Toronto, our future home

Brief them on: Horizon3.ai refusal (have the Slack screenshot), plan to secure a Canadian job offer in H2 2026, marriage planned for end of 2026 before profile submission, Sophy is a Russian citizen requiring third-country travel for passport/VAC submission, no prior Canadian ties, no French currently.

Not a general accountant. Needed before any major financial moves. TFSA/RRSP treatment for US citizens is complex and can create adverse US tax obligations.

Takes 2–3 months. Start immediately in parallel with everything else in Phase 1.

Apps alone are insufficient — use structured lessons (Alliance Française, iTalki tutor, etc.). Target CLB 7. French draws cut off at 379–432 CRS vs. 507–534 for general draws; still high-leverage even alongside a job offer.

Required for Express Entry regardless of French progress. Schedule early — test centres fill up.

Target CLB 7 in all four abilities: speaking, writing, reading, listening. CLB 8 adds meaningful CRS points. Keep a consistent weekly schedule — occasional study is not enough.

Target companies with established immigration support (larger tech, banks, consulting). Confirm early in any process whether the employer will support LMIA or is LMIA-exempt. Do not advance far with employers who cannot or will not support the work permit step.

Travel records and itineraries (Korea, China, Istanbul, Cyprus, Turkey, etc.), photos with dates and locations, communication records (messages, emails, video call logs), shared bookings or financial transactions.

Russian documentation takes significant time. Police certificate from Russia, credential assessment for her Master's in Mathematics, valid passport (confirm status and expiry). As of January 2026, Canadian VACs no longer operate in Russia — plan third-country travel (Armenia, Georgia, or Kazakhstan) for VAC passport submission.

Disclose immigration situation early once you reach offer-stage conversations. Confirm employer's willingness to support LMIA or LMIA-exempt pathway. A job offer at NOC TEER 0 or 1 adds 200 CRS points (with LMIA) or 50 points (LMIA-exempt).

Confirm exact timing with your immigration lawyer. Getting married before submitting the Express Entry profile (not at ITA stage) includes Sophy from the start and adds CRS points from her graduate degree. Married status = more CRS points and simpler application than common-law.

Should arrive around Month 3–5 if submitted in Phase 1.

Sophy can submit biometrics at a VAC inside Russia — this step still works in Russia. Passport submission (if required later) needs a third country. Plan that trip now.

Include: Canadian job offer (if secured), Sophy as accompanying spouse (her graduate degree adds CRS points), French test results if completed, ECA results. Submit after marriage so she is included from the start.

Identify which draws you qualify for. New categories can be announced at any time with no advance notice. French draws cut off at 379–432 CRS vs. 507–534 for general draws.

Ontario PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points, effectively guaranteeing an ITA. Difficult without Canadian work experience or in-Canada employer, but reassess once you have a job offer.

All documents must be pre-staged and ready before the ITA arrives. The 60-day window is hard and cannot be extended. Missing this deadline means losing the ITA.

Monitor with your lawyer. Respond immediately to any IRCC requests. Keep all personal information current in your IRCC account (address, contact, marital status).

Must be done before COPR expiry date. Can be a brief trip if not ready to move permanently yet.

Toronto rental market requires proof of employment or a significant deposit. Begin searching before you arrive. Use Zumper, PadMapper, Kijiji. Consider short-term furnished housing first while you explore neighborhoods: Leslieville, Danforth, Roncesvalles, Bloor West.

RBC, TD, and Scotiabank all have US-to-Canada programs. Bring SIN, COPR, and passport. Consider opening accounts for both CAD and USD management.

Do this on day one. Bring COPR and passport. Takes about 30 minutes in person at a Service Canada centre.

The 3-month waiting period begins on your Ontario registration date. Apply as soon as you arrive to start the clock.

Illinois licence can be exchanged directly in Ontario — no road test required. Book early; wait times can be 4–6 weeks. Valid for 60 days after establishing Ontario residency.

You will have no provincial coverage for the first 3 months after registering in Ontario. Get a short-term travel or expatriate health plan to bridge the gap.

You are a partial-year resident in your first calendar year. Filing deadline is April 30. Your CPA handles this.

Required every year as a US citizen regardless of where you live. Deadline is June 15 for Americans abroad. Claim FEIE ($130K for 2025, $132.9K for 2026) or Foreign Tax Credit — your CPA models which saves more. Use the Physical Presence Test in your first year (330 days abroad in any 12-month period).

Required if Canadian bank accounts exceed $10,000 USD equivalent at any point during the year. Deadline April 15, auto-extended to October 15. File via BSA E-Filing System.

Use your credit card monthly and pay it in full. Takes 6–12 months to establish. Start with a secured card (TD or Scotiabank newcomer programs) if needed.

These accounts have complex and potentially adverse US tax treatment for American citizens. Do not contribute until your CPA has modelled the cross-border implications.

You need 1,095 days within 5 years of your PR activation date. Keep a travel log from day one. Recommended app: Tracker for Canada PR/Citizenship.