Canadian SIN card in the USA, do I need to update it?

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Good luck on your immigration journeys. Anyways, I was wondering if I need to update my Canadian SIN card with my new married last name on it? If so, has anybody ever done this from the USA, and how was your experience with it?

I won't use that card ever again (why the heck would I ever want to work in Canada?) and the card is not like the SS# here, where you need it for practically everything. Not sure if for the time being I'll just leave it be with my maiden last name on it (and maybe cut the card up in the future), I've already notified the Canadian government when I filed my final Canadian tax return (the tax department is the same department as the SIN, I assume?), so hopefully they're smart enough to update their databases regarding my married last name change through my final Canadian tax return.

Still, am wondering if this SIN update needs to be done, or is it just a waste of my time and postage to do so?

Any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas appreciated. Thanks.

Ant

[misa 2]

Well since you have stated many times that you have no desire to ever return to Canada, don't bother updating it.

[Lance27 19]

Well since you have stated many times that you have no desire to ever return to Canada, don't bother updating it.

Yup, If you don't ever intend on going back, why bother?

[zyggy 9]

Ah.. but you can use your work credits in Canada when you eventually collect for US Social Security... I disagree.. I would update your SIN records...

[warlord 73]

I've never updated mine at all, of course, there's many things you don't realize you could do either when you move from one country to another. For instance here, I wasn't aware that all the way up to getting your citizenship you need to file an AR-11 to homeland security every time you move (which I didn't know until my 4th move). I don't think you need to update it at all, and if you ever move back there, I'm sure you can get it updated then.

Has anyone updated that SIN number while living in the US? What do you say, just that you're no longer in Canada? I figure it really doesn't make a difference as you're already a Canadian citizen, there's really nothing to update, not sure if that's a correct assumption on my part though. So any clarrification?

[zyggy 9]

I've never updated mine at all, of course, there's many things you don't realize you could do either when you move from one country to another. For instance here, I wasn't aware that all the way up to getting your citizenship you need to file an AR-11 to homeland security every time you move (which I didn't know until my 4th move). I don't think you need to update it at all, and if you ever move back there, I'm sure you can get it updated then.

Has anyone updated that SIN number while living in the US? What do you say, just that you're no longer in Canada? I figure it really doesn't make a difference as you're already a Canadian citizen, there's really nothing to update, not sure if that's a correct assumption on my part though. So any clarrification?

We never updated her SIN number to state that she is no longer in Canada... HRSDC doesn't really care about that, only CRA does... We just did it to change her name to her married name...

[CutienPurg 0]

Ah.. but you can use your work credits in Canada when you eventually collect for US Social Security... I disagree.. I would update your SIN records...

HUH?

Ok Zyggy you're gonna need to do some splainin' about that one...........you have me curious now.

[zyggy 9]

Ah.. but you can use your work credits in Canada when you eventually collect for US Social Security... I disagree.. I would update your SIN records...

HUH?

Ok Zyggy you're gonna need to do some splainin' about that one...........you have me curious now.

There's a Social Security treaty between the US and Canada where they will credit the work from each other's countries in computing a benefit level... They do not want you collecting both... you get one or the other... SS or CPP...

The good thing is that you don't give up all that time and money that you put into the other country's system... you can credit it to one or the other...

Edited March 16, 2007 by zyggy

[CutienPurg 0]

Ah.. but you can use your work credits in Canada when you eventually collect for US Social Security... I disagree.. I would update your SIN records...

HUH?

Ok Zyggy you're gonna need to do some splainin' about that one...........you have me curious now.

There's a Social Security treaty between the US and Canada where they will credit the work from each other's countries in computing a benefit level... They do not want you collecting both... you get one or the other... SS or CPP...

The good thing is that you don't give up all that time and money that you put into the other country's system... you can credit it to one or the other...

Here's a link to what I thiiiiiiiiink is related to this:

http://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement...ada.html#cppqpp

[Reba 2]

I updated my SIN card with my married name before I left Canada. For the very reason Zyggy mentioned. If you want a retirement income worth anything, you'll have to be able to include your Canadian work history.

But then I don't plan on staying in the US, I want to retire back to Canada.

[Lance27 19]

Awesome.... Thanks for the link CutienPurg. Im glad I wont lose my CPP when I move

Ah.. but you can use your work credits in Canada when you eventually collect for US Social Security... I disagree.. I would update your SIN records...

HUH?

Ok Zyggy you're gonna need to do some splainin' about that one...........you have me curious now.

There's a Social Security treaty between the US and Canada where they will credit the work from each other's countries in computing a benefit level... They do not want you collecting both... you get one or the other... SS or CPP...

The good thing is that you don't give up all that time and money that you put into the other country's system... you can credit it to one or the other...

Here's a link to what I thiiiiiiiiink is related to this:

http://www.ssa.gov/international/Agreement...ada.html#cppqpp

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Good luck on your immigration journeys! Thanks for your replies. Hmm...I guess that's one less thing to do on my "to do" list, as I don't have to worry about retirement contributions and stuff like that. Lol..too bad they don't count living experience and academic experience for retirement. Oh well. I just thought that it was manditory to update the Canadian government about the SIN card, kind of like updating them about the taxes and leaving the country. I guess not then.

Nevertheless, thanks for your replies, and I hope too that it was helpful to the rest of the VJ community, just like it was for me, to learn about this Canadian SIN card update information.

Ant

[cdancer 0]

ALL I CAN SAY IS HEY...SINCE I HAVE PAID INTO CPP FOR THE PAST 3O SOMETHING YEARS I AM DEFINATELY GOING TO COLLECT IT. NO WAY AM I GOING TO CUT UP MY SOCIAL INSURANCE CARD!

ITS NOT A BAD THING TO HANG ONTO!

[Allie 5]

When I inquired to CCP they informed me. Where I go my CP goes with me when I'm ready to collect.