Moving: Who do I notify?

[Golden_State 2]

Hi,

My apologies if this has already been covered. I searched but couldn't find a thread (I'm sure there's one out there!). Can anyone who has moved recently tell me who they contacted re: change of address?

Here's what I've got so far:

-Bank

-Credit cards (I'm guessing I should cancel them?)

-OHIP

-Department of Motor vehicles (?)

-CRA

Also, does anyone have any tips on how to deal with CRA? I'm just starting to look into the "departure tax" and whether or not that applies to me.

Any change of address tips are welcome! Thanks!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hehehe - yes, this question does get asked and there are threads out there - I'll see if I can track one down for you. Basically - notify everyone.

What I did was make a form letter that stated effective XXX date I was moving out of the country. I listed my old address, listed my new address, then said Please terminate all accounts for the above listed address or in my name effective _________________ date (which I left blank and hand wrote in later because different account holders had different termination dates, eg,. power remained on in my apartment until the end of the month as I had paid until then and had people coming in to clean it after I left, etc.). At the top I left a place where I could enter the name and address of the recipient along with the account number. I then asked that any final statements or rebates be sent to my US address.

I then made a number of blank copies of the letter and when I received any invoices for an account (utilities, telephone, internet, heat, etc.) I filled out one of the form letters - made a photocopy of it (this is important) and included the form letter either with the last bill and payment if there was nothing that precluded including correspondence with payment, or to the listed address for correspondence.

For CRA, the easiest way is to ask your Federal MP to notify all federal departments of your move (CPP, CRA, etc.). You will need to provide them with your SIN, name, Canadian address, date of move and US address. There shouldn't be any departure tax or anything like that to worry about. There is an excellent little booklet put out by CRA called "Emmigrants: Leaving Canada" http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/ndvdls/lvng-eng.html that has a lot of information that is useful for you.

You may also approach your MPP and request them to notify all Provincial agencies of your change of address as well (Health coverage, any provincial benefits, etc.). That is the easiest.

You will want to change your mail at Canada Post as well as have a friend or family member monitor your Canadian mailbox for a while just to make sure the mail is re-directed. (voice of experience here too).

Other things to think about - insurance for car or apartment - you may get a rebate; telephone - again, you pay in advance so you will probably get a rebate; all utilities you pay monthly; don't cancel your credit cards yet - if you don't want to keep them, you can let them expire, but notify the card holders of your relocation; set up a means to monitor at least one bank account in Canada online. You will find it most beneficial to maintain at least one account in Canada (use the account that gets direct deposit from CRA if you do that) at least for the first year. You may wish to change the nature of the bank account to something that suits your needs better outside of the country (low fees, etc.) - usually a meeting with your bank representative will help get that in place.

Keep your Driver's license for now - you can drive on it for a while in the US - but if you have car registration that is changing to a new owner, make sure that takes place. If you are transferring a car to the US, notify Department of Motor Vehicles after you have successfully completed the transfer. The same with the car insurance.

[ashenflowers 5]

Well, everyone's situation is different I guess. Keep an eye on your mailbox for a month or two before your planned move, and look at who's sending you mail. You might get mail from a college you attended 10 yrs ago, or from some club you forgot you joined, or things like that. Things that aren't on the top of most 'change of address' lists, but they send you mail nonetheless.

Also, don't forget friends and family LOL

[ashenflowers 5]

One note about credit cards and letting them expire. Make sure if you just let them go that you won't be hit with 'annual fees' before the expiration date. Some cards have those, and it's easy to forget. lol

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ok, Here are some links:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/216756-when-did-u-give-up-your-cdn-residency/page__p__3288403#entry3288403

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/185535-any-other-surprises-i-should-be-aware-of/page__p__2746560entry2746560

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/185535-any-other-surprises-i-should-be-aware-of/page__p__2746860__hl__moving%20%20list__fromsearch__1entry2746860

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/136791-getting-ready-to-move-to-the-us/page__hl__moving%20%20list

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/117697-moving-to-do-list/page__p__1688999__hl__moving%20%20list__fromsearch__1entry1688999

Ok - that should be more than enough to give you some ideas. Probably go through the different threads and make a list that fits your needs.

Good luck.

[SapphireDreams 71]

My bank wouldn't let me change my address until after I moved - I had to show them a new bill or ID with the new address (annoying).

I changed my credit card address no problem and just kept it open so I can use it when I go back to Canada and avoid paying fees on my US cards.

OHIP - Sent them a letter

CRA - I didn't end up telling them until I filed my taxes... so far it hasn't seem to mattered. I don't get GST cheques so that wasn't an issue.

Aeroplan - Still need to do this, my Mom says I still get mail from them, oops!

I never notified the Department of Motor Vehicles in Canada, btu I didn't have a car, so that was irrelevent for me.

I also notified my Dr. and Dentist in person on my last appointments. Obviously they didn't need my new address, just told them I was moving so they could take a new patient in my place. I know my Dr. had a waiting list.

Oh and another good one is your old job - so they can send you your T4 and ROE.

[Golden_State 2]

Thank you so much for the replies! I'll get rolling on this right after my interview next week.

So much to do, so few manservants to do it for me

[SapphireDreams 71]

Thank you so much for the replies! I'll get rolling on this right after my interview next week.

So much to do, so few manservants to do it for me

I actually just changed everything after I moved. I figured I would have a lot of time anyways beign unmployed and all.

[JlovesA 109]

As for your mail, I really recommend paying Canada Post to have your mail redirected. It's a bit expensive but all your mail is automatically routed to your new address. If I remember correctly, it costs more to have it sent to the USA. I plan to just have mine redirected to my dad's mailbox in Canada.

You can sign up for it online so it's pretty convenient all in all.

[antda 13]

Hi Golden_State,

I posted this before on other VJ threads, but I thought it can help you here too...

As for moving, from Canada to the USA (I've been here in the USA since 2006), I did the following:

I notified:

-Revenue Canada and Elections Canada (with the "final tax return" in 2007, to prevent tax fraud and to officially notify the Canadian government that I'm not living in Canada anymore, and had to cancel and return those GST cheques I'm not entitled to and would be in trouble for keeping such)

-Passport Canada (when they added my married name to my maiden name passport in 2007)

-Passport Canada again (when I applied for a new passport recently in my married name in 2009)

-I closed my Canadian bank account in Canada (2007)

-I let someone in Canada collect my personal mail for me, and then notified those people by mail that I moved (2006-Present)

-Family, friends, and other acquaintances that I keep in contact with (2006-Present)

-The Office of the Attorney General (optional...but this was after I received the forwarded jury duty notice in 2009....I had no choice there but to tell them that I moved and that I couldn't serve on a Canadian jury)

I didn't notify:

-Social Insurance (Human Resources Canada, I think) as I wouldn't be working in Canada anymore and wouldn't need a new card.

-OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance) as my card already expired and I can't use it here, so I never renewed it.

-MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) as my license was automatically transfered, surrendered, and destroyed here by the DMV in NYS. Note: You cannot have 2 driver's licenses at the same time (at least that's the way it is here in NYS), so you would either have to pick between the American one or the Canadian one to keep.

Anyone else in Canada I need to notify, I can't think of, and haven't done such.

As well, last year I moved within the USA, between my 10yr green card stage and Citizenship stage, and filed the following with the USCIS...

-AR-11: Alien change of address form

-I-865: Sponsor change of address form (which my husband filed)

Lol...Oh yeah, I can understand about moving too...I don't like it...I've moved too many times in my life (15+ times or so)...So now it's time to settle down. And I hope that you will eventually settle down in the USA too.....One box at a time....lol....

Hope this helps. Good luck on your move and on the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant

Hi,

My apologies if this has already been covered. I searched but couldn't find a thread (I'm sure there's one out there!). Can anyone who has moved recently tell me who they contacted re: change of address?

Here's what I've got so far:

-Bank

-Credit cards (I'm guessing I should cancel them?)

-OHIP

-Department of Motor vehicles (?)

-CRA

Also, does anyone have any tips on how to deal with CRA? I'm just starting to look into the "departure tax" and whether or not that applies to me.

Any change of address tips are welcome! Thanks!!

Edited June 4, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[antda 13]

P.S. There is no "Department of Motor Vehicles" in Canada....

In Ontario (which you're also from, from what I read in your profile), it's called "Ministry of Transportation Ontario"...

Hope this helps too..

Ant

[teh Jai 0]

Depending on your credit card company (if your cards are with a standalone company and not issued through your bank) you may be able to get in touch with a transfers department who will assist you with closing out a Canadian funds card and transferring it to a US funds card. You can still hold a Canadian credit card and live in the USA, but you will be charged currency conversion fees if you choose to use it. Just be ABSOLUTELY SURE you call them and update your address and phone numbers. Also, even if you hold onto it for emergencies, check up periodically as some companies can and do cancel accounts due to inactivity. You don't want to have saved the card for emergencies and then have it not work!

Of course, cancelling the cards is always acceptable, but by no means required.

*totally doesn't work for a credit card company, ohno.*

Edited June 6, 2010 by teh Jai