Has anyone moved to the U.S. temporarily?

[chrisann]

How did that work? My husband may be getting a transfer to tennessee, so we'll obviously be going with him. While we're down there, the kids will be going to school but I won't be able to work because he'll be on a special visa that only lasts for 6 years. Here's my questions, will we have to come and visit ust before every 6 months to keep our citizenship and OHIP? Or do we relinquish that until we move back? Has anyoe been in this situation before? Also, we'd be moving to the Giles County area is anyone familiar with that area? Thanks!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

You will not lose your citizenship.

Please keep documentation for you, your husband and your children the dates you leave Canada and the dates you return to reside in Canada (you will need these when you apply for your Old Age Security and the Child Rearing Provision for the Canada Pension Plan).

Have you checked if your husband's company will provide you with health coverage while residing in the US? I believe OHIP will not cover you if you are residing in another country for more than 6 months (returning for a couple weeks is not generally enough to re-establish your residency).

 

[Northstar]

Hi, can't answer all of your questions, but about OHIP... you will have to give it up if you are not living in Ontario. Most provinces it's 183 nights out of 365 you need to sleep in your home province in order to call yourself a resident and keep your provincial health coverage... I think Ontario is a little more lenient, but not much.

On the other hand, you will benefit as far as taxes are concerned by really,truly severing ties with Canada while living in the US. If you maintain ties in Canada (continue to receive child benefit, use your OHIP, maybe even keep a driver's license), CRA can try to challenge your status as a non-resident and you will have to file Canadian taxes on your worldwide income. They usually spring this unpleasant little trap on you AFTER you return from living abroad.

Your Canadian citizenship stays alive as long you don't renounce it. You should maintain Canadian passports for everybody in your family while you live abroad, not because Canada will take away your citizenship, but because you'll need them for travel, opening bank accounts, getting a driver's license, sometimes to register the kids for school.

There's a government website with info for Canadians who live or travel abroad... I think it will answer your questions better than we can here at the Dis! Have a look at http://www.voyage.gc.ca/consular_home-en.asp

And just think... you'll be living in the land of Disney! Can we visit you????

 

[chrisann]

and the website. And yes, although my first choice was Florida, it may work out better in TN, the cost of living is almost half of here and we'll only be 10 hours to Orlando!!!! It's still a maybe but I'm doing my research!!!

 

[disneyjanet]

Hi I'm a Canadian who has lived in the US since 2000. Like others have said you don't give up you citizenship and you'll have health coverage through your husbands company's insurance not ohip or if the company doesn't provide it you would have to purchase it but most companies that will transfer and employee offer insurance. Check which Visa your husband is getting. If it is the L-1 you can work after filling some paperwork if it the the H-1B then you can't. In fact with the H-1B spousal visa you won't be able to get a social security number and will have to apply for a TIN number to use instead which took me 6 months to get in 2000. Until you get that number you can't get a bank account, drivers liscence in some states, etc allthough your spouse will. You also want to apply for green cards as soon a the company is willing to sponser you even if you think it will be temporary. You never know if things will change. The green card process will take many years. My husband's took 7 years but 9/11 added some extra steps mid process. You still retain your Canadian citizenship as a green card holder. As long a you stay on temporary visas you and the children can't work (with the H-1B), pay out of state tuition for college (approx 4X as much). I don't know how old your children are but that could be a factor.

I've actually enjoyed living in the US which was surprising to me. I would have considered myself to be on the anti-american side and would never have considered it if it hadn't have been for my husband. My healthcare experiences have been fine here in some cases much better than in Canada. It is just really bad if you're uninsured.

Hope that helps

Janet