Working & School in Canada

[Naiaa 0]

Hi Everyone,

So this is my situation: We will be receiving our conditional permanent residence shortly (I have been here almost a year, we filed sort of late). I am Canadian and I would like to go back to Canada to finish my degree. This will probably take a year and a half, but obviously I would not be going for the entire time. I would like to go for a semester or two (under a year), come back to the US to be with my husband until the next and final semester starts, etc. I would plan on obtaining the reentry permit so I can do so. I am from Vancouver and we live in DC. We are planning to move to Washington State in two years to be closer to our families.

So my issue is, while obviously my husband can support me as is required by the K1 visa and AOS process, it would make it financially harder/difficult on him to be supporting two places for rent, food, etc. I would prefer if I can work part time while I am in Canada and going to school, as I always have. Is this going to be a problem? I have read several posts on here that say that it is. Is there no way around it - do I have to wait until I am naturalized?

I have also read that we cannot have strong ties to our home country and that they need to be stronger in the US or they can deny us our return entry into the United States??? This seems ridiculous; I will always have stronger ties as I have lived in Canada my whole life, all my family and friends are there and my husband has almost no family at all and no friends here, since they all live in Washington State. I maintain my bank account in Canada and my credit card so I have no issues when visiting and so I can pay my Canadian bills (student loan).

Thank you for information in advance!

[canadian_wife 1,822]

if you become a PR of the US, you realize you lose your Canadian provincial health benefits right? So you'll need to take that into account

good luck

[NikLR 13,227]

Part of being a US resident is that you spend more time in the USA than out of it. I'm unsure that you would qualify to attend school in Canada for the same price as you have before either. You are no longer a Canadian resident. You may be a citizen but you are not a resident. You won't be covered by provincial health care either.

When they say "ties" they do not mean family and friends. They mean a place of residence, a job, bank accounts, schooling, leases, mortgage, bills etc... The sort of things that people don't generally just leave behind or stop paying.

[Done--Really 331]

If you haven't already, see how many credits you can transfer to a US university, and be sure to check into various online programs if they are offered in your field...if you find an online program that fits the bill, you can live in DC until you are ready to move west.

in additon to the issues already discussed, be VERY careful about how long you are out of the US...it is straightforward, but if you stub your toe, it can be tough--particularly if you plan to become a citizen down the road.

[Naiaa 0]

Part of being a US resident is that you spend more time in the USA than out of it. I'm unsure that you would qualify to attend school in Canada for the same price as you have before either. You are no longer a Canadian resident. You may be a citizen but you are not a resident. You won't be covered by provincial health care either.

When they say "ties" they do not mean family and friends. They mean a place of residence, a job, bank accounts, schooling, leases, mortgage, bills etc... The sort of things that people don't generally just leave behind or stop paying.

I am just curious, where am I supposed to report that I am no longer a Canadian resident? My student loan says I only qualify for financial assistance if I am resident and it has been approved again even though I have been out of Canada for almost a year.

And, based on your description, it sounds like I have many more ties to Canada than I do in the States, still... I suspect it may always be that way, since I have to keep my accounts open to pay my student loan.

[Naiaa 0]

If you haven't already, see how many credits you can transfer to a US university, and be sure to check into various online programs if they are offered in your field...if you find an online program that fits the bill, you can live in DC until you are ready to move west.

in additon to the issues already discussed, be VERY careful about how long you are out of the US...it is straightforward, but if you stub your toe, it can be tough--particularly if you plan to become a citizen down the road.

Thanks for your reply; I have definitely considered this and even a US school. The issue is, American school is outrageously expensive compared to Canada, so it isn't an option to do it here for a very long time, unfortunately. Based on what the other person said, I am concerned that if I lose my residence in Canada, then applying to an online Canadian university will also be very expensive. Immigration certainly has a lot of downfalls, and it sucks because neither of us want to be on the east coast at all - we want to go back home to the west coast!

[canadian_wife 1,822]

If you have been out of the US for more than a year you have probably already lost Canadian/provincial residency, it will be for sure lost when you get your green card.

The Canadian Health Act defines it as someone who lives in Canada for 183 days out of 365.

If you are a resident of the US, you can get in-state tuition which is drastically cheaper than out of state, have you considered that?

good luck

[NikLR 13,227]

I am just curious, where am I supposed to report that I am no longer a Canadian resident? My student loan says I only qualify for financial assistance if I am resident and it has been approved again even though I have been out of Canada for almost a year.

And, based on your description, it sounds like I have many more ties to Canada than I do in the States, still... I suspect it may always be that way, since I have to keep my accounts open to pay my student loan.

When you file taxes, you give your address as the USA. You have to file taxes in Canada even if you do not make an income. It's very important to do this during school because there are tuition benefits you need to keep track of in case you ever move back to Canada. They help you garner a refund (I'm still using mine and I've been out of school for 11 years and only went for 2!) Everything you fill out should have a US address, a US phone number etc... Nothing should have Canadian information except a SIN. Just like when you move you should be updating your address with your driver's license, (not sure if this invalidates it - when you move provinces you can be required to change to that province's drivers license) your health care (which makes it invalid) etc.. You should update your SIN to your married name if you took your husband's last name. Your passport will also need to be updated and should have your US address when you fill out the paperwork. In reality you shouldn't have even applied for a student loan when you're not a resident of Canada. It may be something you need to ask them about. I don't want to worry you and it's something you probably just didn't think about, but it does need to be thought about.

Schooling in the USA can be quite a bit cheaper than in Canada. Especially if you qualify for in-state tuition! Definitely check it out.

Edited February 25, 2013 by NikiR

[Buxi&Dusk 6]

Another option might be completing school online.