PPR Ottawa ?

[Hunt71]

Question:

If I moved cities will it delay the immigrations process to bring my wife to Canada? Our file is in Ottawa (still waiting on COPR) and I'm looking at moving there for a great job opportunity. Literally blocks over form the Ottawa processing centre. I would appreciate any insight on this.

Thank You!

 

[parker24]

I've found that the cost can be rather high - quotations I received for my personal return ranged from $10-30k. I decided to do my own for that amount, so I've become increasingly familiar with how much worse they keep making the US tax code for expats.

The Canada/US tax treaty is quite important. One thing I recently learned is that under US law the proceeds of your life insurance paid to someone outside the US (like a Canadian spouse) who is not subject to US taxation is subject to a 30% withholding. Under the terms of the Canada/US tax treaty you can file a W-8BEN form and claim a tax treaty benefit, reducing that amount down to zero. There are other oddities - like if you take a premature withdrawal from a US IRA and live in Canada, the 10% penalty will count as a foreign tax for Canadian tax purposes, which effectively means you don't pay a penalty in almost all cases.

Oh, and I'd avoid Canadian TFSA's (10 pages of paperwork per TFSA account and it's not tax free under US tax law.) Canadian RRSPs are not so bad - that's a one page form. But only for Canada. Any other country with an IRA/401(k)/403(b) equivalent and you're filling out the 10 page informational return.

My favourite question: if you have an account with Ally Canada, is it a foreign bank under US law? Remember, it's 78% owned by the US Treasury.

If you REALLY want to make things difficult, try living in Canada with a same-sex spouse. How do you interpret the word "spouse" under the treaty? Pursuant to Canadian law or US law? Ah, the mind boggles.

The most expensive legal questions I've ever asked are about cross-border taxation. Last time I asked what I thought was a simple question it cost the company $12k.

Will you do our taxes?! HAHAHA! My accountant is up to his ears trying to figure out how my husband is going to file. It's nice that he's looking into it for us, but I feel bad that it's stressing him out!

 

[Creampop]

well since he hasn't worked in Canada this year he won't have to file anything in the US... thats one thing I was happy about I don't even have to worry about it for another year...

 

[parker24]

well since he hasn't worked in Canada this year he won't have to file anything in the US... thats one thing I was happy about I don't even have to worry about it for another year...

That's what I was thinking. I think the more annoying part is going to be that I need a special "number" since I'm his "alien spouse"... Is it just me or when I say that I see thoe green aliens in my minds eye...

 

[mameelynn]

That's what I was thinking. I think the more annoying part is going to be that I need a special "number" since I'm his "alien spouse"... Is it just me or when I say that I see thoe green aliens in my minds eye...

lol!! Yes I always feel a little like Roger from American Dad anytime someone calls me an "alien spouse". We had to go trough the whole loops of getting the Tax ID number for me down here but turbo tax wouldn't let us use that and the IRS wouldn't help us unless I already had one I spent a whole weekend locked in our room trying to learn how to file 3 years worth of taxes. I'm really not looking forward to next years returns.... The only up side to CIC taking as long as possible is that we haven't been able to move yet so we only have the US to file for this year...

 

[Rose2D2]

Ok folks, got the copr today. It was printed on November 28th, I got DM on December 1st, and it came in the mail (to my husbands house in Winnipeg) today. I'll be landing December 29th or 30th.

 

[kafkaesque]

Ok folks, got the copr today. It was printed on November 28th, I got DM on December 1st, and it came in the mail (to my husbands house in Winnipeg) today. I'll be landing December 29th or 30th.

Whoo congrats! So glad one of us Oct 19 PPR people has one in hand; you're like a beacon of hope for the rest of us

Good luck with landing stuff

 

[Janna3D]

Ok folks, got the copr today. It was printed on November 28th, I got DM on December 1st, and it came in the mail (to my husbands house in Winnipeg) today. I'll be landing December 29th or 30th.

Congrats Rose! Im jealous! Lol! Hope mine comes in soon!

 

[santoki]

Ok folks, got the copr today. It was printed on November 28th, I got DM on December 1st, and it came in the mail (to my husbands house in Winnipeg) today. I'll be landing December 29th or 30th.

Congrats!!! I'm in the same province and still no COPR. Come on Canada Post!

 

[Creampop]

Congrats Rose!

 

[John_D416]

Congradulations. 8)
I think Ottawa should offer an option for people to have there copr couriered for a extra fee , so least people could track were it is.
I was constantly waiting on the mail man with mine and was glad to get it.



Apr.16,2012 - Application received
Jul.27,2012 - Sponsorship approval
Oct.18,2912 - Request for Passport
Nov.16,2012 decision made
Nov.20,2012 copr in the mail
Nov.23,2012 recived the copr

 

[Rose2D2]

Whoo congrats! So glad one of us Oct 19 PPR people has one in hand; you're like a beacon of hope for the rest of us

Good luck with landing stuff

Yes, your guys' should probably be getting there tomorrow or Friday, I hope!

 

[Line]

CPP Ottawa

Hi everyone, My application was received in july 30, 2012, sponsorship approved November 8th. I am sponsoring my common-law husband from the US. No news since then. I was just wondering what everyone's experience has been with CPP-OTTAWA? Has anyone been called for an interview? Do they ask copies of passport only or the actual passport? Are they usually less picky (or maybe I mean leaniant) with US/Canada? Do they give priority to those who are actually married? Does anyone know if they update ECAS on a regular basis? status is still showing application received........tks everyone for sharing your thoughts with me.

 

[kafkaesque]

Re: CPP Ottawa

Hi everyone, My application was received in july 30, 2012, sponsorship approved November 8th. I am sponsoring my common-law husband from the US. No news since then. I was just wondering what everyone's experience has been with CPP-OTTAWA? Has anyone been called for an interview? Do they ask copies of passport only or the actual passport? Are they usually less picky (or maybe I mean leaniant) with US/Canada? Do they give priority to those who are actually married? Does anyone know if they update ECAS on a regular basis? status is still showing application received........tks everyone for sharing your thoughts with me.

Don't know that there is a preference for married over common-law.

If the applicant is a US citizen, they will only ask for a copy or scan of the passport to be sent- not the actual passport.

Definitely don't worry about eCas, they don't update so often.

I haven't heard about anyone getting called in for an interview, but presumably they have the same standards as anywhere else for interviewing.

Best of luck!

 

[IvanP]

Re: CPP Ottawa

Don't know that there is a preference for married over common-law.

If the applicant is a US citizen, they will only ask for a copy or scan of the passport to be sent- not the actual passport.

Definitely don't worry about eCas, they don't update so often.

I haven't heard about anyone getting called in for an interview, but presumably they have the same standards as anywhere else for interviewing.

Best of luck!

Are they asking for just the bio page, or every page?