Working in US on H1B and maintaining PR Status in Canada

[max_lee]

Hi,

I wanted to check if anyone has undergone a similar situation as I will be facing and what is the best solution possible.

I should be getting my PR Hopefully a little while later but I am employed in the Metro Detroit area, I am satisfied with my job but as the GC Process in US is nowhere in sight I am planning to settle my family on the other side(Canada) and obtain Canadian citizenship. My questions are below :

1) Is it possible to have your family in Canada(maybe Windsor) while I travel to US for work everyday? will the canadian law allow this?
2) Do I need to pay taxes in canada as I will be showing residence in Michigan and pay taxes in canada?
3) will I be able to hold my H1B Status while maintaining my Canadian PR?

Seniors / anyone with similar issues pls pitch in - Thanks in advance

Max

[cchabert]

You need to have  the residency obligations of staying in Canada for total 24 months out of the first 5 years to keep your PR.

[max_lee]

Hi cchabert,

I understand that I need to be in Canada for 24 months out of 60 months to maintain canadian PR, but my question is can I live in Canada(somewhere close to US Border) and drive everyday to work in USA?

Thanks

Max

[Leon]

This is outside my scope of knowledge.  You can call CIC and ask but I am not sure they would even know.  As a PR, you are certainly meeting your residency obligations if you live in Canada but drive to the US every day for work.

As for taxes, I believe if you are living in Canada, you need to file taxes in Canada but since it's US income, you also need to file taxes in the US.  Canada and the US have a tax treaty so you should not get double taxed but you might want to have somebody else do your taxes for you.

As for the H1B visa, I am not familiar with if there is any requirement on the H1B visa to actually live in the US.

As for easy border crossings, you may want to get a Nexus card, see http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

[max_lee]

Thanks Leon for your inputs,

Would help if other seniors give their inputs as well.

Max

[max_lee]

Guys, need help, anyone with similar situation / Experience pls respond.

Thnx

Max

[beautifulworld]

Yes you can very well maintain your PR and commute everyday to Detroit without any problem as you have H1B. There are hundreds of people who do that on a regular basis. I fall in the same situation.

About the tax issue it is a good idea to check with a Canadian CPA.

Your H1B will not get impacted in anyways.

[max_lee]

Thanks for u r response Beautifulworld.

Max

[max_lee]

Hi beautifulworld,

do u by anychance live in Windsor(canada) and commute, I would like some info, if u don't mind about various things like housing, etc.

Rgds

Max

[beautifulworld]

Hi Max,

I am still in Detroit but had couple of freinds in Windsor who used to work in Detroit and they used to travel back and forth everyday. Here r few links and try google u will get lots of useful links.

http://www.privateexchange.com/rentals/renters.htm

http://www.privateexchange.com/

Hope this helps!