Can one live in Canada and work across the border in Detroit?

[avakai]

Hi,
Can anyone help me with my query? On a PR visa, can one live in Windsor, Canada, and work in Detroit, USA, and still qualify for Citizenship in Canada? If it is possible, does anyone know what the tax implications might be? Any direct info or website references would be appreciated?

 

[dreamteam]

thinking about living in Victoria or Vancouver and work in Seattle.pls ask the seniors.qorax

 

[Leon]

As long as you are sleeping in Canada, you are residing in Canada and would qualify to apply for citizenship but if they were to ask you to prove that you were living in Canada, that could be a bit harder if you were working in the US. However, lease of an apartment, bank records, phone records etc. would all help your case.

I can not really tell you about the tax situation but you would file taxes in the US because you are working there but I believe that you would also have to file taxes in Canada listing your US income as foreign income. They have a tax treaty so you would not be double taxed.

 

[qorax]

Technically it might be a tough call Xing the border everyday into the US & back for a PR. And how easy it's to obtain a US TRV/TWP... Sr. Leon?

 

[aanbaan]

well, if your employer is Canadian, then there is no issue if you go to US on B1/B2 on official work and get paid salary in Canada. Days stayed in US in this case can be considered as days stayed in Canada as long as your home lease and utility bills are active.

In case of a non-Canada employer, If you travel back the same day and have established residence in Canada, then there is no issue. Your day is counted if you travel back the same day every day. but, there are some restrictions I read 1 year back. Please check CIC.gc.ca

You may have to give taxes in both places. US will be concerned only with the US income. But, Canada will ask you to declare your Global Income and provide you tax credits for the the taxes paid in US. those tax credits are not a direct deduction from your taxable income, but is calculated using a formula. You'll end up paying a little more taxes than required. In your case, since, you will not have any Canadian Income, most likely, the calculation formula will make you pay no taxes in Canada, but you need to check. I did tax calculations in 2007 so do not remember all the details.

 

[Leon]

Technically it might be a tough call Xing the border everyday into the US & back for a PR. And how easy it's to obtain a US TRV/TWP... Sr. Leon?

You can get a Nexus card to ease your border crossings. As for getting a work permit in the US, I have no idea but I assume somebody who is planning on doing this has already figured that out. He may even be a US citizen.

 

[gjp]

I think Nexus Card is only for Canadian or US Citizens crossing the US-Canadian border

 

[Leon]

Nexus card is also for PR's but I do see that you need to have lived in Canada or the US for 3 years so it would not apply to those who are freshly landed in Canada and were not living in Canada or the US before. See Nexus card at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/elig-admis-eng.html

 

[avakai]

Thanks for the inputs!