Cross border work / Returning to Canada

[VeeNDee 44]

It's been awhile (years) since I last posted.  I came in on a K1 visa in December 2012 and now I am a US citizen with 3 dual citizen kids!  My hubby has been having a lot of work issues. We live near Seattle, WA tech hub but most jobs are contract jobs so they are constantly starting and ending and it's stressful with a family of 5.  We just heard through my family in Canada about a good job opportunity that is NOT a contract just over the border in BC (near Sumas WA).  My husband is the only one of our family NOT a dual citizen, haha, so he would need a work visa to go to Canada which the company might provide as they do that more often.  So here's my question: Which is a better idea - living in Canada with the Canadian health insurance kicking in after 3 months residency, and paying out the nose (800k minimum for a 3 bedroom house) for a house, OR, living in Sumas, crossing the border daily (like, literally only 5-10 minutes more), NOT having Canadian health insurance due to not being a resident, but having a much cheaper house (literally 300k for a 3 bedroom!).  I know that's before the exchange rate comes into pay, but come on, that's a big price difference.  The kids and I could live in either country, and theoretically so could my hubby with his visa, but my main issue is the health insurance and housing costs. Any thoughts???

Oh and I should add, we all have Nexus and that border crossing does as well, so that is not really a factor.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

If you stay in the US, your husband would have to pay for a health insurance plan or pay out of pocket at either country. 

So it is about finding a good health insurance plan or saving all you can to devote that money for any health issues that might arise. 

 

 

[NikLR 13,227]

Figure out the cost difference for your family.  How much will health insurance cost you plus your bills and mortgage?  Then figure out how much your bills and mortgage would be in Canada.  Pick one. 

[Lemonslice 4,836]

I would move where the better schools are located...

[NikLR 13,227]

On 9/20/2019 at 2:39 PM, Lemonslice said:

I would move where the better schools are located...

North?

[AstroCanada 206]

The visa is usually not an issue, as long as he can qualify under one of the enumerated NAFTA categories.  If he doesn't fall under one of those, it might require a labour market opinion, which would definitely slow things down.  

 

OP, do you work, and if so, do you have the ability to obtain health coverage yourself?  That would make this situation a lot less complicated.  Otherwise, definitely worth pricing out what ACA coverage you could get out of pocket to compare to the housing difference.