How keep my work in US and live in Canada

[Fasteel]

I am in Canada because of love and not the weather. I have married my girlfriend Quebecoise of 10 years. Last year and we are in the CIC system waiting for her sponsoring me to be accepted and then hopefully my residency later this year. The question I have, is how do I best continuie my lively hood here living in Canada? I have made a profitable career traveling as a contract steel inspector. I have spent a big part of the last 10 years in Quebec but hired by USA and paid by USA companies. I have worked over seas also but always my companies that send me are USA engineering firms. THis is the only way I could work in Canada with out a work visa. THe exception by NAFTA. Sometimes I spend months away from my wife and go home to visit here once every couple of weeks. Sometimes between jobs just live with her. I have been doing my taxes in NJ where I am from, every year since my work is from there and that is where my domicile is. Once I get residency and loose my USA domicile can I still so this? I was told by my Canadian immigration lawyer to start a company in NJ, but the investment seemed a waste of money for the taxes it would save. (upkeep an adress in the USA just to file some taxes?) This last year I worked most of the year as a W-2 employee for a NY company and had just a few weeks as a 1099 subcontractor. I have no idea how to regulate a company by corporate state law. DO I have the option of just paying the higher tax in Canada, still work for the American client/or bosses as an American Citizen with permament residency with his wife in Canada?

 

[AnaMaria]

As long as your US company allows you to work in Canada, you can continue. Although without work permit, you can be stopped to come in any time even if you have work contract in Canada, if you stay long or too often (this actually could happen to anyone).

Canadian tax resident and Canadian PR are not the same thing. Even if you are not a Canadian PR, you may have to file tax return in Canada if you meet certain things, like opening bank accounts, purchasing furniture even if you are not in Canada 183 days or more. Many countries have bilateral agreement with Canada and in that case you do not have to pay tax twice.

You have no obligation to work for who once you get your PR. The only obligation to keep your status is to reside in Canada for certain amount of time, which does not seem to the problem for you.