U.S. Citizen staying in Canada and working in Buffalo?

caliotter3 · Mar 12, 2007

I believe that they have enacted a new law that states you must have a US passport to cross the border. I don't know what date it takes effect. At any rate, in anticipation of your plans, if you don't have a passport yet, I would suggest getting one. I have also heard it stated a while back, that it is now recommended that all US citizens obtain a passport for ID purposes, whether or not they plan to travel. I know that every time I do any business with a bank, they are now demanding two forms of photo ID. Just a good idea all the way around.

NewYorkRN2B · Mar 12, 2007

Thanks for your help. I DO have a passport, so I suppose this is a good start. I am not worried about crossing the boarder from Canada to the U.S. as I will have a full time job in Buffalo and NY license plates and license, but I am worried about crossing back to Canada after work. Anyone else know how this works?

Thank you!

Doofy · Mar 12, 2007

When I went to Niagara Falls last summer, they checked my passport when entering the US. They didn't check anything when I was going to Canada.

charebec65 · Mar 12, 2007

It almost sounds as if you're planning on on either living with or staying with your boyfriend quite a bit in Canada. I don't think you'll have problems crossing the border. I think your biggest problem, if you are going to live in Canada and work in the US, is the issue of residency/taxes..... If this is the case, you might want to speak to an attorney who handles immigration issues and/or tax issues.

NewYorkRN2B · Mar 12, 2007

Yes, I will be there a lot and don't plan to get an apartment in the U.S. right away. My fiance talked to an immigration lawyer who said that I can visit Canada for up to 6 months, so I guess I am just looking for someone who actually stays in Canada and works in the U.S. to tell me that it works! As far as taxes and residency goes, this is something we need to figure out yet. Thank you to everyone for your advice!

Amy

justme1972 · Mar 12, 2007

I could be totally wrong here, but I have a feeling (and obviously a immigration attorney would be a better source), I don't think you can live OUTSIDE the USA and work IN the USA.

Yes, we have workers come here all the time, but they are either A) Residing in the USA on a temporary work VISA or B) They are employed with a foreign company that also has a branch/business in the USA.

The reason that I say this is because I saw a news story just this week about Congress considering a law that would allow Mexicans to cross the border daily in order to work in the USA, so they wouldn't feel that they had to come and live here illegally. I was suprised that it wasn't legal to do this already, and I"m sure it's not a "Mexico" thing.

NURSE773 · Jun 5, 2007

hi newyorkrn2b vbmenu_register("postmenu_2106635", true); did you ever find out solution for your problem. if you can also tell us about your research on that? i am going through a similar circumstances.

thanks

BuffaloLPN · Jul 5, 2007

You can work here and live there, you just have to explain that you are going to work everytime you cross the border. My family does it, but they are Canadian citizens and work in the US.

The Passport thing won't take effect for another year or so.

Hope you live right in Fort Erie! Can I ask (out of curiosity) why? Do we US nurses make that much more?

oneLoneNurse · Oct 2, 2007

You can work here and live there, you just have to explain that you are going to work everytime you cross the border. My family does it, but they are Canadian citizens and work in the US.
The Passport thing won't take effect for another year or so.
Hope you live right in Fort Erie! Can I ask (out of curiosity) why? Do we US nurses make that much more?

Easy to get a NY license. Harder to get an Ontario license.

MelBel · Oct 2, 2007

I went to school with many Canadians who live in Canada and work in the US (Buffalo area). My fiance is Canadian and I am American, although as of right now, he is planning on coming here after we are married.

If you are legally residing in Canada, you should have no problem at all crossing the border. If you are just "visiting" I don't know how that complicates things.

DO apply for a Nexus pass though...they save TONS of time on border crossing, you don't have to be inspected everytime you go through, only show ID.

I can give you the name and number of our immigration lawyer if you want, just send me a private message!

wayunderpaid · Oct 8, 2007

Congrats with your plans!

Just another detail that no one mention. There is a long wait at the bridge (both sides) during peak times of travel. Nurses have to do a lot of "off shifts" so a Sunday night crossing in the Summer from Canada to Buffalo could be a nightmare:angryfire. Nexus may or may not help you during peak travel.

While I don't live in Buffalo (1 hr from it), every time we cross, we have seen increasingly more and more wait times.

A passport should be sufficient. Working in the US will never be a problem regardless of what a previous post mentions. If you are a US Citizen you can work in the US regardless of where you live.

Good luck!