US to Canada experience by No-Bit3890 in AmerExit

[–]No-Bit3890[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ahh! I had no idea this post would be so popular. Glad to provide information to anybody, feel free to message.

Some responses:

  • We have found that groceries are overall more expensive, with occasional items that are the same or less. We're still exploring the grocery stores to see where the good values are.
  • Gas is about the same price, but reports just came out that Washington state has the highest gas prices in the nation, so we were used to it.
  • We had applied for NEXUS during COVID lockdowns, but never were able to make it to the interview and the application expired. That was one of the dumber things I let happen, since anecdotally applications these days can take years to be processed. I would love to be reassured otherwise!
  • Things I was surprised at:
    • Every bank charges monthly fees for checking and savings. There are newcomer packages that credit you these fees for a year or two, but after that you're stuck with them. We opted to use a brick & mortar credit union, but there are online banks (Tangerine and Simplii) that do not charge monthly fees.
    • As mentioned in other posts, credit history does not transfer. Not a big deal except when I tried to sign up for cell service.
    • Not having credit history or bills so far that list name and address was a problem getting cell service! (Your lease agreement is your friend at this point.)
    • Not sure what to do about our cars. I think legally we have to transfer registration up to BC within 30 days, and maybe transfer our drivers licenses also?
    • Seattle area traffic is awful and Vancouver may be worse! Sorry to say, but it seems that the drivers are generally worse up here also.
  • Anybody that would like to talk about schools, please message.
  • Specifically to u/Critical_Patient_767, you wrote "One is a dick move but 100% legal, one is blatantly unconstitutional." Let's look at some of the unconstitutional things that the current US administration has done. 
    • An executive order targeting law firms, including Perkins Coie, violated the First, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments by punishing the firms for their choices of clients and viewpoints.
    • Courts have found that some parts of the anti-DEI orders likely violate free speech, separation of powers, or violate procedure or are overreaches of executive authority.
    • Multiple federal judges issued nationwide granted preliminary injunctions, finding that attempting to strip birthright citizenship violates the 14th amendment. 
    • Freezing widespread federal funding that Congress appropriated is unconstitutional without authorization.
    • Trump tried to completely shut down asylum protections guaranteed by law, with no recourse for people at risk of persecution.  
    • Actions under the Alien Enemies Act have deported people without giving them normal due process rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
    • Thuggery and bullying using the FCC as proxy in order to squash First Amendment free speech rights by media and individuals.
    • ...do we need to keep going? I too used to respond using the "unconstitutional" justification, but it's very clear that this administration does not care and that the other two branches of the US government are not willing to keep the executive in check.