting family" and you were questioned further to who you were visiting and then said "wife" I would be suspicious of why you just didn't say "wife" and what you were trying to "hide".

As a Canadian citizen it is a legal "right" for you to be able to work in Canada. Doesn't matter where in the world you choose to take up residency as a Canadian citizen it will always be your "right" to enter Canada, live in Canada, and work or attend school in Canada.

Only thing that you need to work will be a Canadian SIN #.

As for US Customs, you just tell them you are coming from work. They may ask what you do but that probably is more to make sure it's a legit job and your not a drug dealer, organized crime, etc...

Nothing illegal about commuting to Canada to work on a daily basis. I do it (I'm the Canadian Customs Officer) I also know a lady that is married to a US Customs officer and she commutes daily to work too in Canada. That is a big reason that there are NEXUS lanes at bigger ports for the daily commuters going back and forth to work in on country while living in the other.

Working for government or military in Canada shouldn't be any grounds for revoking a GC either. Both myself and the other lady work for the Federal Governement of Canada.