When I relocated for a job, it was mentally exhausting. It wasn’t as if I was going on holiday – it’s easy to pack a passport and suitcase. I had to uproot the familiarity of my life, make complex decisions and test my organizational skills before I left. Thankfully, I had help from a team of individuals who understood the transition I was going through and the specific issues I would face as a Canadian in the U.S.

Alain Forget

My last relocation was to Florida for RBC Bank, where I’ve spent a lot of time with Canadian clients who have cross-border banking needs. Over the last ten years, I’ve observed that one of the biggest mistakes people make when relocating is not taking the time to understand and prepare for the nuances of cross-border living, spending time in Canada and the U.S.

As an employer, providing a smooth relocation for your employees pays dividends. If the your employee is moving from Canada to the United States, as an employer you can be an important conduit to the information or additional experts who can help make your employees transition successful.

Familiarize yourself with the employee’s situation
It may seem obvious, but take the time to get to know more about your employee’s story and interests. If an employee is moving solo, consider the social aspect of moving to a new place and determine how you can best assist. When children are involved in the move, education and nearby amenities are top priorities. Once you understand these critical items you can best assess your employee’s needs and help lay the foundation for a seamless transition.

Be prepared for cross-border immigration requirements
The offer has been signed, what’s next? Before booking a one-way ticket, your employee needs to be familiar with U.S. immigration requirements. Strongly recommend that your employee consult an immigration professional to manage the transition, especially if the employee plans to seek citizenship or residency. Each status has its own limitations and requirements. For example, employees should be aware that changing citizenship includes liquidating assets and collapsing a Canadian pension.

Provide assistance with banking needs
It comes back to understanding your employee’s needs. Financing and day-to-day banking needs and insurance are a critical step to transitioning in a new country. Foreign exchange is big consideration for a Canadian in the U.S. so many employees ask – how do I move my money with me to the U.S.?

No matter how long your employee is staying in the U.S. but especially if your employee plans to return home regularly, finding a bank with cross-border banking that allows access to both their Canadian and U.S. accounts and has instant and free transfers through online banking will allow your employee to easily manage their money on both sides of the border and save money. If it’s a long-term move, access to credit will be important. Today, everything from a cell phone to housing, whether renting or buying, requires some type of credit history. Make sure your employee seeks out a U.S. financial institution that can leverage their Canadian credit history.

Consult tax advisors who understand both sides of the border
Regardless of when a person makes the move, taxes still need to be filed in Canada to account for the time before the employee moved to the U.S. For that reason, your relocating employee should consult tax professionals who specialize in cross-border or international relocations. If your employee is liquidating assets and transferring currency, he or she may want to consider putting aside enough funds to pay taxes for the coming year to Revenue Canada. Once your employee is earning an income in the U.S., he or she will be required to pay taxes and file a return to the Internal Revenue Service.

Other things you can do to help with the transition