Green Card Holder - Work in Canada

[Girv 0]

I am a green card holder now for 7 months. I have been recently offered a job in BC Canada. The job is close to the US/Canada border.

 

Can I keep my green card status while I work in Canada? Do I have to live on the US side (Washington state) to keep residency status or can I live on Canadian side (closer to work) and still keep my status as long as I continue to file my taxes to IRS, keep US drivers license, etc? What is the best way to do this? It would be nice to start getting the monthly baby bonus again and maybe free health care.

[Ontarkie 14,228]

You cannot use the Health care system or collect baby bonus. Those are only available to Canadian residents, and you cannot be a Canadian resident and a US resident at the same time if you want to keep your GC. Yes you will be paying into it but no you cannot use it. You also need to be taxed as a non resident.. 

 

Easiest thing to do is go back and forth. 

 

~~Moved to the Canada forum from General Immigration as the OP is also asking about the Health Care system and Baby Bonus.~~

Edited January 24, 2018 by Ontarkie

[Crazy Cat 41,891]

You definitely can NOT live on the Canadian side and keep your Green Card....Your primary RESIDENCE (address) must be in the US...

[Illiria 980]

I know of people who have done this but they lived in Washington and commuted each day. They did this until they became citizens then moved to full time up to Van. to finish filming. Also they didn’t use Canadian healthcare or any other resident only benefits.

 

If you take up Canadian healthcare that is effectively declaring you are a Canadian resident which could lead to you losing your us residency. A job in another country could also lose you that in most other circumstances as well but the us Canada relationship is a bit weird especially if you live here and work there. 

 

 

[Girv 0]

Thank you so much for your quick responses. Very helpful and very much appreciated! Yeah the job will be in Abbotsford BC. So ya I guess we will start looking for place in Washington and commute cross border to work til I get my citizenship. Its cheaper to live in WA anyway real estate wise. But I just have to pay for my healthcare out of pocket since I wont have a job here which sucks...

[Girv 0]

Do you guys know what is my best option regarding health care? My family and I will not be covered here in the USA with my job being in Canada. Does that mean I have to pay out of pocket to get medical coverage? I believe dental and eyes are covered through the company.

[acidrain 325]

11 hours ago, Girv said:

Do you guys know what is my best option regarding health care? My family and I will not be covered here in the USA with my job being in Canada. Does that mean I have to pay out of pocket to get medical coverage? I believe dental and eyes are covered through the company.

You could try to look into Obamacare but I am not sure if foreign wages can be included in calculating your eligibility.

 

There is private insurance but it's often much more expensive. For me, my spouse and son we were quoted $800 a month for silver coverage.

 

If something really bad happens (heaven forbid). You can always move back to Canada and start up your health care there. But as others have mentioned you have to be a resident. In extreme cases where someone is diagnosed with cancer you can go through your MLA's office to start up coverage right away.

 

Some people from the US pay out of pocket to use Canadian hospitals and doctors because it's cheaper than the US.

Edited January 24, 2018 by acidrain