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Living in Vancouver and working in Seattle?

rohit.joshi

Star Member
Sep 24, 2017
170
31
Hi All on this thread,

Myself and my wife are Canadian PR’s and are on a H1B working for global companies in Seattle. We are planning to relocate to a suburb of Vancouver in the next one month to keep our PR active but will have to commute regularly to Seattle for work. I need some help in making a decision on this and would appreciate your help with my questions.
  1. Is there someone who is in a similar situation. If so, can you please contact me at deepsanj1215@gmail.com? I would like to connect to ask a few questions and learn from your experience.

  2. My major concern is regarding crossing the US border frequently. Once I take residence in Canada and if me/my wife have to travel every other week to the US, if we say we reside in Canada but work in the US, is that a concern? Will they say now that you are living in Canada, you dont need a H1B. My wife and I plan to travel together on Mondays and return on Thursdays.

  3. Reg. this traveling from Canada, our managers are ok with it but for some reason our companies arent. But we plan to proceed anyway. Is this a concern?
Just wanted to see if there is someone in this group who has experience with this or who currently with such an arrangement of living in Vancouver and traveling for work in Seattle. I would like to connect with such folks directly. Really appreciate if someone could help.

Thanks in advance
Hi,

Can I reach out to via email as I’m planning to do this.
 

bricksonly

Hero Member
Mar 18, 2018
434
54
Have two residence works. Weekdays in Seatle and weekends in Vancouver. You can do some early in the Monday morning to drive to Seatle, which makes your stay in Canada 4 days per week (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon), which is more than enough for RO
 

matrivg2507

Member
Oct 31, 2021
11
4
Hi Everyone,

I am currently crossing the US Canada border (through Peace Arch border situated in Blaine, WA) to accruing days to maintain my Canadian PR status. Have a few questions to clarify in this regard.

1. I have once used the NEXUS card to enter Canada but this entry record was missing in the CBSA provided Travel History Report. All entries made using the PR card were correctly recorded. However, the entry made using the NEXUS card was missing. Therefore, just wanted to confirm Does CBSA also records entries made using the NEXUS card? If yes, how can I get them in the travel report?
2. I have started using the NEXUS for an entry in the US (i.e. an exit from Canada). Does CBSA records the exit from Canada made using the NEXUS card?
3. In the travel report provided by the CBSA, all entries and exits were recorded in the Eastern Time (ET). Since I am in a Pacific Time (PT), just wanted to clarify which time zone is considered by the IRCC (when someone apply for the PR renewal/Citizenship) so that I can plan my travel time accordingly?

Would be really helpful if you could please clarify above. Thank you!
 
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Reactions: NJvv

NJvv

Member
Aug 27, 2020
18
0
Hey, can we connect on email or WhatsApp?

Hi, sorry seeing these replies after long time. I have been doing mix of these commutes and so far so good. Still scared while crossing border every time. Let me know your experience at the border. Also when are you going to be eligible for citizenship?
 

NJvv

Member
Aug 27, 2020
18
0
Hello, can we connect on email or WhatsApp?

Hi Everyone,

I am currently crossing the US Canada border (through Peace Arch border situated in Blaine, WA) to accruing days to maintain my Canadian PR status. Have a few questions to clarify in this regard.

1. I have once used the NEXUS card to enter Canada but this entry record was missing in the CBSA provided Travel History Report. All entries made using the PR card were correctly recorded. However, the entry made using the NEXUS card was missing. Therefore, just wanted to confirm Does CBSA also records entries made using the NEXUS card? If yes, how can I get them in the travel report?
2. I have started using the NEXUS for an entry in the US (i.e. an exit from Canada). Does CBSA records the exit from Canada made using the NEXUS card?
3. In the travel report provided by the CBSA, all entries and exits were recorded in the Eastern Time (ET). Since I am in a Pacific Time (PT), just wanted to clarify which time zone is considered by the IRCC (when someone apply for the PR renewal/Citizenship) so that I can plan my travel time accordingly?

Would be really helpful if you could please clarify above. Thank you!
 

huiqin

Star Member
Apr 26, 2021
59
7
For question 2, I don't know if there's any change in H1B requirement. But I never lived in US and I used to commute to work from Vancouver everyday. And I was on H1B. I would have applied for green card if I moved down back then. But I didn't have the intend.

For question 3, if I were you, I will be really concern. You companies need to support you to work remotely. You cannot hide the fact that you now live in a different country. You will have to update your address and some of the insurance coverage may not apply if you do not live in US. If I were you, I would start looking for a new job since you may not be able to hold your job long if your companies do not support that you commute to work across the border.
Dear @YVR123 and @canuck78 , I would like to ask if I work and live in the US during the weekday (H1B) and spend my time in Canada (PR) during the weekend to get my days counted. Does CBSA allow me to drive a US-plated car into Canada? Do you have any experience to share?
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,302
8,904
Dear @YVR123 and @canuck78 , I would like to ask if I work and live in the US during the weekday (H1B) and spend my time in Canada (PR) during the weekend to get my days counted. Does CBSA allow me to drive a US-plated car into Canada? Do you have any experience to share?
My guess is that you might get away with it for a while, but eventually be told by CBSA that if you're living in Canada, you have to get it re-plated (ie import it). Plan in advance for that, whether it means importing it or sell it and get one in Canada.

Ages ago I had experience of residing in USA and returning to Canada a fair bit, and the CBSA would often ask about the US-plated car pretty often, and other things that were all about whether I was trying to 'double dip' benefits like healthcare or avoid taxes in Canada, etc. Most but not all of these encounters were good-natured.

If you're crossing often, I'd bet they will eventually get more serious about asking, and you don't want to get 'flagged' (where they put a note in the system to check you - every. single. time.).