Move to Toronto?

[bavaria]

About the work visa - will the company pay for the visa, or the individual? will they provide a lawyer? My company lawyer was able to get my visa within a week, at no cost to me.

Others have paid thousands to have a lawyer do it for them, or tried to do it themselves.

What happens if there is a delay? I know several people who sat idly for 2-3 months, waiting for the visa to clear. Will the company still keep them under contract and pay them for that waiting period? or wil they move on to the next person?

In general, it is easier to transfer within a company than to start with a new company. But often the transfer benefits are reserved for higher level employees. In my company an hourly employee is on their own - they have to get the visa themselves and pay for it.

Also ask if relocation is included with the new job.

 

[cabmom]

An American's Guide to Canada!
http://emily.icomm.ca/

I found this online a couple of yrs ago! Enjoy!

 

[Northstar]

Bavaria, they're not talking about independent immigration or even immigration necessarily here... just about a job offer in Toronto!

If your DH is in a profession and is a US citizen, he should qualify for a work permit under NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and his employer won't need to go through the cumbersome process of getting permission to hire a non-Canadian and getting him a work permit. If a headhunter's looking for him, I assume he's working in a fairly high level field that will qualify him under NAFTA.

And it sounds like you're going to end up moving anyway, right? Because the job offer's he's getting aren't in Austin? The question is just whether to consider Toronto. I say GO FOR IT. It's a bit more of an adventure than moving within the US but not as much of an adventure as moving to, say, Europe or the Far East. Cost of living may be higher but employed in a headhunted job in Toronto, you won't be starving! You will suffer some culture shock but will also enjoy some culture differences! Employed in Toronto is way better than laid off at home!

 

[bavaria]

They still need to be realistic and consider all options. Even with a job offer, there is the need to look at all factors of immigration.

For instance, vehicles. Importing a vehicle from the US to Canada means changing over the odometer and speedometer.

Too often I read people here who think that moving from Canada to the US or vice versa is as simple as driving across the border - I even know someone who did that and was shocked that she was denied by US Immigration.

It's not as simple as living in an EU country and moving to another EU country...

 

[vhoffman]

And for anyone who may call me harsh, I'm not - I'm just trying to present all things to consider

I have lived in many countries throughout my life, and highly recommend it. But I have also seen bad things happen

• I have a colleague from Germany who made a life for herself in the US but never managed to get a Green Card; after many years the govt refused to renew her visa and she had to leave the country, devastated
• I know many ppl who emigrated from Germany to Canada, with the intent to retire in Germany. Due to significant changes in the health care, they can no longer afford to do so. Some are widows who ended up marrying again late in life to have a German husband to supplement their benefits
• the tax laws have changed in Canada recently; a lot of retirees who emigrated mid-life and are getting foreign income/pension are being taxed when they had planned on it being tax free
  
• I've seen expat wives or husbands who can't work become bored or isolated in their new lives and marriages break off
• I know people who emigrated and didn't realize the financial and cultural implications beforehand and were miserable in their new lives

Again, I'm not trying to scare anyone off the emigrant lifestyle, but there are many many things to consider.

In general, it is easier to emigrate when one is young, with no dependents (ie spouse or children)

Hey, Bavaria!

I haven't visited this thread for a few days, seems there's some interesting discussions going on here, whoever said you're "harsh"? You raise some very interesting and important points to consider. You've given me exactly the kind of food for thought I was asking for--thanks!You make some excellent points about taxes, education, retirement, etc. all things I really need to look into. Who thinks you're "harsh" Thanks again!

 

[bavaria]

whew! thought that I may have scared you away! Glad to see that I didn't!!!

I may just be overly sensitive as I am working on filing all those tax returns right now.

My first year filing US and Canadian taxes I was very nervous and couldn't really get the help I was searching for. I was actually audited (luckily I had kept some money in a slush fund just in case)... and was told that I had totally messed up one return... and received a nice cheque back!

I really just wanted to point out that there is a lot to consider! I didn't catch all of them myself before I took my 'dream' job - like the whole retirement thing. And my parents are really struggling now as they are caught in some recent tax changes which have had a serious impact on their retirement funds - not fun when you are older and have to readjust again and again....

Luckily I know that when I retire, I am going to have to plan carefully as to how I deal with 3 pensions, RRSPs, 401k's, etc etc.....

LOTS to think about - but if the job offer is the 'right' offer, it can work well. Just think about which questions your DH may need to ask of his potential employer

(and I have been head hunted in past for jobs as far reaching as the US, Germany, the Maldives, Mauritius, etc. Not all offer relocation or immigration services)

Happy thinking!

 

[vhoffman]

They still need to be realistic and consider all options. Even with a job offer, there is the need to look at all factors of immigration.

For instance, vehicles. Importing a vehicle from the US to Canada means changing over the odometer and speedometer.

Too often I read people here who think that moving from Canada to the US or vice versa is as simple as driving across the border - I even know someone who did that and was shocked that she was denied by US Immigration.

It's not as simple as living in an EU country and moving to another EU country...

&*(

 

[bavaria]

info on bringing in furry friends!

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/import/catse.shtml

 

[solotraveler]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their honest responses to this topic as well.

This is something we are considering as well in a year or so. We visit Toronto 4-6 times a year (my absolute favo(u)rite city in the world) and have established quite a considerable network of contacts as well. We are actually marrying in Toronto in June. (Ever try to plan a wedding in another country--- definately an adventure).

Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you all for plenty of food for thought and insights. (Sorry to hijack, OP! )

 

[Northstar]

Yeah, I'm soldiering through those tax forms myself right now! It's not a pretty sight on my desk these days.... the Disney folder is (sigh) unopened at the back of the file cabinet...

We may be doing "glass half full / glass half empty" on the expat thing so Vhoffman is getting the big picture.

(About the car... you don't have to get the odometer/speedometer changed... they just give you these little sticky labels to paste on the dash... but hey, with the price of gas here and the cold weather, you'd want a different car from what you may drive in Texas anyway!)

 

[bavaria]

And I think that it's good to do both half full/half empty! the worst thing would be for someone to emigrate and think that life is going to be great, only to find out all those hidden costs and expenses and different cost of living... Some people actually don't come out ahead, even if the job pays more

I had a great pay rise and that's a good thing, but in the end the money that ends up in my bank acccount is only a tiny bit more than the old job.

I DO have better dental and vision care through my employer in the US - something else we didn't talk about yet! and my new glasses cost me less than 1/2 what they did in Canada, even before insurance kicked in. Oh, and an eye exam on that 'free' medical? I was quoted $95 the other day....

The list could go on and on and on....

 

[vhoffman]

info on bringing in furry friends!

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/import/catse.shtml

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

 

[vhoffman]

And I think that it's good to do both half full/half empty! the worst thing would be for someone to emigrate and think that life is going to be great, only to find out all those hidden costs and expenses and different cost of living... Some people actually don't come out ahead, even if the job pays more

I had a great pay rise and that's a good thing, but in the end the money that ends up in my bank acccount is only a tiny bit more than the old job.

I DO have better dental and vision care through my employer in the US - something else we didn't talk about yet! and my new glasses cost me less than 1/2 what they did in Canada, even before insurance kicked in. Oh, and an eye exam on that 'free' medical? I was quoted $95 the other day....

The list could go on and on and on....

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++====

 

[vhoffman]

*&*&*&*&*&

 

[vhoffman]

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

[vhoffman]

(((((((((((((((((((((((

 

[dsneygirl]

For instance, vehicles. Importing a vehicle from the US to Canada means changing over the odometer and speedometer.

Actually that's not true. Importing a vehicle must be fitted to conform to Canada's safety standards (ie daytime running lights) but if they are only coming on a temporary work VISA (say 3 years) you could have your car as a "temporary importation" and it would not need to be altered but it must leave the Canada when you return to the US.

For importing regulations check www.cra.gc.ca That's Canada Customs. If your DH's company regularly moves people back and forth from the US to Canada they probably have someone who handles or advises on many of these affairs.

 

[vhoffman]

Actually that's not true. Importing a vehicle must be fitted to conform to Canada's safety standards (ie daytime running lights) but if they are only coming on a temporary work VISA (say 3 years) you could have your car as a "temporary importation" and it would not need to be altered but it must leave the Canada when you return to the US.

For importing regulations check www.cra.gc.ca That's Canada Customs. If your DH's company regularly moves people back and forth from the US to Canada they probably have someone who handles or advises on many of these affairs.

&**&*

 

[dsneygirl]

Vehicles are definitely cheaper in the US. I think it's the sales tax that kills us here. When you are coming to Canada on a work VISA you are required to have a detailed list of all your personal possessions you are bringing with you (clothes, furniture, books, utensils etc) a car is simply another item. If you have all proper regisration, ownership etc the customs officers you would be dealing with will know what to do.

 

[vhoffman]

Vehicles are definitely cheaper in the US. I think it's the sales tax that kills us here. When you are coming to Canada on a work VISA you are required to have a detailed list of all your personal possessions you are bringing with you (clothes, furniture, books, utensils etc) a car is simply another item. If you have all proper regisration, ownership etc the customs officers you would be dealing with will know what to do.

Geez, I can barely pack all this stuff, let alone itemize it! Do you really have to list each indivudual item, you can't just say "box of dishes"? I can see my list 2 corningware dishes, 4 garage sale soup bowls, 12 clear glasses, 200 knifes, forks, spoons, .............

Now do I need to list my cats as well? At least in the US pets are considered property. Don't tell my cats, they think they're human (or perhaps a species above human!)