Separation - Moving back to Canada (be kind please)

[Veronik 19]

Well... My "journey" in the United States is coming to an end. My husband and I separated this week after months of trying to work through serious issues but it just didn't work out. I'm devastated, scared and completely lost with what I'm supposed to do next. 

 

I'd like to ask for your advice on the following points. I'll be honest, I haven't googled these questions quite yet. I haven't slept in days and I'm afraid I'm not thinking super straight. This forum was a source of help for me when I decided to move to the US, and I found sound advice and comfort in everyone's comments. I guess things do go full circle, so here I am seeking your help again.

 

#1: I'm moving back home with one dog and three cats. I'm getting their wellness reports done on Monday and Tuesday. I'll then be driving 14 hours to the closest town to the border with an Enterprise Car Rental drop off. I'll have a family member pick me up there and cross the border. I've never crossed the border with animals, let alone drive 14 hours with 4 of them in a car. Does anyone have any tips? Does anyone have any experience with bringing pets through the border? What should I be expecting? Do I need all 4 animals in crates or can I leave my dog on a leash?

 

#2: After I'm back home, will I be able to get a driver's license and health card under my maiden's name? Or will I have to wait until I'm officially divorced to have my name changed? I had changed my name on my passport for immigration, to show my husband and I were serious. I guess I'm hoping to claim a little bit of myself back by getting my new IDs under my maiden's name. My bank accounts up there are still under my maiden's name.

 

#3: Does anyone have any advice for financial issues? Closing accounts, income taxes, etc? I'm not entirely sure I can trust my ex-husband fully, so I'm scared of repercussions this would have.

 

Thanks in advance. I know it's easy to judge when we're not in another person's shoes, but please refrain from lecturing me. It's hard enough as it is.

 

 

 

 

 

[KBA 542]

11 minutes ago, Veronik said:

Well... My "journey" in the United States is coming to an end. My husband and I separated this week after months of trying to work through serious issues but it just didn't work out. I'm devastated, scared and completely lost with what I'm supposed to do next. 

 

I'd like to ask for your advice on the following points. I'll be honest, I haven't googled these questions quite yet. I haven't slept in days and I'm afraid I'm not thinking super straight. This forum was a source of help for me when I decided to move to the US, and I found sound advice and comfort in everyone's comments. I guess things do go full circle, so here I am seeking your help again.

 

#1: I'm moving back home with one dog and three cats. I'm getting their wellness reports done on Monday and Tuesday. I'll then be driving 14 hours to the closest town to the border with an Enterprise Car Rental drop off. I'll have a family member pick me up there and cross the border. I've never crossed the border with animals, let alone drive 14 hours with 4 of them in a car. Does anyone have any tips? Does anyone have any experience with bringing pets through the border? What should I be expecting? Do I need all 4 animals in crates or can I leave my dog on a leash?

 

#2: After I'm back home, will I be able to get a driver's license and health card under my maiden's name? Or will I have to wait until I'm officially divorced to have my name changed? I had changed my name on my passport for immigration, to show my husband and I were serious. I guess I'm hoping to claim a little bit of myself back by getting my new IDs under my maiden's name. My bank accounts up there are still under my maiden's name.

 

#3: Does anyone have any advice for financial issues? Closing accounts, income taxes, etc? I'm not entirely sure I can trust my ex-husband fully, so I'm scared of repercussions this would have.

 

Thanks in advance. I know it's easy to judge when we're not in another person's shoes, but please refrain from lecturing me. It's hard enough as it is.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m not Canadian but my fiancé is...the main thing I can offer advice about is the dogs as I have crossed many times with mine. The border patrol just wanted to see the shot record for them but did not require them to be in a crate. I’m sorry things didn’t work with your marriage. Good luck! 

[TNJ17 1,329]

I can only advise you on your pet situation. Check the Canadian government website for the requirements of bringing pets into the country. Make sure their vaccinations are all up to date or they can be quarantined and you don’t want that. Ask your local vet for a letter stating their well-being and that they are safe to travel. I’ve flown with my cat before and she got agitated towards the very end of the trip just because it was long and she wanted out of her carrier. Since you are driving you are good to make stops, let them out a little. The vet told me to stop feeding 3 hours before and stop water 1 hour before. I also got some feliway spray on amazon it calms their nerves a little. I gave her some children’s Dramamine every few hours so she wouldn’t get sick. The vet suggested all of that and it was smooth sailing until the very last flight when I guess she just had enough. I tried to keep her calm during the rest of it by having her on my lap. I think she was just hot under those seats. Good luck. 

[acidrain 325]

I am really sorry to hear you are going through a marital breakup. That has to be extremely hard and painful. Have you considered doing a legal separation agreement? It's a temporary document that outlines your finances that both you and your spouse agree on until you file for divorce.

[Veronik 19]

Thank you for the advice regarding the pets, I'll keep all of this in mind.

Great idea about the legal separation agreement, I'll look into this before I leave for sure.

 

Does anyone know what to do with the green card once I'm back in Canada?

[Ontarkie 14,218]

Your drivers license and health card names will have to be in your married maned since you changed your Canadian Passport. Plus you will have to show your US DL to switch it over to a Canadian one.  You might get lucky and they let you so I would  ask. 

 

Your Health insurance wont kick in right away there's a waiting period that you must live in that Province for so many days. I can't remember if it was 30 or 90 days. Make sure you start getting mail at your new place because they need 2 pieces of mail with your name on it. 

 

Traveling that long with pets is not too bad. The dog you can take out to pee and feed/water. The cats usually depending on age would rather hold it. If you are going to stop at a pet friendly hotel take a small liter box and leave the cats in the bathroom with food, water and their box. They will be happier in a small place with less smells. Of course just see how your cats do, if they want out no big deal. 

 

At the border they just need to look at their vaccine records to make sure they have their rabbies shot.

 

I would go look for a free or low cost with a lawyer to ask about financials. I think the taxes you can file married but separate. 

Some States do not do legal separation agreements. They hold no water so look into if it is even worth it where you live. 

 

 

[jle2234 68]

Sorry to hear about your separation.

 

When you "change" your name for marriage, you are assuming your partner's name -- not actually changing your name -- so it can be switched back without too much hassle. Most provinces have an option called an "election to change surname", or something similar.
 

I have driven between Canada and the U.S. many times with my dog. I leave him loose in the backseat, and roll the window down from him when we get to the border. We've never had any issue crossing with him. I carry his vaccination records (which you are required to do), but have never been asked for them. Sometimes the border guard pets him, but usually he is not acknowledged at all. Still, you should keep your pets' vaccination records and a statement of health from your vet with you any time you cross the border. My dog also gets carsick, so I agree with previous recommendations to limit food and water.

[Going through 5,671]

Something I wanted to bring up that you may not have thought about yet---when you move back to Canada you may want to visit a Service Canada center and make sure your SIN has not gone dormant  --- depending on how long you've been living outside of Canada this can happen and you will need to apply to have it reactivated before applying for work.  Just mentioning this because it happened to me.

Edited January 21, 2018 by Going through

[Veronik 19]

Thank you all for the tips. This is so overwhelming, everything we need to take care of, I feel like I'm in a fog.

 

I never even thought about my SIN, and I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm due to start work pretty much right away when I get back, so I'll look into it right away.

 

Thank you everyone, and if someone knows about what to do with the green card, let me know. I want to make sure I do everything right so I don't get any issues down the road.

[Going through 5,671]

9 minutes ago, Veronik said:

Thank you all for the tips. This is so overwhelming, everything we need to take care of, I feel like I'm in a fog.

 

I never even thought about my SIN, and I'm glad you mentioned it. I'm due to start work pretty much right away when I get back, so I'll look into it right away.

 

Thank you everyone, and if someone knows about what to do with the green card, let me know. I want to make sure I do everything right so I don't get any issues down the road.

Found this:

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-voluntarily-abandon-lawful-permanent-residence-green-card.html

 

The USCIS application form to send in:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-407

Edited January 21, 2018 by Going through

[Veronik 19]

21 hours ago, Going through said:

Found this:

 

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/how-voluntarily-abandon-lawful-permanent-residence-green-card.html

 

The USCIS application form to send in:

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-407

Great, thank you so much for the info. 

 

Thank you everyone for the help and tips, I appreciate it.

[Veronik 19]

On 1/20/2018 at 8:19 AM, TNJ17 said:

I can only advise you on your pet situation. Check the Canadian government website for the requirements of bringing pets into the country. Make sure their vaccinations are all up to date or they can be quarantined and you don’t want that. Ask your local vet for a letter stating their well-being and that they are safe to travel. I’ve flown with my cat before and she got agitated towards the very end of the trip just because it was long and she wanted out of her carrier. Since you are driving you are good to make stops, let them out a little. The vet told me to stop feeding 3 hours before and stop water 1 hour before. I also got some feliway spray on amazon it calms their nerves a little. I gave her some children’s Dramamine every few hours so she wouldn’t get sick. The vet suggested all of that and it was smooth sailing until the very last flight when I guess she just had enough. I tried to keep her calm during the rest of it by having her on my lap. I think she was just hot under those seats. Good luck. 

Thank you, I'm seeing the vet tomorrow so I'll make sure I get their documents straight

[Flames9_RN 358]

Sorry about your current situation, but life will get better.  I drove back to Sask with my dog from DC, for a holiday.  The Cdn border people didnt  care about my dog, the gal even gave me a dog biscuit,lol  But yes it is best to make sure they are up to date on shots and have them available.  We traveled from Dc to Florida (15 hr trip) with the dog and 1 cat.....we had a dog crate and put the cat in it with cat litter.....yes the cat used it!   Try and make sure water is available for the cat as cats kidneys are different and they dont do well without water, but u should be fine for ur trip.  if they are bad travelers, you can get motion sickness meds for them from the vet. I cant recall the meds we gave our cat, but she was out of it.....make sure u have a letter from the vet stating the effects of the meds.....if by slim chance they want to see them...they may think the animal is ill.

 

I thought I read somewhere on here when coming back to Canada, one should alert the cdn border guards that you are returning to reside in Canada. Reason being, that in some provinces, you can't gain the use of some services (such has health care) for 3 months...

[Going through 5,671]

2 hours ago, Flames9_RN said:

I thought I read somewhere on here when coming back to Canada, one should alert the cdn border guards that you are returning to reside in Canada.

That is normally done when the returning resident is wishing to declare their goods upon return back in Canada---furniture, appliances, vehicles, many boxes of personal items, etc. to claim free importation (no duty/taxes).

[Flames9_RN 358]

6 minutes ago, Going through said:

That is normally done when the returning resident is wishing to declare their goods upon return back in Canada---furniture, appliances, vehicles, many boxes of personal items, etc. to claim free importation (no duty/taxes).

May be, but I am certain, one has to contact some "authority" to ensure ones entry back into Canada has been recorded so the 90 day wait period is recorded.  Not all provinces have that 90 day period, but some do