Canadian moving back to Canada

[GoingHome]

I've spent the past couple hours browsing this board, thank you everyone for giving your time and expertise to help others who are on this journey!
My question/situation:
I am a Canadian citizen, I married my American husband 12 years ago. We have resided in the USA for the entire span of our marriage. I retained my Canadian citizenship. We have three children together. We would like to move to Canada in a few years. I realize the avenue I need to go with to move back is the Family sponsorship but I am wondering about the Accounting for Personal Effects, which needs to be filled out and submitted at the boarder when crossing. How exact do they expect this and how does one put a price on everything. Surprisingly (or perhapse not) this is the most daunting thing about moving from Arizona to Saskatchewan! I have many "keepsake" type things that I would like to bring over, baby photos, awards, the children's toys, children's books, etc. Nothing of great monitary value. Does each of these items have to be catalogued and valued? I am practically breaking out in hives thinking about having to declare each and every thing we own. We will downsize, in a big way, before moving. Most everything "big" will be sold or given away (furniture, televisions, all but one of our vehicles) so it is really the little things I am most concerned about. Any guidance would be much appreciated!

Also, if anyone has been in a similar situation, a Canadian moving back to Canada, I would love to hear from you regarding the process! I am excited to move back but a little unsure as to all of the technicalities. Thankfully Canada's immigration website is much more user friendly than it's American counterpart! Getting my Permanent Alien status in the USA was not a pleasant experience.

 

[Leon]

You should list your items at fleamarket value so your private photo albums have zero monetary value listed because nobody would buy them in the fleamarket. You can group things like photo albums, cutlery etc. so you do not have to list each knife and fork in your kitchen. How much you group is up to you but in my opinion, each item that has a serial number should be listed separately.

To prepare for your move, you should get your kids citizenship certificates if you haven't already, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp

You will have to sponsor your husband for permanent residency but you can not do that until either shortly before you move proving that you intend to move when he gets his PR or after you have moved. If you do it after you have moved, be aware that your husband will not be allowed to work until he either gets his PR if you apply outland or until he gets first stage approval and open work permit if you apply inland.

 

[GoingHome]

Thank you Leon! That is exactly the advice I was hoping to hear!

My kids were born in Arizona, between 2003 and 2008, I took the quiz for them and it is likely they are citizens of Canada because I was born in Canada?! Did I understand that correctly?! When I was going through the American immigration rigamorole I was led to believe they would not be allowed to have dual citizenship.

I need to look into it further but my guess is I will move with the children (if they are Canadian citizens! I am still shocked that they might be!) while my husband ties up the loose ends with selling our business. It looks like that would be the quickest track to having him work eligible in Canada. Does that sound about right from your knowledge and experience?

 

[Leon]

Contrary to popular belief, the US does not forbid dual citizenship and neither does Canada so yes, they are already dual citizens. You just have to apply for their certificates so they will be able to prove their Canadian citizenship. With the citizenship certificates, you can also get them Canadian passports.

If you move to Canada ahead of your husband, you can apply for him outland as soon as you arrive. The processing time is something like 9-10 months right now I think. If he is done with his tying up loose ends earlier, he can come join you as a visitor. He can't work and wont have health care until he gets his PR though.

 

[GoingHome]

I will be applying for their certificates, and one for myself in my updated married name very shortly. My Canadian passport is in my married name, but it probably would be wise to have the certificate as well. I will certainly look into both the visitor visa and the PR options. Do you have a suggestion on what is best? File before we make the move or me move ahead of him? We will be selling a business and a few houses (that makes it sound like we are very well off, but we are not, we are middle class with a couple investment properties) so if my husband is not able to work right away it wont be the end of the world. I will be moving up there with a bachelor's of science degree and should not have a terrible difficult time finding employment in my home town.

 

[Leon]

I will be applying for their certificates, and one for myself in my updated married name very shortly. My Canadian passport is in my married name, but it probably would be wise to have the certificate as well. I will certainly look into both the visitor visa and the PR options. Do you have a suggestion on what is best? File before we make the move or me move ahead of him? We will be selling a business and a few houses (that makes it sound like we are very well off, but we are not, we are middle class with a couple investment properties) so if my husband is not able to work right away it wont be the end of the world. I will be moving up there with a bachelor's of science degree and should not have a terrible difficult time finding employment in my home town.

You have your Canadian birth certificate and you already have a passport so there is no reason why you would need a citizenship certificate. Your children however do not have Canadian birth certificates because they were not born in Canada so they will need a citizenship certificate to prove their citizenship and in order to be able to get a Canadian passport.

If you can sufficiently prove that you are moving to Canada when your husband gets his PR, it may be easier to apply before you move because then he will have his PR by the time you move and can work right away. However, it can be hard to prove that you are going to move unless you have already arranged housing beforehand and have a job offer etc. If you are planning on moving a few months ahead of him anyway, you might as well wait to apply until after you have moved.

 

[steaky]

Well if you are very well off, you won't need to sell any of your business and few houses outside Canada, right?

 

[GoingHome]

Thanks again, Leon! I will look into the housing, we may rent for a while, the housing prices are fairly high in my hometown right now. My husband has a standing job offer up there so that would be helpful on securing his visa before hand. I guess that is something we can play by ear until it gets closer.

 

[shaistafarooq]

Hello how are you
Can i ask one thing if u don t mind why are you leaving
usa.
does usa also provide free health like canada
does usa also provide free education until high school like canada

 

[IslandAnnie]

Please let us know what you decide and if you move before or after your husband receives his PR. We are in a very similar situation. I am Canadian born, married to my US husband and living in the US for past 5 years (I'm now a dual US/Canadian citizen). We are moving back to my home town in BC and have applied Outland. We are planning to move as soon as his PR is granted, but my parents are in poor health, so it may turn out that I move sooner and he will join me as a "visitor" until it comes through.

Good luck with the relocation and keep us posted!

Annie