Dual Citizenship? Or you lose citizenship?

[charmed2006 31]

Can you retain your Canadian Citizenship when you apply for US Citizenship? Is there such a thing as DUAL?

 

What are the pros and cons of keeping the Canadian Citizenship?

 

Thank you in advance for your answers!

[Ontarkie 14,558]

Yes you keep your Canadian Citizenship. I can't think of any con's Pro's you can always go home easily  

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

You can have dual citizenship if both countries allow it. I guess your pro's would be keeping your Canadian citizenship rights?!....

[charmed2006 31]

Thank you all!

 

I just was not able to file my taxes this year and that is a bit of a concern to me..

[NikLR 13,232]

You keep citizenship regardless if you file Canadian taxes.  Canada is not like the USA and doesn't demand you file taxes based on citizenship.  The only way to lose Canadian citizenship is by formally renouncing it in writing. 

[moemac59 193]

I am dual and am glad that i did it. I was able to vote in the election and am so happy that the only thing that I have to do now is reapply for my US passport in a few years. So happy that I don't have to renew my green card.

[baconmunch 16]

Is there a guide for this anywhere? 

[Udella&Wiz 325]

All you need to do is apply for US citizenship when you're eligible. 'Dual' means you have both, but there is nothing to do on the Canadian side, you just continue to have what you already had. There's no guide because its is just applying for US citizenship - use that guide.

 

Good luck if you decide to.

[baconmunch 16]

I still expect there be changes as related to the following:

• Healthcare
• Taxes
• Pension Plan
• Voting & more

or is it more a matter of no longer maintaining Canadian residency that changes the above, rather than the nature of citizenship?

[NikLR 13,232]

37 minutes ago, baconmunch said:

I still expect there be changes as related to the following:

• Healthcare
• Taxes
• Pension Plan
• Voting & more

or is it more a matter of no longer maintaining Canadian residency that changes the above, rather than the nature of citizenship?

Thats a matter of residency not citizenship.  You may still get a Canadian pension if you worked enough hours regardless.  

[Peot 162]

On 7/19/2017 at 7:51 PM, baconmunch said:

I still expect there be changes as related to the following:

• Healthcare
• Taxes
• Pension Plan
• Voting & more

or is it more a matter of no longer maintaining Canadian residency that changes the above, rather than the nature of citizenship?

Healthcare is USUALLY provincial, and is dependent on residence, however I know that in my province you are covered by default for TWO MONTHS after the time you leave. You can also apply with the regional health authority for extended coverage beyond that, even if you move out of the country. Check your regional health care website!

 

Taxes you don't pay to Canada from the point of entry onwards. You do pay taxes up to that point. If you still earn income from Canada after you enter the US though, you declare that as "foreign income" on your IRS forms.

 

You still get CPP. You can cash that out the same way as before... I believe there's even a method of converting it into an American plan, but I haven't looked into it much. For things like RRSPs, there is a ton of info on cashing them out and moving them over the the US with as little fee / tax as possible. Most people suggest you simply leave it in a Canadian plan until you retire. These don't stop working for you when you move.

 

You CAN still vote. There are definitely ways to register to vote even when you live abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

[dburnt 59]

On 7/21/2017 at 3:51 PM, Peot said:

Healthcare is USUALLY provincial, and is dependent on residence, however I know that in my province you are covered by default for TWO MONTHS after the time you leave. You can also apply with the regional health authority for extended coverage beyond that, even if you move out of the country. Check your regional health care website!

 

Taxes you don't pay to Canada from the point of entry onwards. You do pay taxes up to that point. If you still earn income from Canada after you enter the US though, you declare that as "foreign income" on your IRS forms.

 

You still get CPP. You can cash that out the same way as before... I believe there's even a method of converting it into an American plan, but I haven't looked into it much. For things like RRSPs, there is a ton of info on cashing them out and moving them over the the US with as little fee / tax as possible. Most people suggest you simply leave it in a Canadian plan until you retire. These don't stop working for you when you move.

 

You CAN still vote. There are definitely ways to register to vote even when you live abroad.

 

 

 

 

 

  I would love to know how to register to vote...my understanding is the ex-Pats don't have that ability.

 

CPP doesn't convert to anything else (at least I have never heard of it doing so) - it is simply a contributory plan.  However, some CPP benefits require years of eligibility (such as Death or Disability) and if you do not have enough qualifying Canadian earnings, CPP can use foreign earnings (like US) and add them together.  You can collect CPP once you are eligible anywhere in the world (it is paid in the currency of your residency).  RRSP is somewhat sheltered in the US, but other investments (like TFSA investments) are not.  You can still leave it in Canada until you choose to cash it in, but you will receive tax slips for the interest, which you must claim on your US returns.  You must also file FBAR forms each year (at the same time as taxes) to declare all your foreign banking and investments.  You may be subject to additional tax on this depending on the value.

 

Ontario health care doesn't cover beyond the 2 months if you are out of the province with a permanent change of residence (i.e. if you are immigrating to the US, then you will no longer be deemed a Canadian resident once you have US status (i.e. Green Card)).  Can't speak for other provinces, but I couldn't find a way to extend OHIP to even cover me to my GC date.

 

While you can retain your Canadian citizenship, and passport, if you are truly immigrating to the US, then you should be thinking towards US health care, pensions and voting.  While it is nice to have the Canadian passport when I travel back (and the Canadian bank accounts are handy, although you can no longer contribute to RRSP or mutual funds once you have a US address), my ties are now in the US with my husband...even though my kids and grands are still up there, this is home.  Also, remember that when you are going through the process, they look for you to have established ties in the US - retaining too many ties to Canada could impact an application process.

[charmed2006 31]

21 hours ago, dburnt said:

  I would love to know how to register to vote...my understanding is the ex-Pats don't have that ability.

 

CPP doesn't convert to anything else (at least I have never heard of it doing so) - it is simply a contributory plan.  However, some CPP benefits require years of eligibility (such as Death or Disability) and if you do not have enough qualifying Canadian earnings, CPP can use foreign earnings (like US) and add them together.  You can collect CPP once you are eligible anywhere in the world (it is paid in the currency of your residency).  RRSP is somewhat sheltered in the US, but other investments (like TFSA investments) are not.  You can still leave it in Canada until you choose to cash it in, but you will receive tax slips for the interest, which you must claim on your US returns.  You must also file FBAR forms each year (at the same time as taxes) to declare all your foreign banking and investments.  You may be subject to additional tax on this depending on the value.

 

Ontario health care doesn't cover beyond the 2 months if you are out of the province with a permanent change of residence (i.e. if you are immigrating to the US, then you will no longer be deemed a Canadian resident once you have US status (i.e. Green Card)).  Can't speak for other provinces, but I couldn't find a way to extend OHIP to even cover me to my GC date.

 

While you can retain your Canadian citizenship, and passport, if you are truly immigrating to the US, then you should be thinking towards US health care, pensions and voting.  While it is nice to have the Canadian passport when I travel back (and the Canadian bank accounts are handy, although you can no longer contribute to RRSP or mutual funds once you have a US address), my ties are now in the US with my husband...even though my kids and grands are still up there, this is home.  Also, remember that when you are going through the process, they look for you to have established ties in the US - retaining too many ties to Canada could impact an application process.

 this is home for me too..

 

I really do not have ties in Canada, I also migrated there by myself.. no relatives.. handful of friends.. after 3 years I applied for citizenship.. and for another 1.5 years moved to the US.. I am thankful for the 4.5 years Canada has made me felt at home.. and you are right.. USA is now home for me  

[NikLR 13,232]

Its my home, but I really have no intention of become a citizen at this time.  I love being a Canadian citizen.  I can't even say I'm proud to be living in the USA despite being immensely proud of my American husband and even of his service.  I would move back to Canada if he wanted to. 

 

But at least I have the option of doing so if I should ever want to.  Regardless I wouldn't do it before the 5 year mark.  Mostly because I'm not sending the US government any more information proving I have a genuine relationship.  

Edited August 4, 2017 by NikLR