Canadians in Florida?

A Canadian friend would REALLY like to buy a place to live full time in Florida. Is there a way to work around the "only for 6 months" thing?

Are they sure they want to endure the summers

kipissippi wrote:A Canadian friend would REALLY like to buy a place to live full time in Florida. Is there a way to work around the "only for 6 months" thing?

Yeah just lay low and don't attempt to work or get any utilities in their own name. No problemo.

AC, swimming pools and floating the crystal clear rivers is a help. They would just have to see if it works for them...IF it's even a possibility.

Hi Bobby, You know someone who's making it work?

I know a buddy who worked and lived in San Fransico for 25 years without getting caught,,,,,,,,,,,go figure.

My dad has had a condo in Florida for years. He can stay as long as he wants...however, if he stays over 6 months he risks losing his Canadian medical insurance. I don't think the restriction is so much that of the US but a Canadian requirement to maintain our health coverage. Could be wrong though.

Thanks for this. Very good info. My father checked with his accountant in the US and was told not to concern himself. Told his concern as a retiree was predominantly with Canada, not the US. Could be in his case that his previous employment granted him some "special" consideration in the US. Not sure. But this is what I love about this forum. You have taken the time to provide useful info. Thanks again.

Oh and I am encouraging him to rent his US condo and move to Mexico. A far better place to retire.

And crap again. He does file a tax return in the US. Nothing painful though.

We know a Canadian who owns a house in Arizona and stayed 2 weeks longer than the 6 month period. When he returned to Canada, he was stopped at the border and because of staying longer than the 6 month period, he was banned from returning to the US for 5 years. True story.
Also, every time you cross the border from Canada into the US, it is counted toward your 6 month stay.

My dad has stayed longer than 6 months. Guess it depends on the border guard and their attitude that day. Probably best to be safe and stay within the regs.

sparks wrote:Are they sure they want to endure the summers

Endure the summers! How about the humidity all year long. Remember it's surrounded by water. How about those high electric bills running A/C in summer and beyond, 24/7? Someone from Dallas, TX posted his summer electric on here at $ 320 US a month! You might say not humid in winter, but my froends had a [lace there for 16 years and said it's humid in December. And the size of bugs and whole house fumigation. Cost of taxes, etc.

Someone needs to rent there first.

johninajijic wrote:

sparks wrote:Are they sure they want to endure the summers

Endure the summers! How about the humidity all year long. Remember it's surrounded by water. How about those high electric bills running A/C in summer and beyond, 24/7? Someone from Dallas, TX posted his summer electric on here at $ 320 US a month! You might say not humid in winter, but my froends had a [lace there for 16 years and said it's humid in December. And the size of bugs and whole house fumigation. Cost of taxes, etc.

Someone needs to rent there first.

And that John is just one of the may reasons I am encouraging my dad, age 72 to retire in Ajijic. Florida sucks.

Canuck - You are correct. My Cousin is selling her house here to retire to FL to be in the same city as her kids, Bradenton. She has been here 8 years and is 75 y/o. We know she's making a big mistake, but she's not the type we can say anything to. Is your father going to rent as a snowbird or buy?

Trying to convince him to at least consider lakeside. He has a new g/f. Wonderful woman, my mom died a few years ago. Think this would be a great new life for both of them. Just trying to introduce him. Florida is not a good choice for anyone with a life.

I would rather live in Arizona/New Mexico than Florida. Too hot,
too humid, and too many NYC retires for me LOL. I didn't like
it.


Z

Zedinmexico wrote:I would rather live in Arizona/New Mexico than Florida. Too hot,
too humid, and too many NYC retires for me LOL. I didn't like
it.


Z

And Ajijic is still a thousand times better than AZ or NM. Hot temps in AZ, some of THE highest electric bills according to friends in our Community who lived there for 26 years. And OMG, those sandstorms, incredible! Did you see them on TV this year?

johninajijic wrote:

Zedinmexico wrote:I would rather live in Arizona/New Mexico than Florida. Too hot,
too humid, and too many NYC retires for me LOL. I didn't like
it.


Z

And Ajijic is still a thousand times better than AZ or NM. Hot temps in AZ, some of THE highest electric bills according to friends in our Community who lived there for 26 years. And OMG, those sandstorms, incredible! Did you see them on TV this year?

I prefer high altitude arizona. Very different weather and trees LOL. Yes I much prefer
Ajijic to any place up north. Been in a couple of dozen sandstorms from going to Burning
Man in Neveda and hanging out in Death Valley. You are right John they are amazing and
you can see them coming.

Z

[quote="CanuckBob"][quote="kipissippi"]A Canadian friend would REALLY like to buy a place to live full time in Florida. Is there a way to work around the "only for 6 months" thing?[/quote]

Yeah just lay low and don't attempt to work or get any utilities in their own name. No problemo.[/quote]

or never try to enter Canada again!!!

Entering Canada won't be the problem but getting back into the States may be.........although I have heard conflicting reports on how this is dealt with. Anywhere from nothing to a complete entry ban.

CanuckBob wrote:Entering Canada won't be the problem but getting back into the States may be.........although I have heard conflicting reports on how this is dealt with. Anywhere from nothing to a complete entry ban.

What if the Canadian lives in FL for awhile, say up to 6 months, then returns to Canada for say 2 - 3 weeks, then returns to FL, does that satisfy Canada's requirements to keep their medical insurance.

This is not about Canadian medical. It is about the rule in the US that says a foreigner cannot be there for longer than 6 calender months per year without a special visa. Going back and forth is irrelevant as the total time in the US cannot exceed 6 months per year.

If you own a house in the United States it is relativily easy to get
a visa to come and go for a Canadian. The health insurance six
month thing is a province thing not a federal thing so your miliage
may vary depending on province. If you don't want to work it is
generally no problem.

Z

What about living there full-time? I think that has pretty stringent requirements. No?

Well my dad has a condo in St. Pete's and has a Florida resident ID. I Also have an uncle that has lived down around Miami for years now. Both retired and living off Canadian incomes.