Living in Windsor and working in detroit
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Does anyone know what its like to live in Windsor and commute to work to Detroit on a daily basis ? Can you do it with Canada PR card and with H1 B visa stamped in passport ?
How long does it take to cross border daily. How far is Troy from border ? Are there busses from Windsor to Detroit with high frequency ?
How are rents in Windsor ?
Can you commute without H1 B stamp in passport but all documents daily ? ie use Automatic Revalidation every day.
Can you cross border by bus and keep car on US side ? Are there parking areas close to border ? How much more expensive is insurance on Canada side than USA.
Do we need to pay Michigan state income tax ?
Should we invest in US 401K since there is no tax advantage in Canada ?
Please advice
This has been discussed many times on CD. Please search.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 28-07-06 11:33:54
Quote:
Originally posted by texancanadian
Can you do it with Canada PR card and with H1 B visa stamped in passport ?
Yes. US will check for a valid multiple entry I-94 (the one that has been processed using US-VISIT) and a valid multiple entry visa along with the I-797 stub. They don't care about your PR card although they might care about your legal status in Canada.
Quote:
How long does it take to cross border daily.
Depends. Crossing either way for work (early in the morning 6 to 7 ish and 5 ish in the evening) is a breeze. Weekends can be terrible due to visitor traffic either way. Other times are anybody's guess.
Quote:
How far is Troy from border ?
From the tunnel, it is about 45 minutes along I-75. Few more minutes from the bridge.
Quote:
Are there busses from Windsor to Detroit with high frequency
There is a tunnel bus operated by Windsor transit. Lookup on the web for rates and schedules.
Quote:
How are rents in Windsor ?
Don't know. I have never rented.
Quote:
Can you commute without H1 B stamp in passport but all documents daily ? ie use Automatic Revalidation every day.
NO.
Quote:
Can you cross border by bus and keep car on US side ? Are there parking areas close to border ?
Yes you can cross by bus and keep car on US side. There is an expensive parking garage just outside the tunnel in detroit. You may get monthly passes, again I think it is expensive.
Quote:
How much more expensive is insurance on Canada side than USA.
If you ask on a general term, I have heard ON insurance is more than MI insurance. But again, as you should know, insurance depends on a loooot of factors. So can't say for sure. My auto insurance has been getting cheaper and is now stands cheaper than what I used to pay in MI few years ago. But then I have home and auto combined and we are old and wise geezers and hence get some discounts for "safe" driving and stuff.
Quote:
Do we need to pay Michigan state income tax ?
Yes.
Quote:
Should we invest in US 401K since there is no tax advantage in Canada ?
Personally, I would not, except to the amount matched by your employer. While your US taxable income is reduced by the 401k contribution, your Cdn taxes would still look at your pre-401k wage as the wage, and tax you on the entire amount. Instead, you'd be better off investing in RSP in Canada as they are tax deductible and may help reduce your Cdn tax impact.
But, talk with a tax professional before making decisions.
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Dimple2001
Dimple,
Thanks so much for the answers. You have been a great help. Here are some more questions
1) Can H1B visa holders apply for Nexus ?
2) Worst case scenario how bad are the delays on weekdays (cant go to work that day) - how often does it happen ?
3) Can I use a mortgage payment for a house and property taxes in US as a credit in Canada taxes ?
4) How does it work in practice. Do you just sit in your car while Immigration inspector checks your papers ? do you have to leave your car and go into a booth every day ?
5) Does Canadian Immigration inspector swipee PR card everyday ? Is passport stamped ? What kind of proof we can get for residency in Canada as thats the main reason for doing all this.
6) Do lot of ppl do this - Work in Detroit and live in Windsor ?
7) Is it ok to fill gas in Detroit instead of Windsor ( Im guessing Detroit side gas is cheaper than Windsor).
8) Do you need to pay for OHIP any extra sum or just pay Federal and Provincial tax on income.
9) If you are deducting for health, dental in US can you get credit in Canada.
10) Can you use US income (but living in Windsor) to sponsor relatives ?
Thanks
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 28-07-06 11:42:40
Quote:Thank you.
Originally posted by texancanadian
And I found the postings by dimple most helpful.
Quote:Yes.
5) Can H1B visa holders apply for Nexus ?
Quote:Very rarely happens during work crossing hours. Still you can cross the border. It is not a dire situation.
6) Worst case scenario how bad are the delays (cant go to work that day) - how often does it happen ?
Quote:NO. Unless that property is rented out. But then, you will have to declare the income out of it.
7) Can I use a mortgage payment for a house and property taxes in US as a credit in Canada taxes ?
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Dimple2001
Dimple,
Given a situation where you are working and being paid in US but living in Detroit, what can you do to lower Canadian Taxes ? What options do you have ?
Can I claim my spouse on my taxes even though she wouldnt be living with me in Canada. She is a Canadian PR and has SIN but is completing nursing school in the US.
How much can you contribute to RRSP ?
Please advice on other tax saving tips to lower Canadian Taxes payable.
Thanks
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 28-07-06 12:53:11
Quote:YES. Typical questions though not all of them at once every day are:
Originally posted by texancanadian
4) How does it work in practice. Do you just sit in your car while Immigration inspector checks your papers ?
Citizenship, any articles to declare, any money over 10k, where are you going, where do you work, what do you at work, any meats, vegs, fruits, etc, Is this your car, etc , etc.
Normally, the number of questions come down to almost zero once they see your license plate as a "frequent traveller". The cameras capture the plates in their computer. By that time, they just sit and shake their head letting you continue while you are holding out the I-94 and the passport at them.
Quote:NO. Although, once in a while, you will become the lucky winner of random search on either sides of the border. Then you get to go in and they check all your documents and your car.
do you have to leave your car and go into a booth every day ?
Also, there is a good chance that the US may swipe your visa page on your passport in their computer to check your background. They now do it on my Cdn passport occassionally. That is why it is imperative to have all documents legal and valid.
Quote:NO to both.
5) Does Canadian Immigration inspector swipee PR card everyday ? Is passport stamped ?
Quote:If you live in Canada, you will have ample proof of almost everything. Lease papers, mortgage papers, car registration, drivers license, health card, utility bills, credit cards, credit card statements, tax filings and notice of assessments (when it comes time for that), bank and investment statements, etc.
What kind of proof we can get for residency in Canada as thats the main reason for doing all this.
Quote:I would say yes.
6) Do lot of ppl do this - Work in Detroit and live in Windsor ?
Quote:Yes. Today's prices - DTW $3.05 per gallon USD and Windsor - $0.98 per liter CAD.
7) Is it ok to fill gas in Detroit instead of Windsor ( Im guessing Detroit side gas is cheaper than Windsor).
Quote:OHIP deducts the premium that was recently introduced by ON. The deduction is done as part of your Cdn wage withholding. However, for people earning US wages, you will have to pay the amount when filing taxes. This amount is right now at a max of $750 per year and depends on your income level.
8) Do you need to pay for OHIP any extra sum or just pay Federal and Provincial tax on income.
Quote:Don't know. Tax gurus can advise.
9) If you are deducting for health, dental in US can you get credit in Canada.
Quote:YES.
10) Can you use US income (but living in Windsor) to sponsor relatives ?
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Dimple2001
