Moving from Quebec to the US

[owlboxes 10]

I had no idea there was so much to do when leaving Canada to go live in the US. We're approved but now I'm panicking about everything that needs to be done!

Does anyone know if there is a definitive list somewhere of everything that needs to be taken care of legally before you leave? I keep finding bits and pieces of information everywhere but nothing that says exactly what I need to do. I'm kind of freaking out -- I'm hoping to move in less than three weeks and I didn't realize that I have about a million things to do.

[chiggins82 88]

Did you go through this: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/347629-moving-to-the-us-summary-list-canadian-immigration-guide/

I went through and have started my own spread sheet. I found it very helpful. I think someone even linked a spreadsheet in there.

[NikLR 13,227]

There's really not as much to do as you think. You don't do your taxes until next tax season. You will have to give notice at an apartment and cancel all your bills. You can get your mail forwarded (costs a pretty penny) or call everywhere to change your address. I had any important things forwarded to me by the upstairs tenants where I was renting but they just returned everything else to sender.

Otherwise you don't have to do much besides packing.

[Rob & Monika 87]

You do need to notify the CRA you have left, otherwise any benefits received after your move date will have to be paid back (like GST/HST payments).

Anything that is earning money still in Canada after you leave (stocks, bonds, etc) will have to be notified as the taxation rate changes.

The fees/taxes to withdraw from your RRSP increases once you become a nonresident, so if you plan to do that, do it before you move.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Rob & Monika

[owlboxes 10]

You guys are the best. After reading your comments, I feel WAY less stressed. I have no stocks/bonds/insurance, I don't have a driver's license, so really all I have to be concerned about is the CRA and Quebec medicare for now (phone is already taken care of and I'm keeping my bank account open here until I get an account in the US!).

I have a couple more questions. Firstly, I want to know about form 3299 to import my belongings. Do I fill this out and bring this to the POE with me? How precise does it have to be? Do I have to list literally EVERYTHING that I'm packing (i.e. number of books, clothes, etc?) or just a general, "Box 1 - Books, Box 2 - Clothes"? The other question is about my SSN. Can I apply for that as soon as I enter the US so that I can open a bank account ASAP?

[Lemonslice 4,859]

Only thing a bit different in Quebec is if you planned to change your name to a "married" name - see: http://www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/english/publications/generale/maria-a.htm#names

I didn't plan to change mine for a lot of reasons, but I do not know anyone who has been able to do it.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Read this pinned thread in this forum as well - it is a compilation of everything that has come up from different members and will probably give you some ideas you hadn't thought of yet.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/347629-moving-to-the-us-summary-list-canadian-immigration-guide/page-2

[NikLR 13,227]

Even notifiying CCTB and the GST/HST of your move (which I did) doesnt mean they wont be stupid and still send you money. I was smart and saved all the GST cheques in a bank account and paid it back after they figured out I'd left, over a year later. But I agree it's a good idea to do.

I never think about stocks or RRSP'S because I never had any.