living in Blaine - working in Vancouver
Hi there, I'm a Canadian Citizen living in New Westminster. I cannot afford to buy a house in this area (Lower Mainland). I have found some affordable properties south of the border, in Blaine and surroundings. >From a financial and commuting standpoint, it makes perfectly sense to buy a property there, and commute daily to my job in Vancouver. But I have no ideea what the legal implications would be, on both sides of the border. Would you please tell me if it makes sense, from a legal point of view and if possible at all? Thank you very much. --------------------------------------------------------
david ingam replies:
Unless you are an American citizen and / or married to a US citizen or marry a US citizen who will sponsor you to live in the US, it is out of the question.
Nothing stops you from buying a house in Blaine and spending Friday Sat and Sun night every week and keeping an apartment in Vancouver for the four nights a wek (have to be in Caanda more than the uS for US border trules and BC Medical) but you can't be sleeping in the US every night or living in the US without a 'live there' visa and there is not any 'live there' visa.
And if you can afford the Blaine House, the commuting gas AND the Vancouver Apt, you can likely really afford to buy something smaller in the lower Mainland.
If yiu could get a US employer to hire you as a management consultant or scientific technician or computer system analyst or librarian, etc., one day a week in Bellingham, you could get a TN visa which would have to be renewed every year but MC TN visas are hard to get.
The reason for the one day a week suggestion is that you could still wotrk in Vancouver.
The problem is that to live in the USA, visas are only for employees or spouses as a rule. You can apply for a green card but the last I looked it was over 15 years waiting time.
goto www.centa.com and read the 'Entering the USA' section in the second box down on the right hand side.
Last, but not least, if you do manage to make the move by marrying an American, your BC medical is cancelled because you have to 'live in BC' and 'make your home' in BC to qualify. If you have extended medical benefits at work, they are also cancelled because you need the basic plan to qualify. To replace a good corporate medical plan in BC will cost you $400 to $600 a month US. �
david ingam replies:
Unless you are an American citizen and / or married to a US citizen or marry a US citizen who will sponsor you to live in the US, it is out of the question.
Nothing stops you from buying a house in Blaine and spending Friday Sat and Sun night every week and keeping an apartment in Vancouver for the four nights a wek (have to be in Caanda more than the uS for US border trules and BC Medical) but you can't be sleeping in the US every night or living in the US without a 'live there' visa and there is not any 'live there' visa.
And if you can afford the Blaine House, the commuting gas AND the Vancouver Apt, you can likely really afford to buy something smaller in the lower Mainland.
If yiu could get a US employer to hire you as a management consultant or scientific technician or computer system analyst or librarian, etc., one day a week in Bellingham, you could get a TN visa which would have to be renewed every year but MC TN visas are hard to get.
The reason for the one day a week suggestion is that you could still wotrk in Vancouver.
The problem is that to live in the USA, visas are only for employees or spouses as a rule. You can apply for a green card but the last I looked it was over 15 years waiting time.
goto www.centa.com and read the 'Entering the USA' section in the second box down on the right hand side.
Last, but not least, if you do manage to make the move by marrying an American, your BC medical is cancelled because you have to 'live in BC' and 'make your home' in BC to qualify. If you have extended medical benefits at work, they are also cancelled because you need the basic plan to qualify. To replace a good corporate medical plan in BC will cost you $400 to $600 a month US. �
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