I have NO credit score when I landed in Canada, but Scotiabank never asked for any money to "secure" the account. Looking back, I do have a job offer, maybe they considered it? Though they didn't give me a high credit limit, only like $1,000. I had to get an employee verification letter to have that raised.
No, but you do have to deal with exchange rates. Even if you keep a US ETF in RRSP, and move to the US, Canada will still take 25% of it.
Let's say you invested in US ETF, and you want to withdraw 1000 USD (1300 CAD), this means you need to pay Canada 25% so 1300 CAD * 0.25 = 325 CAD. But let's say the bank takes a 1% forex fee 3.25 CAD (2.5 USD), so now you're left with 1000 - 252.5= 747.5 USD. Let's say your tax rate in the US when you did this withdrawal is 26%, so you can take advantage of the Canada-US Tax treaty then 26% - 25% = 1% you need to pay this to the US. So 1000 USD * 0.01 = 10 USD, what you get in the end is 746.2 USD - 10 USD = 736.2 USD.
If you invested in CAD ETF, and you want to withdraw 1300 CAD (1000 USD), this mean you need to pay Canada 1300 CAD * 0.25 = 325 CAD, since it's already in CAD you get 975 CAD. Now you want to convert that that 975 CAD to 750 USD, the bank takes a 1% forex fee (7.5 USD) and you end up with 742.5 USD less 10 USD for the tax paid to the US, so you end up with 732.5 USD.
(Assume 1 USD = 1.3 CAD)
This shows that regardless whether you invest in USD or CAD it doesn't matter since you'll be paying taxes to the US and Canada anyway. From a legal perspective it's just a matter of how much do you have to pay the US in terms of USD, and how much do you have to pay Canada in CAD regardless what's the original currency is. You can see in both scenarios you paid Canada, 325 CAD, and the US, 10 USD.
Now there are multitude of reason why you want a USD ETF or CAD ETF. Maybe you can earn USD right from the go through ESPP or RSUs which makes US ETF more appealing, or maybe you just don't want to deal with having to convert CAD to USD when depositing to an RRSP so you want to keep everything in CAD until you withdraw them.
Full disclosure, I am investing nearly all of my portfolio in USD, but not because I'm avoiding future taxes or whatnot, but simply because the US stock market provide better gains. If tomorrow a Canadian startup went IPO that can convincingly provide returns as NVDA had in the few years, you'll bet I'll be putting some money on it.
Official IRCC numbers say that on average citizenship applications are completed 14 months after receiving the application, test, ceremony, everything. Once you get your citizenship, you can apply for a passport, which takes 20 business days after application has been received.
Requirements for a TN VISA: (1) Canadian passport, (2) a job employment letter from a US based company in compliance with the NAFTA occupation list, (3) Proof that you are qualified to do the job, i.e. employee verification letters, diplomas, transcript, (4) proof of non-immigrant intent i.e. a house or mortgage, financial accounts with substantial value, family members still living in Canada, etc.
Technically you can get a TN visa on the day you get your passport, but because of item (4) you might want to hold out a few months before trying to apply, otherwise the immigration officer might get suspicious. But if you actually have a mortgage or a spouse living in Canada, then by all means that should be enough to satisfy non-immigrant intent.
