Working in Seattle but the sand in the PR hourglass is running out...

[nadeem82]

I became a landed Immigrant in Canada on May, 07 but have been living in the U.S. since then. Now from what I understand, I will have to move back to Canada no later than May '10 (and live there for 2 years) to maintain my Canadian PR status, is it correct?

My questions are:

a) Can a person who lost his P.R. status, apply again? Or, does the Canadian Government make it harder for regain P.R. status once lost?
b) If I do move to Canada, say, Vancouver and do the (crazy) commute to Seattle regularly to keep my Job. How will my tax situation play out? Do I pay taxes in both places? Does the fact that I was in U.S. half a day invalidate my Canadian residency day?

Hope to get some help.

Thanks in Advance

Sleepless in Seattle.

[Leon]

You are correct in that you can only be outside Canada for up to 3 years in a 5 year period, 1095 days to be exact.

a) You would be able to apply again but be aware that the rules may have changed and you may have a harder time qualifying now (or easier).

b) A day spent in the US does not come off your residency as long as you stay in Canada overnight.  To facilitate easy border crossings, you should get a Nexus card, see http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

You would file taxes in both countries but because US and Canada have a tax treaty, you will not be double taxed.

[nadeem82]

Thanks, that was helpful information.

One more question, and this probably may not be the right forum to ask this but seeing a lot of people being in a similar situation as me, I will still go for it:

1) I'm on H1B visa here, if I live in Canada (and work in US), do I still get to keep the H1 status?

[Leon]

I don't know if you can be on H1 status if you live in Canada   As long as you show up to work every day, why not?