Lessons along the way - a Canadian's journey to the US

[ADW & JOP 146]

My wife and I married in November 2018 and we started our immigration journey when we filed the I-130 on December 5, 2018.

 

Along the way, I’ve learned some valuable lessons and experiences that I would like to share with the community. It may be helpful to anyone who plans to start their immigration journey from Canada to the United States.

 

Travelling to the US

 

Prior to meeting my wife, my travels to the United States was limited to rare family trips. I met my wife in a developing country where she was completing her fellowship. We maintained a long-distance relationship, where I visited her 4-5 times in this country, but also started visiting her in the US starting from January 2017. By mid-2017, I decided to apply for a Nexus card, which ended up being a great investment at $50 USD for 5 years. Looking at my i94, I have visited my wife 20 times in the US since 2016 (22 times if you include transits through the US).

 

The Nexus card made it easy for me to visit my wife, even as I go through the immigration process. In total, I have visited my wife 12 times since we filed the i130 (anywhere from 6-26 days), all of which through Toronto Pearson Airport. I have visited her throughout the immigration process, last of which is a final trip a week prior to my interview at the US Consulate General in Montreal. With the Nexus card, I have not had any issues crossing at Toronto Pearson Airport. I always bring my employment information, bank statements, etc. but have never required to show them.

 

I was careful to limit my visits somewhat as I didn’t want to qualify for the Substantial Presence Test requiring me to file my taxes with the IRS.

 

Preparing for the Move

 

I did file my 2018 taxes with my wife jointly with the purpose of obtaining an ITIN. I learned through trial-and-error that the W7 needed to be filed with our tax return (there was a lot of misinformation when I contacted the IRS and was turned away at the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center with the W7 alone). The ITIN allowed me to apply and obtain my professional license in California (a tax number is required in California) and apply for a secured credit card (I hoped to jump start my credit score).

 

With regards to building my credit score, I am still not 100% sure whether what I’ve done will help. I will be sure to update this thread when I find out. I obtained a secured credit card with my ITIN and was added to my wife's credit card as an authorized user. In preparation to obtain more US credit cards when I move, I’ve developed a cross-border relationship with my Canadian bank and obtained an AmEx card to take advantage of the Global Card Transfer program.

 

To transfer my assets to the US, I started liquidated my assets in 2018, converting my CAD to USD gradually using Norbert’s Gambit with Questrade over the past year. This gave me a better return than through TD bank and Transferwise. I essentially took CAD from my TD CAD account, sent it to Questrade, performed Norbert’s Gambit, sent USD back to my TD USD account then transferred it cross-border to my TD America account. Aside from some commission fees to Questrade for the Norbert’s Gambit (note there are tax obligations for capital gain, which is negligable as it implies that you the USD/CAD conversion has worked in my favor, and you need to be familiar with CRA's superficial loss rule), I was able to move my money to my TD America (US-based) account with no other fees. You need to be aware of your CRA/IRS reporting requirements for having foreign bank accounts exceeding a certain threshold.

 

Anyway, that is it for now. My interview is next week and I will be sure to add to this thread as I continue through my visa journey.

 

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by ADW & JOP

[nasse_forelle 4]

i plan to have my fiancee apply for SSN within 2 weeks of arriving (fingers crossed), so that all other stuff can get rolling (credit card, bank, driver license, school, tax return, etc.)

[SalishSea 17,829]

50 minutes ago, nasse_forelle said:

i plan to have my fiancee apply for SSN within 2 weeks of arriving (fingers crossed), so that all other stuff can get rolling (credit card, bank, driver license, school, tax return, etc.)

Good plan.  Mine went to the SSA the very next day after POE if I remember correctly, and received his SSN in the mail several weeks later.  Definitely simplified getting the DL, bank accounts, and eventually purchasing a truck.

[purem4g1c 113]

Norbert Gambit sounds cool. I have to move quite a large sum of money eventually, really not in the mood to file an FBAR/FATCA every year

 

As for your credit score, couldn't you just join your wife's pre existing credit line by having a joint credit card and it will build your credit score if your SSN is on the account? That is what I have done, but I am not sure what my credit score is

Edited March 7, 2020 by purem4g1c

[canadavisa22 202]

30 minutes ago, purem4g1c said:

Norbert Gambit sounds cool. I have to move quite a large sum of money eventually, really not in the mood to file an FBAR/FATCA every year

 

As for your credit score, couldn't you just join your wife's pre existing credit line by having a joint credit card and it will build your credit score if your SSN is on the account? That is what I have done, but I am not sure what my credit score is

We aren't consider a resident for tax purposes until we officially move to the US, right? I'm planning to do the POE but return to Canada for a couple of months. During that time I'd be moving the money over as well. I don't want to have to file the FBAR for 2020. 

[ADW & JOP 146]

36 minutes ago, purem4g1c said:

Norbert Gambit sounds cool. I have to move quite a large sum of money eventually, really not in the mood to file an FBAR/FATCA every year

 

As for your credit score, couldn't you just join your wife's pre existing credit line by having a joint credit card and it will build your credit score if your SSN is on the account? That is what I have done, but I am not sure what my credit score is

FBAR was pretty easy to file for one year. I needed to do it anyway because I needed to file a joint tax return to obtain an ITIN and most of my assets were in Canada.  I didn't need to file a tax return in 2019 as I didn't meet the substantial presence test and I hadn't moved to the US yet. I moved most of money in 2020 as I plan to immigrate this year anyway.

 

I am already added to her credit card as an authorized user. Just trying to build more credit with my own credit card, but we will see.

[jackanddeona 310]

44 minutes ago, purem4g1c said:

Norbert Gambit sounds cool. I have to move quite a large sum of money eventually, really not in the mood to file an FBAR/FATCA every year

 

As for your credit score, couldn't you just join your wife's pre existing credit line by having a joint credit card and it will build your credit score if your SSN is on the account? That is what I have done, but I am not sure what my credit score is

Yes he could but he doesnt have a ssn yet. Cant until you get your residency. I myself am trying to get a jump start on my credit and have done a lot of what he has done but it's all pointless really until you get the ssn.

[ADW & JOP 146]

12 minutes ago, jackanddeona said:

Yes he could but he doesnt have a ssn yet. Cant until you get your residency. I myself am trying to get a jump start on my credit and have done a lot of what he has done but it's all pointless really until you get the ssn.

I've done research on this topic. There is some uncertainty as to whether you can start building your credit score using an ITIN. When I obtain my SSN, I intend to substitute my SSN with my ITIN number with my preexisting credit card with Capital One and notify various credit bureaus. I will update the thread once I do so to see if it made any difference.

[ADW & JOP 146]

40 minutes ago, canadavisa22 said:

We aren't consider a resident for tax purposes until we officially move to the US, right? I'm planning to do the POE but return to Canada for a couple of months. During that time I'd be moving the money over as well. I don't want to have to file the FBAR for 2020. 

I think you might have to file an FBAR in 2020 anyway. You may want to double check because at some point during tax season 2020, you have more than 10,000 USD in a foreign country (in this case, Canada). I filed the FBAR in 2018 and it was quite simple.

Edited March 7, 2020 by ADW & JOP

[jackanddeona 310]

10 hours ago, ADW & JOP said:

I've done research on this topic. There is some uncertainty as to whether you can start building your credit score using an ITIN. When I obtain my SSN, I intend to substitute my SSN with my ITIN number with my preexisting credit card with Capital One and notify various credit bureaus. I will update the thread once I do so to see if it made any difference.

I'll be doing that with amex and I bank with rbc and since they have an american side they offer giving you a us credit card based off your canadian credit. I figure 2 cards with 2 companies and being authorized on wife is a good start. At the end of the day the history is more important than multiple accounts and you only get that by actually being there. 

 

I've done a lot of research too and ya there are potential loopholes that allow you a headstart on credit but I could never find a definitive answer. I give the answer that I know for sure is right which is "plan ahead and have a couple accounts ready and waiting but dont expect a massive difference in your credit."

 

Also my point was more regardless of what you do to prep your credit you dont actually have a credit score or the ability to use it until you have a ssn.

Edited March 7, 2020 by jackanddeona

[ADW & JOP 146]

On 3/7/2020 at 5:27 AM, jackanddeona said:

I'll be doing that with amex and I bank with rbc and since they have an american side they offer giving you a us credit card based off your canadian credit. I figure 2 cards with 2 companies and being authorized on wife is a good start. At the end of the day the history is more important than multiple accounts and you only get that by actually being there. 

 

I've done a lot of research too and ya there are potential loopholes that allow you a headstart on credit but I could never find a definitive answer. I give the answer that I know for sure is right which is "plan ahead and have a couple accounts ready and waiting but dont expect a massive difference in your credit."

 

Also my point was more regardless of what you do to prep your credit you dont actually have a credit score or the ability to use it until you have a ssn.

Just to update this post, I received my SSN this week. I went to check my credit score and it is in the mid-700s. On my account, it lists both my secured credit card with Capital One (which I used my ITIN to apply for) and my wife's credit card, which I am an authorized user. This highlights that you can get a head start on building your credit prior to moving to the US.

 

One annoying pearl I learned today: AmEx would not honor the global transfer program as I already have a pre-existing credit history in the US. I will just have to use my current cards to build up my credit score more and apply for something better.

Edited April 6, 2020 by ADW & JOP

[jackanddeona 310]

19 hours ago, ADW & JOP said:

Just to update this post, I received my SSN this week. I went to check my credit score and it is in the mid-700s. On my account, it lists both my secured credit card with Capital One (which I used my ITIN to apply for) and my wife's credit card, which I am an authorized user. This highlights that you can get a head start on building your credit prior to moving to the US.

 

One annoying pearl I learned today: AmEx would not honor the global transfer program as I already have a pre-existing credit history in the US. I will just have to use my current cards to build up my credit score more and apply for something better.

Huh, ok good to know. I may be in the same boat as you with amex as I also have an authorized card with my spouse.

[NikLR 13,227]

Building my US credit score was easy. I used RBC and they gave me a US unsecured card with a low % because I was working and had great credit in Canada. I updated it with my SSN afterwards. Hubs and I already had a joint bank account. 

[jackanddeona 310]

On 4/11/2020 at 8:54 AM, NikLR said:

Building my US credit score was easy. I used RBC and they gave me a US unsecured card with a low % because I was working and had great credit in Canada. I updated it with my SSN afterwards. Hubs and I already had a joint bank account. 

That's my plan. I bank through rbc so was going to do that. Figured if I could do the amex xfer first it would help to have two accounts under my name right away.

 

Just for everyone reading this thread keep in mind just because your score bounces high right away doesnt mean you are in any way desirable as a recipient to banks. Having a long/multiple histories is the key so being proactive is best.

[Gak 24]

Just wondering, has anyone used VBCE to transfer all your CAD to USD? I've been using it for a small amount of money whenever I travelled to the states because they offer a good exchange rate but wondering if anyone has used it for moving a large sum of money.