Hello everyone! I've been reading some posts here, but I'm technically new. I'm currently a PhD student at a US institution under an F-1 VISA (valid until 2023), and I'll be graduating this summer. I've been thinking of applying for Express Entry, but the current delays + different procedures due to COVID-19 are making me hesitant to apply without a surefire plan. I'll summarize my stats and then ask my questions.
- Single.
- Age: 26.
- Highest level of education: Masters (U.S.). All degrees (Bachelors (U.S. also) + Masters) already evaluated by WES.
- Languages (scores as of September 2020):
- English: took the IELTS. Scores:
- Listening: 9.0.
- Reading: 7.5.
- Writing: 8.0.
- Speaking: 8.0.
Overall: 8.0.
- French: took the TEF Canada. Scores: [SKILL EXAMINED (TRANSLATION): SCORE ~ OLD SCORE EQUIVALENT ~ LEVEL]
- Compréhension écrite (Reading): 557 ~ 259/300 ~ C1.
- Compréhension orale (Listening): 663 ~ 350/360 ~ C2.
- Expression écrite (Writing): 550 ~ 382/450 ~ C1.
- Expression orale (Speaking): 699 ~ 450/450 ~ C2
- English: took the IELTS. Scores:
- Employment: I've been continuously employed as a TA and RA from August 2015 to June 2020, so that gives me 3+ years of continuous employment under NOC 4012.
- No job offer.
- No PNP certification.
- No family in Canada.
- CRS Tool score: 552. It changes depending on which test scores I choose to input first.
- I have more than enough money; I'll be applying as an individual.
- Given that I have all the documents ready (letters of employment, pay stubs, copies of scores sent, WES evaluations sent, etc), how soon can I expect (a) the ITA, and (b) the CoPR?
- Whenever I enter Canada to do the PR formalities, I plan on doing so by car. The closest place for me to do so is the Peace Bridge (Buffalo, NY). I've read stories of people doing their PR formalities, not settling yet (due to being currently employed in the U.S. for e.g.) and doing a U-turn back without an issue, even though COVID-19 is going on. Q: Can I realistically expect this?
- Part of these PR formalities at the POE, to my knowledge, is declaring a list of goods I'm bringing, and those to follow. I know that if you're only "activating" your PR and not settling yet, normally, you should not have to bring those. But I heard that CBSA can be rigid about that sometimes. Q: Is that true? What can I do to avoid this issue?
- For the list of goods to follow, how does that work exactly? Like, what if I declare my car as a good to follow and end up selling it and have another car instead? Do I now have to pay tax on it? What about subsequent visits? Are you just systematically taxed on your belongings unless they're part of said "goods to follow"? This is highly unclear to me.
- My last question has to do with tax: if I validate/"activate" (not sure what term is appropriate) my PR but I haven't settled yet, is there is a neat way of taking care of my Canadian tax? A quick Google search pointed to TurboTax, but I've also seen people recommending a cross-border CPA. Q: Can anybody having any experience with this (U.S.-employed while Canadian PR) share their advice?