Getting ready to move to the US

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Hello everyone.. hope that you've all had a good day so far

As most of you know, my big move to the US will be on July 19.. which is coming up very quickly. I've searched the forums on VJ and gathered a list of things that need to be done before moving to the States. But I had a question about a few things. I noticed that I need to contact Canada Post, Canada Revenue Agency, The Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Health. The question is.. when should I be making those calls? Now?? The day before?? Or after I move?? Also, when I call each place, what exactly am I calling to inform them of? I know I call Canada Post to inform them of my new address and Ontario Health to let them know that I will no longer need it. When I call the Ministry of Transportation, is it to cancel my Canadian drivers license? I sure hope not, because I'll be driving to the US with all of my stuff. And my last question is, are there any other people/places that you think I might need to contact to inform them of my move or are those four the main ones, aside from cell phone company, visa, master card, etc.

Below is a list that I have gathered from past forums. Maybe it can be of help to someone else who is preparing for their move to the States:

- A copy of your letter of experience from your car insurance agent (you might be able to get good rate from a US insurer with this)

- A copy of your drivers abstract from the DMV

- Getting official university transcripts

- Get a copy of your medical records from your family doctor and dentist for your new US physician's records

- Close any bank accounts that you do not intend to use after you cross the border. (Some banks may not close your account if you are not there in person.)

- For any bank accounts that you do wish to keep open in Canada, try to get online access

- If you are going to be added to your partner's insurance, get a statement from your current insurer in Canada that you are covered from (beginning date) to (end date) - especially if there is any sort of a pre-existing health situation - some insurers need proof of continuing insurance coverage if you want to get immediate coverage without a waiting period

- Notify all utilities or regular account billers (ie. hydro, internet, phone, insurance, etc.) of date of last service and new address to send last bill on account and KEEP PHOTOCOPIES of all of these notifications

- Notify Canada Revenue Agency of new address - especially if you receive GST credit since any money paid after you cross the border will have to be repaid and to receive the tax package for the year that you leave

- Keep at least one Canadian account open if you are expecting a refund from CRA next tax year as it makes it easy for direct deposit

- Notify credit card holders of new address and if necessary, close accounts

- Obtain copy of Canadian Credit report - may or may not be accepted in the US but could be useful if applying for car loan jointly, etc.

http://canadian-creditreport.com/free.htm I called the number that they give on that site and got my free credit report within a week of calling.

- Change mailing address with Canada Post

- Set aside important documents - school records, family photogaphs, personal achievements, correspondence, health records, receipts for warrantied appliances or proof of purchase for items being moved to the US. (Include serial numbers for electronics), plus last 7 years income tax records in case of audit, and bring; prepare a photocopy of every identification document - credit cards, birth certificate, SIN card, bank cards, etc. along with contact addresses and put copy in with important documents

- Decide what to do with RRSPs and non-locked-in employment pensions

- Notify Canada Pension Plan office of new address

- Notify Provincial health insurance of date leaving Canada

- Get Record of Employment from employer as may be eligible to apply for Employment Insurance once in US

- If you can, bring a telephone directory from your Canadian city with you in case you needs to look up numbers after you leaves. Arrange with friend or neighbour to check former residence after you leaves to verify mail, etc. isn't being left at old address

- Leave new mailing address with same neighbour. If possible, try to pay off any outstanding debts prior to moving, but if not, definitely contact debt holders and make arrangements to keep paying on debts (ie. student loans, credit card bills, etc.). Use up any bonus points left on credit or account cards (Petropoints or Shoper Drugmart points, etc.); donate items to Good Will and receive income tax receipt for charitable deduction

- Contact your employment references before you leave the country and ask them to write you a letter of recommendation that you can include with your resume and job applications in the US. It is unlikely a potential employer will contact someone outside of the country for references so try to make it as easy as possible for them to get those references. They may choose to follow up a really good reference with a call, if you make the short list but having the reference in front of them makes it easier for them to want to hire you

- Check customs list of banned and restricted items (ie alcohol, firearms, tobacco, items of ivory/endangered species, lottery tickets, etc.) to make sure you follow the necessary guidelines for allowable amounts and forms.

- Stock up on any food and other items that will be missed in the US. as almost everything is by prescription in the US.

Feel free to add to the list if I have missed something important. Thanks guys!!

[Krikit 1,165]

Wow. You are SUPER prepared! My advice regarding your driver's license? Don't tell them. Just change your address to your parents' house... or whatever... and go back to renew it at renewal time. This came from one of the officers at the passport office. He says it's too hard to restart your life if you ever decide to come back and this is one less thing to deal with.

[thetreble 19]

####! I was supposed to notify CPP? eeek!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Great looking list! You will actually want to go tomorrow to Canada Post and file the change of address notification. They prefer to have lead time to do this - I think it was at least 2 weeks when I moved south - and you give them the exact date on which to stop delivering your mail and start forwarding it. You can get the forward for a longer period of time, which is what I did, although it costs more, just in case there were some people I had forgotten to notify. Your list looks good - you have done your research of the VJ Canada forum well!

I made a 'form' letter that contained all of my pertinent information that I sent out to all of my utility providers. I left a blank line after account # so I could write in the account and a blank 'to" line so I could address it to a specific utility. I also left the effective date blank and wrote in the date I wanted the service to end. My things were still in my apartment for a few days after I left so I dated the cut off for hydro a week later than for cable, telephone, etc. so the cleaners had power.

I arranged with a cleaning service to come in after my things were moved out and left the contact information, the key and the money (they wanted cash) with the next door neighbour, and let my landlord know that she could pick up the key from the neighbour the day after the cleaners came.

If you are bringing houseplants you can get a phytosanitary certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency - the fee was $18 for the inspection and they were able to come the week before we moved so the certificate was up to date. Their number is in the blue pages.

Good luck - you sound very prepared! in fact, I think your list should be pinned to the top of this forum!

Edited July 2, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Thanks guys for the advice so far.

I already live at home with my parents so, I won't need to notify any one about my drivers license.

For Canada Post, do I have to put a forward for my new address? Everything is sent to my house, where I live with my parents right now. Is it possible to just give them my new address and the date of which to change it but not put a forward? My family is coming to Georgia for the wedding in August and they could bring me any mail that was sent to their house.

[Krikit 1,165]

Great looking list! You will actually want to go tomorrow to Canada Post and file the change of address notification.

Oh! That reminds me. lol. You can actually file the change of address online at Canada Post.

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Thanks!! I was just about to ask if I had to go in person or if I could do it online.

Again, is the forward necessary in my case?

[Southern_Canadian 0]

I read the FAQ's on the Canada Post website. Now, I'm wondering if the address change is necessary? I will already be notifying all companies of my new address and my parents can always bring me my mail in August or send it to me after that if anything is sent to my old address. Has anyone not notified Canada Post of their address change?

[Marilyn. 340]

I never did.. I too was living with my parents right before I moved... any mail I get my mom just mails to me if it is important...

[Cassie 8]

I did, since I moved close to the end of the year and I figured I'd needed them to forward my mail (to my parents) so that I wouldn't miss any important income tax stuff.

I also did not call the Department of Transportation -- good thing, because I used my DL until I got my GC.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

No, if you are living with your parents and there is still someone there to get your mail and forward it to you there is no need to notify Canada Post. If you were living on your own, however, you would want to notify them to forward your mail. You can pick up the little change of address postcards from Canada Post, though, to send to people telling them of your new address. I believe they are still free, but they do require a stamp now. When I first started to use them, they were mailed free.

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Perfect!! Thanks again guys

Now when calling Canada Revenue Agency, is it just to nofity them of my move?

And Ontario Health, I just call to let them know that I will be moving to the States on July 19th and they will do the rest?

[Krikit 1,165]

Perfect!! Thanks again guys

Now when calling Canada Revenue Agency, is it just to nofity them of my move?

And Ontario Health, I just call to let them know that I will be moving to the States on July 19th and they will do the rest?

I noticed in those little self-serve kiosks in the malls that you can change your address there. Not sure if it would work for an out-of-country address, though.

[Reba 2]

For OHIP I sent them a letter staing the date I was leaving the country and that I would no longer be needing their services. There's a spot on their website that suggests you send a letter.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

With Canada Revenue Agency, they will stop sending you GST cheques (if any arrive after you move, return them uncashed - and again, to verify that you do that you can always ask your MPs office to return it for you:-) ) but most importantly, they will mail your 2008 income tax package to your new address in the States so you can file your 'exit' returns next year.