Things to do before you move...

[bctoboston11 0]

Hey guys -

I tried to access the "things to do before you leave Canada" thread but it's missing...

Anyone have a copy of the list or can give me some advice... my fiance will be leaving in a little under two months now and we're just trying to get an idea of what he'll have to do. (Especially with students loans, anyone have any idea how that works?)

Thanks in advance all!

[canucker18 0]

*waving hands* student loans right here.

If it's OSAP, it can only be paid from a Canadian Bank account. So, you need to keep a canadian bank account open, put them on automatic withdrawl, and then make sure you have enough money in there to cover your loans for however long until you can funnel money into it.

OSAP doesn't care when you move, you call them after the fact. It seems everyone else you call before the fact.

Other things you'll want to do is inform all credit card companies you are moving.

Your bank

Your life insurance provider. I am still paying into my Canadian Life Insurance policy, and can continue to do so from the US.

Cancel your OHIP- if you are in Ontario.

Call the tax man and tell them the date of moving.

For all tax things you will now deal with the international tax office in Ottawa

800 267-5177.

You'll want to make sure your drivers license is renewed and good for a while so you can get yourself sorted and still be able to drive in the US until you get your US license.

Inform all your Dr's, dentists you are moving and see if you can get copies of your files-I did.

I'm sure others will interject. Everyone has a slightly different experience, and many things can still be done after you move.

I chose to do them beforehand so I could leave it all and now have to add to the worry.

I hope this helps.

[happyimmigrant 0]

Hey guys -

I tried to access the "things to do before you leave Canada" thread but it's missing...

Anyone have a copy of the list or can give me some advice... my fiance will be leaving in a little under two months now and we're just trying to get an idea of what he'll have to do. (Especially with students loans, anyone have any idea how that works?)

Thanks in advance all!

Here you go:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showtopic=67622

[bctoboston11 0]

Thanks everyone, you're all so helpful as always! :-)

My fiance is very much sad about leaving Canada (which I totally understand even thought he's excited to finally be living with me), so I'm trying to make things as easy on him as possible right now... all this info certainly helps! :-)

[Chicken_Little 0]

Thanks everyone, you're all so helpful as always! :-)

My fiance is very much sad about leaving Canada (which I totally understand even thought he's excited to finally be living with me), so I'm trying to make things as easy on him as possible right now... all this info certainly helps! :-)

Try and order some Canadian favourites, like Tim Horton's coffee, ketchup chips, cadbury chocolate bars, etc. At least that way he'll have little "bits of home" while he's adjusting.

As for stuff to do before moving, I kinda forgot in my excitement to move, so this week I'm playing catch up, calling people and going "Yeah, um...I moved to the US last week." Fun times.

[MandE 0]

I thought I had read once that if your OSAP provider finds you have moved to the States, they will request you pay your student loans in full. Is this true?

[MandE 0]

Also, it is mentioned to cancel OHIP before we move to the States. I know this probably sounds dumb, but why? Are there any issues with not canceling it?

[Tinker 0]

Here you go:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums2/index.php?showtopic=67622

I can't get into it either, says it's offline.

[MandE 0]

ok, so i'm going to answer one my own questions, but in case anyone else finds the answer useful, i thought i would post my findings.

i called the National Student Loan Service Centre, where some of my student loans are held (I have some with Royal Bank, too), and they advised that I must keep a Canadian bank account open for the automatic withdrawals to come out of, because they can't withdraw from a US account. As long as I do that, it's fine. Only if I close my Canadian account will they then request I pay back everything in full. Also, they will not charge me a higher interest rate for residing outside of Canada (as I saw some posts mention).

I haven't yet checked with Royal Bank who also holds some of my loans, but I am guessing their answer will be the same.

[~Nini~ 2]

I know I'm required to let BC Medical Services know that I'm leaving the country, since they'll want to stop billing me for payments - they say that a "failure of payment" won't be constituted as notice of leaving the country. From what I've heard, medicare will cover you for the remainder of the month that you've left Canada.

Also, if you have any household bills to cancel before you've left, give them advance notice - sometimes they won't cancel service for a month or so ahead, so don't get stuck with a hefty bill.

By the way, I hate voice-prompt telephone customer service.

[Flames9_RN 358]

One way to find out what is required to cancel--take out your wallet/purse. I even cancelled video rental memberships

[misa 2]

Also, if you have any household bills to cancel before you've left, give them advance notice - sometimes they won't cancel service for a month or so ahead, so don't get stuck with a hefty bill.

I cancelled my internet too late and had to pay for 30 days after I cancelled. I also didn't cancel my water heater rental from Enbridge because I thought that cancelling Hydro would take care of that... nope! It took me 3 freaking months of calls back and forth to Enbridge to get my name taken off the account for the apartment and they finally sent me a cheque for overpayment. The idiots kept saying that they needed to know the new tenant's name and I was like, "How the hell would I know that?"

[Cassie 8]

ok, so i'm going to answer one my own questions, but in case anyone else finds the answer useful, i thought i would post my findings.

i called the National Student Loan Service Centre, where some of my student loans are held (I have some with Royal Bank, too), and they advised that I must keep a Canadian bank account open for the automatic withdrawals to come out of, because they can't withdraw from a US account. As long as I do that, it's fine. Only if I close my Canadian account will they then request I pay back everything in full. Also, they will not charge me a higher interest rate for residing outside of Canada (as I saw some posts mention).

I haven't yet checked with Royal Bank who also holds some of my loans, but I am guessing their answer will be the same.

Both my loans are with the Royal Bank, and I have kept open my bank account with them to continue the auto debit payments. My interest rate has stayed the same, even after I went and changed my name and mailing address on my account to my married name and US address (did it in person the first time I was back in Canada after being married).

One thing that I found helpful was to let everyone know my new mailing address (before I left), phone number and email (after I got to the US).

--the copy of my medical file was invaluable and very much appreciated by my new doctor.

--definitely check your cell phone contract -- I had to pay the 6 months left on my contract at once

-- have a big yard sale before you go to get rid of any extranneous things --saves room and money when making the big move!

[Marilyn. 340]

here are a couple of threads....

things you wish you'd thought of Before You Crossed the Border

things to do before leaving Canada

[L_n_O 3]

-- have a big yard sale before you go to get rid of any extranneous things --saves room and money when making the big move!

It's too late to have a Garage sale in November, right?