Moving back to Canada Question.

[sly_wolf 199]

Hi.   I have been living in the US (green card) since 2009 and now planning to move back to Canada with my wife.   The key motivation to moving back is mainly due to the high healthcare costs here and I am slowly approaching retirement age.   I do worry about getting older and the risks of having to deal with those unexpected costs here.  In addition there is the uncertainty about what will happen to US medicare costs going forward.   

 

To plan ahead, is there any advice in regard to eventually abandoning my green card after we move?   We do still have to apply for Canadian immigration for my wife and I believe that can take up to 12 months. 

 

Any comments appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

[Lemonslice 4,963]

No big advice, but a colleague of mine was able to get COBRA after he quit and moved to Canada as provincial healthcare was not going to cover him for a few months (because of the residency requirement).  

 

Good luck!

[sly_wolf 199]

25 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

No big advice, but a colleague of mine was able to get COBRA after he quit and moved to Canada as provincial healthcare was not going to cover him for a few months (because of the residency requirement).  

 

Good luck!

We are on cobra now until May and then I have to switch to ACA plan assuming its still there lol.   Quite a bureaucracy lol.  

 

When I see a blood test billing at $700 it does raise my eyebrows.

[NikLR 13,232]

Have you thought about citizenship first?

[NikLR 13,232]

as per health care, it normally takes about 90 days after moving to a province to prove residency there for health care, and you can buy temporary insurance for that period of time.  You go to your nearest consulate to turn in the green card if you're not interested in keeping it. I would start the Canadian immigration process before moving back

[Unlockable 7,315]

55 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Have you thought about citizenship first?

^^^ This.

 

If you've had a GC since 2009 you certainly qualify.

[sly_wolf 199]

I have thought about citizenship.   Not sure if I have the time now and whether it is even worth it for me.   I really don't plan to move again.

 

[nightingalejules 678]

It still might be worth it to apply for US citizenship, even if you don't plan to live in the US again... here's my reasoning. 

 

There is a possibility that even if you were just planning to visit the US (on vacation, for example), the fact that you were once a greencard holder might make the CBP officer at the border think that you were trying to move back. And if you're retired, you no longer have the "best" reason to return to Canada (ie, a job that's expecting you back), so they might deny you the opportunity to return to the US at all. Whereas if you are a US citizen, they have to let you in. 

 

So, ironically, becoming a citizen even though you have no intention of living in the US again might be your best option.

[sly_wolf 199]

Hopefully I would not run into someone that nitpicky at the border.   I think filing for US citizenship at the same time I am planning a move back to Canada  may also raise some question?  

Edited February 16, 2017 by sly_wolf

[NikLR 13,232]

A lot of people get citizenship before they move back home.  They do it so they arent abandoning green cards and can move back later.  Im sure the USCIS doesnt really care if you move away after gaining citizenship.

 

They can get pretty nitpicky at the border but so many Canadian snowbirds have homes in the usa i also honestly dont believe it will be an issue for you either. 

[sly_wolf 199]

Understood, however I am not sure if I will have enough time to get through the citizenship process since I plan to file for my wife's immigration to Canada very shortly.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Hi Sly wolf,

 

Haven't seen you around in a while. Good luck with your move!

[sly_wolf 199]

Thanks

 

[AstroCanada 206]

5 hours ago, sly_wolf said:

Understood, however I am not sure if I will have enough time to get through the citizenship process since I plan to file for my wife's immigration to Canada very shortly.

Spousal immigration to Canada is taking over a year right now for outland and up to two years for inland sponsorship.  So, you'll likely find you have plenty of time to apply for citizenship.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/information/times/index.asp

[sly_wolf 199]

Hmmm, thought it was going quicker than that.   I will have to think about that now especially considering the additional cost.