Work in Seattle, Weekends in Vancouver (lawyers, tech job, to buy) - City-Data Forum

lost_in_seattle · 07-19-2010, 10:20 PM

I'm a single guy with an excellent high-tech job in the Seattle area, but am fed up with the place after three years. It's very suburban-oriented, the downtown area is void of people, and people are not openly friendly (see 'Seattle Freeze'). Vancouver is much more of a metropolitan city and there are loads more people in the city.

Unfortunately there's no way I can get a job in Vancouver that pays half of what I make now in Seattle, so I'm thinking of commuting twice/week to/from Vancouver/Seattle. I'd head back to Seattle Sunday night or Monday morning and then back to Vancouver Friday afternoon.

Here are some questions if anyone can help:

1) If I get a Nexus card will I have any problem at the Border Crossing doing this every week? I've heard some people are turned back at the border occasionally. Are there any immigration issues doing something like this? (I've done some research and there are people that commute across the border daily)

2) Medical? I have a standard healthcare plan in Washington - do I need to purchase an international plan or can I just pay-for-service in Vancouver if I need urgent care.

Before you call me crazy, I worked with a guy in the Bay Area that commuted by plane from LA and spent Mon-Thur at work before heading back to LA for the weekend.

Any other comments welcome! Yes, I've read all the posts bashing Vancouver, but I plan to just share a place there, not looking to buy a house. Also, there are plenty of bashers on the Seattle board.. maybe it's the 'grass-is-always-greener' perspective!

Cornerguy1 · 07-19-2010, 10:28 PM

NEXUS card or not, the only people with a guaranteed right to enter Canada are those with legal status (citizens, Permanent Residents, etc.). There is always the possibility that an Immigration official will refuse you entry.

lucknow · 07-20-2010, 03:30 AM

I really can't forsee any problems at the border for you. I'm surprised that your employee benefits package does not include out of country medical coverage. Most plans here in Canada do. If it does not or you just don't have a plan just buy a plan from AAA. You will be happy to find out it's inexpensive. I'm sure you will have a lot of fun here in the lower mainland of BC. Canada welcomes foreign travellers and their money. You will have NO problems with the border unless you have issues that you have not told us about. A criminal record is about the only issue their is really. It's the same with us going to the USA. They love to have us spend our $$$ there. I cross the border over a hundred times a year and I have nothing bad to say about either border guards. They have a job to do and they do it as well and as quickly as they can.

thedwightguy · 07-20-2010, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost_in_seattle

I'm a single guy with an excellent high-tech job in the Seattle area, but am fed up with the place after three years. It's very suburban-oriented, the downtown area is void of people, and people are not openly friendly (see 'Seattle Freeze'). Vancouver is much more of a metropolitan city and there are loads more people in the city.

Unfortunately there's no way I can get a job in Vancouver that pays half of what I make now in Seattle, so I'm thinking of commuting twice/week to/from Vancouver/Seattle. I'd head back to Seattle Sunday night or Monday morning and then back to Vancouver Friday afternoon.

Here are some questions if anyone can help:

1) If I get a Nexus card will I have any problem at the Border Crossing doing this every week? I've heard some people are turned back at the border occasionally. Are there any immigration issues doing something like this? (I've done some research and there are people that commute across the border daily)

2) Medical? I have a standard healthcare plan in Washington - do I need to purchase an international plan or can I just pay-for-service in Vancouver if I need urgent care.

Before you call me crazy, I worked with a guy in the Bay Area that commuted by plane from LA and spent Mon-Thur at work before heading back to LA for the weekend.

Any other comments welcome! Yes, I've read all the posts bashing Vancouver, but I plan to just share a place there, not looking to buy a house. Also, there are plenty of bashers on the Seattle board.. maybe it's the 'grass-is-always-greener' perspective!

Canadian border personnel are there to get you in; American border personnel are there to keep you out: THAT was directly from a group of Canadian/American border guards I talked to! I'm assuming you're an American citizen (you don't actually say what passport you hold).

You may go as far as double register cars in both Washington and B.C. and I've known daily commuters who have crossed for years. Usually it's related to employment and/or business ownership. Crossing almost every weekend because you like coming up here is going to get you noticed.

What you do want to do is CLEAN YOUR CAR OUT INCLUDING UNDER THE MATS. Returning to the U.S. if there is ANYTHING including old prescription medication belonging to the previous car owner your car will be seized and it will be made YOUR PROBLEM to sort out.

Hey, I thought Seattle was fun now? What happened?

lost_in_seattle · 07-20-2010, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedwightguy

Canadian border personnel are there to get you in; American border personnel are there to keep you out: THAT was directly from a group of Canadian/American border guards I talked to! I'm assuming you're an American citizen (you don't actually say what passport you hold).

You may go as far as double register cars in both Washington and B.C. and I've known daily commuters who have crossed for years. Usually it's related to employment and/or business ownership. Crossing almost every weekend because you like coming up here is going to get you noticed.

What you do want to do is CLEAN YOUR CAR OUT INCLUDING UNDER THE MATS. Returning to the U.S. if there is ANYTHING including old prescription medication belonging to the previous car owner your car will be seized and it will be made YOUR PROBLEM to sort out.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that - thought it was obvious from my post.. that being said, how do I register my car in B.C. if it has WA plates/registration?

I've always owned my car and don't think there are any random prescription drugs under the mat

And when you say going across the border every weekend is going to get me noticed, are you saying that that will be a reason for them to refuse me entry to Canada? I'm not worried about getting back in the U.S.

lucknow · 07-20-2010, 05:45 PM

Don't listen to any nay sayers. They just don't know what they are talking about. Where I'm from thousands of Americans cross the border every day to Gamble, go to strip clubs, Hang out in Niagara Falls, you name it and they come over all the time. There are billboards all over Buffalo, Detroit, and other places that badly want Americans to come over and spend their money. Canadian border guards are there for a purpose and it's NOT to harrass visitors period. Canada is a country that is very much a rule of law country. If the law says you are welcome here then that's it. Welcome to Canada. My wife and I cross the border over a hundred times a year and we have never been harrassed going either way. We always carry FAST cards and passports and we just whizz through. If I felt that my rights were being abused in either direction I would complain to the appropriate officials. Can you imagine what the member of parliament for Vancouver would think if you told him you and your money were not welcome here when the government is spending millions to get you here???

beenhereandthere · 07-20-2010, 09:17 PM

If you had an actual address in BC and you're not a Canadian citizen or resident, that could raise a red flag to the Canadian guards....that you're attempting to live there without going thru the right channels....even if you're only there part time.

thedwightguy · 07-20-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lost_in_seattle

Sorry, I forgot to mention that - thought it was obvious from my post.. that being said, how do I register my car in B.C. if it has WA plates/registration?

I've always owned my car and don't think there are any random prescription drugs under the mat

And when you say going across the border every weekend is going to get me noticed, are you saying that that will be a reason for them to refuse me entry to Canada? I'm not worried about getting back in the U.S.

Returning to the U.S. every weekend or so will get you noticed. This is a much smaller border crossing than in Ontario and the east, where you can get lost in the numbers and the number of crossing choices. And since 1997 (not 911) it's been a different story out here. We have a lot of cross border traffic in the base material for crystal meth, etc. and you won't be refused entry to Canada. It's returning to the U. S. that will be interesting.

Your pass should carry you. In B. C. we only have ICBC as the primary insurer, and any storefront agent can answer your questions.

Other posters have not identified their citizenship or U.S. status which affects any response. A friend of mine lost her TR6, not to mention 10,000. in lawyers bills when a used Marj. "dooby" was found under her car mat. She also had a sensitive job with the school board, and this could have cost her her employment as well. Basically, the border has always reversed burden of proof, but it's been especially nasty since 1997.

lucknow · 07-21-2010, 12:09 AM

Don't worry be happy. There will be NO PROBLEM. Trust me on that.

lost_in_seattle · 07-21-2010, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucknow

Don't worry be happy. There will be NO PROBLEM. Trust me on that.

Wow, you two have me on a rollercoaster ride! By the way, thanks to all who have replied on both sides. Lucknow, everything you said makes sense. I have no intention of being a P.R. in Canada (at least at this time). I have an excellent job in the U.S. Why would they refuse me entry to spend my US$ in B.C.? Doesn't seem rational. I would think their only reason to refuse entry is if they believe I don't intend to re-enter the U.S.

As far as getting back into the U.S., the only explanation I've read so far has to do with illegal drugs in my car, which don't exist. The U.S. Border Patrol is indeed trying to stop drugs from coming into the country. But what is their cause to stop a law-abiding U.S. Citizen from re-entering the country?

Maybe I should try doing this on a trial basis and see how it goes before I set up more longer-term living arrangements in Vancouver.