Moving from USA to Canada- Records that would help

[gocanada963]

Friends
Some of you would have lived in the USA and then shifted to Canada. A few things that can help us or we need to take care- just wanted to get your thoughts on it. Something like

1. Does my driving history in USA help in Canada. As a proof do i need to take any documents along with?
2. My Apartment rent history. Does that matter in Canada. Again any proof I need to take?
3. Credit card history? How the credit score in USA will help in Canada?
4. Can I use the US issued crediit cards in Canada (VISA and Mastercard are global), but can I still use those and pay back online? Will that charge me something extra since it is a foreign currency?
5. Anyother documents that can be of use in Canada

I am wrapping up from USA this month and hence put this question and frankly did not browse enough in this forum if you have already replied to some of these. If you could send me the related posts, it would be of great help.

Thank You and Good Luck!

 

[Leon]

1. Get a statement from your insurance company showing how many years you have been with them without an accident. Show it when you are looking to insure your car in Canada. It should get you a better deal.

2. You can take references from landlords and show them when you are looking to rent an apartment in Canada. It may help you get one.

3. A US credit report could help you get credit from a Canadian bank faster.

4. You can still use them but I do not know how easy it will be paying them off. You could leave some money in a US account where it's easy for you to transfer it online to pay off the cards. If you need to transfer more money to that account, it should not be hard to do but you normally have to pay some fees if you want to transfer money internationally.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

1. Does my driving history in USA help in Canada. As a proof do i need to take any documents along with?
Driving history from DMV is needed for converting US driving license to Canadian one.
Insurance History is needed to get better insurance rates or you will get rates as if you are new to driving.

2. My Apartment rent history. Does that matter in Canada. Again any proof I need to take?
This may help a bit depending on the renter. No harm in having it.

3. Credit card history? How the credit score in USA will help in Canada?
This is of no use. They don't care about US credit. I had the credit score of 749 but could not get a Canadian credit card.


4. Can I use the US issued crediit cards in Canada (VISA and Mastercard are global), but can I still use those and pay back online? Will that charge me something extra since it is a foreign currency?
You can use them. Better keep it for emergencies only. There is small percentage of conversion fee or foreign exchange fee. US$ to Canadian $.

5. Anyother documents that can be of use in Canada
If you are imprting a car just get the recall clearance letter or you have to wait to register the car.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Get your driving record from your motor vehicle office along with that statement from your insurance company. Also if you have a college degree or other professional certifications you will need to have these credentials evaluated for Canadian equivalences and that takes a bit of time. There are several accrediting agencies. I found World Educational Services to be reasonably low cost (www.wes.org). You will have to have your university send your transcript AND your diploma directly to the evaluation service. My university takes 3 months to get a diploma, so you might consider starting this process before you leave if it is critical to getting a job here.

I have kept my Bank of America debit card and accounts open and have used them several times to pay for financial activities back in the states (like paying for my transcript/diploma, paying some bills resulting from the sale of my home, receiving the direct deposit of my lender's payoff from that sale, and receiving my tax refund from the US). I use the online banking a lot to move money around, make wire transfers, etc. Plus it is nice to just switch back to my US accounts when I am home in the states. So I find that keeping those accounts open has made sense so far.

My BOA debit card works like a Visa at checkout counters here so I do have to sign instead of entering my PIN. I've kept my US credit card as well, since I have a very high limit, I thought it would safeguard against emergency expenditures like my car breaking down. The only downside to using them is the currency exchange fees and the transaction fees, but they are not very much for occasional purchases. My BOA debit card even works in ATMs in France which was a real benefit when my partner's Canadian Mastercard wouldn't work there.

As for your credit history, you will have to build a Canadian one. Your score won't transfer but as Leon said having a good US credit score may initially help you get some credit here. I may have to try that as I have not so far and I know my US credit rating is excellent. From what I've heard many immigrants start with a secured credit card (meaning you give them money up front) from their bank and build credit that way. Most banks have new immigrant plans for banking but shop around and compare fees and services.

My only other thoughts are...will you be bringing your vehicle? If so let me know and I can fill you in on the process, costs, and my experiences with import/export and inspections in Ontario. Best wishes for a smooth transition! Allison

 

[gocanada963]

Thank You all for the replies. I am not planning to import my car because I am travelling India by end of this month and then landing in Canada. One another question (sorry for more questions) was on the money that I need to carry.

I am planning to carry 20K CAD at the time of travel, less in cash and other in TC. Is that advisable? Or is it ok that i carry around 3K in cash and then POF as a bank statement of the USA? (I should be showing a POF of 17K since mine is a family of 3) .

Since I am travelling from USA to India to Canada I am confused where to take my TCs from. What would you recommend? Thanks again.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

For proof of funds US bank account statements are good enough. Please note Canadian Banks clear US checks only after 3 weeks. Even the US Bank checks are cleared only after 3 weeks. So keep enough money for the time until you open an account and transfer your funds from US.
If you have an account in Bank Of America cash can be withdrawn from Scotia Bank ATMs.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

Since I am travelling from USA to India to Canada I am confused where to take my TCs from. What would you recommend? Thanks again.

A TC is TC. It doesn't matter where it was issued. US$ TCs taken either from US or INDIAN are okay. Take the TC from US, why lose some amount in exchange rates.

 

[NewHome_Alberta]

I am moving from US to calgary in 3 weeks and I am gathering all the documents as mentioned in the thread. I am moving with a job offer in hand.
1. I was wondering what type of records do I need from US for the Occupational Health Assesment? - Do I need to get only the Immunization records or I do not need that at all.

2. I see calgary has State Firm for Auto insurance. Let say if i have State Firm in US can i just transfer that insurance for my car to calgary location. I am taking my car with me. Please advice.

 

[parkarasif]

To
alisonvsc,
Get your driving record from your motor vehicle office along with that statement from your insurance company. Also if you have a college degree or other professional certifications you will need to have these credentials evaluated for Canadian equivalences and that takes a bit of time. There are several accrediting agencies. I found World Educational Services to be reasonably low cost (www.wes.org). You will have to have your university send your transcript AND your diploma directly to the evaluation service. My university takes 3 months to get a diploma, so you might consider starting this process before you leave if it is critical to getting a job here.

I have kept my Bank of America debit card and accounts open and have used them several times to pay for financial activities back in the states (like paying for my transcript/diploma, paying some bills resulting from the sale of my home, receiving the direct deposit of my lender's payoff from that sale, and receiving my tax refund from the US). I use the online banking a lot to move money around, make wire transfers, etc. Plus it is nice to just switch back to my US accounts when I am home in the states. So I find that keeping those accounts open has made sense so far.

My BOA debit card works like a Visa at checkout counters here so I do have to sign instead of entering my PIN. I've kept my US credit card as well, since I have a very high limit, I thought it would safeguard against emergency expenditures like my car breaking down. The only downside to using them is the currency exchange fees and the transaction fees, but they are not very much for occasional purchases. My BOA debit card even works in ATMs in France which was a real benefit when my partner's Canadian Mastercard wouldn't work there.

As for your credit history, you will have to build a Canadian one. Your score won't transfer but as Leon said having a good US credit score may initially help you get some credit here. I may have to try that as I have not so far and I know my US credit rating is excellent. From what I've heard many immigrants start with a secured credit card (meaning you give them money up front) from their bank and build credit that way. Most banks have new immigrant plans for banking but shop around and compare fees and services.

My only other thoughts are...will you be bringing your vehicle? If so let me know and I can fill you in on the process, costs, and my experiences with import/export and inspections in Ontario. Best wishes for a smooth transition! Allison

Here I need your assistance, we are moving next month from Houston, Tx. We are planning to get our Camry 2007 , what is your advice for me regarding custom clearance or any other issue. We are coming to Toronto area. Our car is due for TIRE change please recomend what kind of tires are good for Canadian roads, thank u in advance for your assistance.

 

[parkarasif]

to

Allison vsc

Here I need your assistance, we are moving next month from Houston, Tx. We are planning to get our Camry 2007 , what is your advice for me regarding custom clearance or any other issue. We are coming to Toronto area. Our car is due for TIRE change please recomend what kind of tires are good for Canadian roads, thank u in advance for your assistance.

 

[kumbu.bumbu]

Get Insurance experience letters i.e. letters from your auto insurance providers regarding your insurance. Get driving experience letters. Clear any loans on the car so that title is in your name.

Tires. All season tires will do to start with. If you use winter tires in winter that would reduce the auto insurance a bit.