aat147

We did landing last Friday Jan 20th at Lester B. Pearson International Airport and become Permanent Resident. Landing experience was wonderful as every thing went smooth except for driver license exchange. We stayed at Best Western Brampton and it was nice experience + weather was nice there were no thick snow and average temperature for the day was 7 Celsius so we visited Niagara Falls + many other places and enjoy it.

We took American Airlines from Miami so it was not lengthy one + on time. After first immigration counter they send us to a separate “IMMIGRATION “hall. Fortunality line was not long, they were processing number 19 and my number was 24 after 20 minutes they called me and officer took only 10 minutes to complete our landing; he told me that he needs latest picture of both kids; It was not a problem as I already have those with me, some kids were crying in front of camera as they were tired after length flights and their parents were trying their best to relax them. We signed our COPR and he asked me how much money I am carrying; I gave him a figure but he never check the draft, bank statement and cash and finally he said “Welcome to Canada” ; one person took us to another passage gave us welcome to Canada package including SIN, Health card and child benefit application and information. At customs there were only three persons ahead us after ten minutes officer called us and I gave him list of good to follow, he process it and gave me the blue printed customs form along with photo copy of my list after ten minutes. Entire landing process took around one hour.

Next day I went to TD Canada Trust for opening both Can and US $ accounts and applied for secure Credit card. It took around two hour as line was long because of Saturday and bank officer took 45 minutes to process my request.

On Monday I went Human Resources Center to apply for SIN and it took just half an hour, My wife gave me the authority letter so I never took my family there. After that I went to MTO office to exchange my US License and they told me they can’t pull my records form MVC New Jersey as they never allow any other agency to access their system. I have to request a sealed letter of driving record so they can do exchange and grant me G license.
On Tuesday we took our returning flight. I didn’t search for house and job because I am planning to be at Canada permanently at the mid or end of this year due to commitments at my present job.

escort399

Hi,

Congratulations and thanks for posting your landing experience. If you don't mind me asking,

1. On the landing fund, did you declare the amount you were carrying (bank draft+cash) plus the "money to-follow"-which I suppose is the amount in your bank statement?

2. With TD's secured credit card, what percentage of the credit limit were they asking as security deposit, is it 100% or 150% of your required credit limit?

Thanks.

aat147

[QUOTE=escort399]Hi,

Congratulations and thanks for posting your landing experience. If you don't mind me asking,

1. On the landing fund, did you declare the amount you were carrying (bank draft+cash) plus the "money to-follow"-which I suppose is the amount in your bank statement?

Yes I declare the amount I am carrying in customs form and I told immigration's officer as per landing requirement that I am carrying this much money. But for the money to follow I told custom's officer with my good to follow list that I will be bringing this much money on my final trip as I never sold my all of stuff like car and house etc etc.

2. With TD's secured credit card, what percentage of the credit limit were they asking as security deposit, is it 100% or 150% of your required credit limit?

I told her that I want secure credit card of this much limit and they hold exact money from my account; so you can say It's 100% of your credit limit.

I Hope that will be helpful.

escort399

Thanks a lot for your response and they've been most helpful.



[QUOTE=aat147]

kt0157

I reckon Canada could earn a lot of cash just by bilking people who think they have to pay tax on money they already own and already paid tax on.

You declare cash at Customs because EVERYONE (residents, tourists, citizens) declares cash above a limit: it's to track money launderers.

You declare foreign cash in your bank to the Revenue (if more than $100,000) because EVERYONE does this. It's to cross-reference against your tax return to see if you are evading tax.

You declare your worldwide earnings (e.g. interest on foreign savings accounts, salary while working abroad) because EVERYONE does this.

Perhaps this explains why France still has a wealth tax: people seem to be guilty that they have some money and want to give it to the Government.

K.

kt0157

I should add that there's a more complex grey area: gold. A WTO agreement with the Federal Government got gold defined as money rather than goods, so you can trade with gold as money without GST being due. But some provinces didn't sign up to this and want PST on the gold.

If you are in the unlikely position of bringing in gold coins, then they might need to be on the inventory of personal goods and effects in order to avoid PST.

K.

MSK1969

This is a bit of a worry and one which I hadn't thought of.

Are you guys saying that money you bring into Canada is subject to local taxation?

No, surely not

kt0157

No, most certainly not. I don't know why people believe it is taxed. An enduring urban legend. Maybe it's some deep insecurity that somehow the money isn't deserved and should be given to the Government to be shared with needy causes (e.g. recycled into donations to the Liberal Party).

K.