The simple answer is YES, you are eligible to get your social security amount monthly after you turn 62 (retirement age) even if you are outside the US physically.

Eligibility

1 SSN credit is given for 1 quarter of social security tax contribution.

40 credits mean 10 years of contribution if you keep working and contributing without any break.

The 40 credits can be achieved in breaks also.

SSA.gov has a tool to test your eligibility for payments outside the US.

Example:

An H1B worker comes to work for Infosys in the USA. He pays social security tax for 6 years and then returns to India for offshore work. Infosys has an approved i140 for this employee.

He then changes his employer in India and joins TCS (Tata Consultancy Services).

TCS applies for his H1B transfer using Infosys’s approved i140 after 2 years in India and sends him again to the US for a long-term onshore assignment.

As soon as the person joins the TCS in the USA, the payroll starts again, and social security tax is automatically deducted before in-hand pay.

He has worked for another 5 years and continues to contribute to Social Security.

How to check my Credits?

You can register on the Social Security website for a free account and connect it with your SSN.

The website is pretty user-friendly and will show all your contributions irrespective of your work breaks.

You can even use your social account login like Facebook or Google to create an account on the SSA.gov website.

How to Apply for Social Security outside USA?

If you are living outside the USA and want to claim social security, you need to apply for it explicitly in the Social Security office located in your country.

If your country is not listed on the SSN website for an office location, then you should contact the US embassy in your country for the next steps.

Example:

If you are in India, you will need to visit the SSN office in Manila. You will need to visit the office 3 months before your retirement age i.e. 62 and apply for receiving benefits.

Once your application is approved and you are eligible (have 40 credits), you will start receiving your money in India.

How Much Money Will I Get As Social Security?

The amount of social security is calculated based on several factors. You can check an estimate of how much money you are eligible for by entering your average salary in the calculator provided by the SSA.GOV website.

You will need to register on the SSA.GOV website to access this calculator.

H1B workers Eligible to Get Social Security?

I discussed this topic with one of my guests on my YouTube channel and they also have the understanding that one is eligible to get Social Security outside the USA:

FAQ

The post Will Social Security Benefits be Paid in India / Canada If I Leave USA? appeared first on AM22Tech.

The move to Canada from the US is easy except for the transfer of a Robinhood account.

Robinhood is not available in Canada as of writing this article. We will update it as and when this changes.

Also, if you move to Canada permanently, meaning that you are not maintaining a physical presence in the US, then you are also not eligible to maintain your Robinhood account.

This is mandated by IRS rules and not Robinhood.

What happens if you Move to Canada?

Robinhood will detect your location as and when you log in to your account. Once they detect that you are outside the US, you will need to re-verify your US address with a government-issued photo ID card with a US address.

If you still have a valid ID, you may be able to extend your Robinhood use until the ID expires.

Many people who move to Canada on PR use the VPN to hide their real location. This may be helpful for a short period since Robinhood forces you to sell all your investments once they detect that you are not a US resident anymore.

Restrictions on US Accounts

Creative Planning recently reported that most banks and almost all stock brokers have added these restrictions for non-US residents due to stricter FATCA and European Union rules.

I found this Reddit thread where a Fidelity representative has cleared the confusion. The important points:

1. You can maintain your existing US accounts, but cannot create new accounts.
   • You should be able to create a new account with the same company’s entity in the destination country though.
   • Example: If you move to Canada and Fidelity offers stock brokerage as ‘Fidelity Canada’, you should be able to open a new account with them and start trading afresh.
2. Trades (buy and sell) of most individual US stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are allowed.
3. Purchases of new US mutual funds or adding to MFs will NOT be allowed. Automatic dividend reinvestment will be allowed.

Merill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and Charles Shwab also have similar restricted rules as Robinhood for non-US residents.

The grace time may vary by each broker company.

Most of them use the app installed on your smartphone to track your device’s IP address to find your physical location.

You can of course sell your shares anytime but new deposits are not allowed.

Do not worry about the control of your account. Even though your account will be restricted, you maintain control over when investments will be sold.

401k Account

You will be able to hold your investments in a 401k account and not be required to sell them immediately.

As per IRS requirements, your brokerage firm (like Robinhood, Fidelity, Morgan Stanley, etc) will need you to fill out IRS form IRS W-9 or W8-BEN for correct tax withholding on withdrawals.

You should ideally wait till you reach retirement age to sell and withdraw 401K money to avoid early withdrawal penalties.

Credit Cards

If you have a branded credit card through Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Robinhood Gold card, you can keep using it normally.

There is no restriction on using those cards outside the US as they are issued through a separate bank entity.

Treat them just like any other credit card you have.

Robinhood Restricted Access

Robinhood restricts access from certain countries that do not have good relations with the USA.

These restrictions are meant only for people who are temporarily traveling to these countries. It only means that you being a US resident, cannot access your Robinhood account while you are physically in these countries unless you bypass it through a VPN connection.

Social Security Outside USA

Social security account is managed separately by the SSA.GOV government entity.

The rules for social security are different than the rules for stocks and securities.

Your Social Security account can be maintained from outside the US and you will stay eligible for receiving the Social Security amount from outside the USA.

FAQ

The post Can You Use Robinhood in Canada/India? How to maintain US 401k account? appeared first on AM22Tech.

If yes, then you can create a ‘One and Same Person Affidavit‘ and get it notarized to prove that all names belong to the same person.

This affidavit is also known as the ‘same name affidavit form’ and can be submitted for legal purposes such as immigration, Green card application, or PR for Australia, Canada, the UK, and other such countries.

You can either write this affidavit yourself or use an app to fill it out for you.

Affidavit for Multiple Names on Different Documents

#1 Enter your Details

Enter your Primary name as per your current passport and then birth details.

You are also required to enter your current residential address. This address can be anywhere in the world irrespective of your birthplace or home country.

#2 Enter Other Names

You can enter different versions of your name for yourself. This is the same as entering your alias name.

Make sure that you do not make any mistakes in the name spelling as they will be written on the affidavit PDF.

Should I consider Social media names as ‘Other Names’?

A lot of people get confused with respect to choosing which names are considered other names especially when we use different alias names on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others.

The rules for what is considered ‘other names’ vary by country and purpose. We suggest writing all the names that you think people (your friend circle and family) know you along with your social media names.

Examples:

• In the USA, it is expected and required by law that you consider all names like maiden name, social media names that people know you with, and names on all legal documents like passport, birth certificate, education documents, and others mentioned on this same name affidavit form.
• Other countries may have different requirements and may or may not require you to mention your name that you are not on any legal document.

Our suggestion is to use all names if you are not sure about the actual requirement to make the document universally acceptable.

#3 Enter Father’s Name

The last step in data entry is to fill in your father’s name. Once you are done, you can click the ‘validate and save’ button to check all your data.

If there are any errors, the app will automatically ask you to fix them.

If there are no errors, you can purchase (if applicable) the document and your affidavit will be sent to your registered email address within minutes.

Email with Affidavit

Notary

The notary will be required from your local notary to make it a legally valid document. You must sign this affidavit in front of the notary.

The notary service may be known by a different name in your place of residence like ‘Justice of peace’ in Australia, ‘Commissioner of Oaths’ in England / Wales, etc.

There are options for online notaries as well in the USA where they connect and see you sign via video call. Not all states in the US accept online notaries though.

Example:

The state of Texas in the USA allows online notaries while some counties in California accept documents notarized by online communication.

Please check with your local state/county law before getting online notary services:

• DocVerify
• Notarize
• NotaryCam
• Pavaso
• Safedocs
• SIGNiX

Photo on Multiple Name Affidavit

The photo is not required but highly recommended to avoid forging documents.

We recommend pasting a passport-size photo (according to the passport photo rules) of your country of residence and then signing across the photo so that half of the signature appears on the affidavit.

Sample Same Name Affidavit

This is a sample affidavit that arrives by email.

The app automatically adds the most recent tried and tested legal language based on your country and state of residence. All such country and state-specific formats have not been shown here due to limited space.

Example:

• The same name affidavit in New York, US may have a slightly different language than the one created for a person living in Edinburg, UK.
• Similarly, the language of the same name affidavit may be edited by the app based on the purpose of use like immigration or real estate purchase, or a civil/criminal court case proceeding.
• The address on the final affidavit is also printed based on the residence address, and the address format requirements along with country-specific date formats.
• The self-help app will always provide you with the most recent and updated PDF document that’s currently being accepted by your local government and the purpose.
• The app provides LIVE text chat support in case you have questions and a full refund policy.

Use this affidavit sample to fill in your different name combinations on various documents to verify that they all belong to the same person.

FAQ

The post One and Same Person Affidavit for Multiple Names (Immigration/Other) appeared first on AM22Tech.

Canada visa officer will decide if an interview is required for your specific case and call you if one is needed.

If you have any US visa stamped in your current or old passport like a US B1/B2 or any work visa like H1B, L visa, the chances are very high that you will get a Canadian visitor visa without an interview.

Documents Required

#1 Passport

All old expired and current valid passport color copies.

Scan the following pages preferably using your smartphone app or a scanner at home:

• Frontpage showing your photo
• Last page showing your address
• All existing entry-exit stamps in the passport
• All valid or expired visa stamps from any country

You can use various apps and cloud storage services to scan and keep all your visa documents easily accessible.

#2 Bank statement

Showing last 3-month bank balance.

Make sure you have enough money to pay for your Canada trip as per your itinerary.

I suggest using your salary account which shows pay credits.

#3 Employment Letter

If you are currently employed in your country, an employment verification letter is recommended.

#4 Current Country Valid Status

If you are applying for a Canadian visa in a country that is not the same as your passport, then you need to provide proof of valid status.

Example:

If you are working in the US on an H1B visa with an Indian passport, you need to provide your valid H1B i797 copy as proof.

#5 Scanned Photograph

You can get your passport-size photo created online as you would need it for uploading with your application.

Your photo will be taken again at the VFS center.

#6 Application for Visitor Visa (Temporary resident Visa) – IMM 5257

#7 Application for Temporary Residence – IMM 5257 Schedule 1

#8 Family Information Form – IMM 5645

#9 Last 3 months Pay Slips

#10 Marriage Certificate (if married) and applying as a family

#11 Travel Itinerary – The sample is given below

#12 Visa Fees Payment Receipt

You can pay online by credit/debit card.

There are no extra surcharges but it may vary based on the country you are applying from.

Online Process

#1 Create an account on the Canada CIC website.

If you already have a login, you can simply sign in using your GCKey (basically the Canadian CIC website password).

The solution to log-in loop error Canada CIC website.

#2 Upload all required documents and apply.

#3 An email is received for the biometric letter.

Print the Biometric letter and make an appointment.

You get 30 days to give your fingerprints after the Biometric letter has been generated. The last date will be mentioned in the letter too.

• If you are outside Canada or the United States, you can go to any Visa Application Centre (VAC).
• If you are in the United States, you may go to a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Application Support Center (ASC) or a Visa Application Centre (VAC).

What to expect at USCIS ASC Center biometric experience in the USA.

#4 Once biometrics is done, you will wait for a decision on your application.

#5 You will get an email once a decision is made. You will be asked to submit your passport.

Passport Request Letter

Once the visa officer has processed your application, you will get an email and a letter will be available in your CIC dashboard.

The chances are 99% that your visa has been approved if you get a passport submission request.

You can submit your passport within 30 days of the passport request.

#6 Submit your passport.

You can expect your passport back with a visa stamp within 1-3 working days.

Visa Processing Time

The Canada visitor visa processing time is 21-40 calendar days.

This timeline is shown from a real Canada visitor application where the application was submitted online on Sep 15.

Biometric was completed on Sep 23 at the VFS Canada Application Center in Sydney, Australia.

Sample Travel Itinerary

FAQ

The post How to Apply Canada Visitor Visa (with Sample Travel Itinerary) appeared first on AM22Tech.

There is no option to apply for the Delhi University Transcript online. The process for IP University, Delhi Transcript in Sealed Envelope is also similar.

Documents for Transcript

1. Copy of ALL mark-sheets that you are requesting TRANSCRIPT for.
2. Your course Syllabus i.e. subjects that you studied. You can find subjects written on the backside of your mark-sheet.
   DU has posted subjects online for many courses but not all at Syllabus.
3. University Enrollment Number or normally called Roll Number.
4. Copy or Degree or provisional degree.

DU Application Process

#1 Download and fill the Transcripts form

You can print this Delhi university transcript application form and submit at any of the South of North campus to apply.

You can use an extra paper sheet if your number of papers and titles do not fit within the space provided in Point 6.

Requestor’s OWN signature is required on the application form.

Get all mark sheets and degrees photocopied. No notary is needed. Write a Syllabus on a piece of paper by hand or get it typed.

#2 Pay fees on DU website

You will need to register on this DU website to make a payment online.

Once registered, Go to Useful Links (upper right side of the website) > Students > Miscellaneous Online Fee Payment.

You may need the Delhi University Enrollment Number to make the payment online.

The enrollment number is different than ‘Roll Number’ and can be found on top of your Delhi University degree. I have shared the sample DU degree and mark sheets at the bottom of this article. Check there to spot the enrollment number.

Transcript Fees

The transcript fee is charged based on the time frame that has passed after you graduated from university.

Example:

If you passed out in 2015 from Delhi university, you should count the time elapsed between today and the date of passing.

Source: Fees

After making payment, download and print the payment receipt.

You can also pay fees in CASH if you are applying in person at the university payment counter. Get the receipt.

#3A If applying by Postal mail

1. Get an envelope and add all photocopies, payment receipts. Write the DU address on this envelope.
2. Get the second envelope, write your own address on top.
3. Keep the second return envelope inside the first envelope.
4. We recommend to use INDIA POST’s speed-post or registered post and stamps for sending and return envelopes.

#3B If applying in-person

Keep all documents in a single envelope and submit them at university window no. 9 which is located at the backside of the university office building.

Mailing Address

If you passed out from College in South Campus

If you passed out from College in North Campus

Transcript from India through Agent

You can opt to get services from an Indian service provider to get a transcript on your behalf. The process is legal as long as you find a reliable company.

AM22Tech provides the transcript service from India for various universities including Delhi and IP universities. Your transcripts can be sent directly to WES Canada even when you are not physically present in India.

Use coupon code DWHF5RQ6 to get a $29.99 discount on the am22tech’s University Transcript Service.

Sealed Transcript

The transcripts are taped and signed by the university official to make tamper-proof. You should NOT OPEN it yourself.

Wherever you need to submit it, you have to submit it as it is. Most people need it either for applying to universities in the USA or immigrating to Canada, Australia, and other countries.

FAQ

The post Get Delhi University Transcript (in Sealed Envelope) appeared first on AM22Tech.

I get asked this question many times as to which PR is better?

My answer is that it varies with your own situation and your preference for weather and how easily you can get the PR.

• If you are currently working in the US on a work visa like H1B and only looking to get PR as a backup, then your first preference should be Canada followed by Australia.
• If you are in your home country like India or China, then either country is good based on which one gets gives you PR invite first.

I am giving comparisons on other lifestyle areas that affect your decision to move.

Travel, Time Zone

If you are currently in US, then:

• If you have a choice between Canada and Australia, my suggestion is to go for Canada to stay in the same time zone as the US.
• You can also come to the US to work and go back anytime easily. Many people stay in Canada on the border and then travel to the US for work every day using their H1B or TN work visa.

Canada PR – Where to land and what to buy from India before landing.

You get to enjoy US salary and Canada’s PR. The USA does not give Green cards easily as the whole system is based on country of birth rather than skilled merit.

Working in US with Canada, Australia Citizenship

Once you get Canada or Australian citizenship, the US gives an option for each country to work in the US using a special type of work visa called TN visa for Canada and an E3 visa for Australians.

TN and E3 visa are other than L and H1B work visas.

If you want to file a US green card after getting Canada or Australia citizenship, you will still be in the same overloaded ‘country of birth’ queue, which you are probably trying to escape now.

IT Salary

• Canada’s IT salaries are lower than US salaries by almost half for the same job title and role. 
• Australian IT salaries are better than Canada for the same job profile but still less than the US. Australia pays about AUD $90k for software

Both Canada and Australia have a low overall population and hence the majority of IT jobs are concentrated in big cities like Toronto, Canada, and Sydney in Australia.

Can you keep working on H1B visa after getting Australia or Canada PR?

Due to high concentration at one place, the cost of living is both cities is extremely high with respect to their salaries.

In contrast, the USA has IT jobs distributed all over the 50 states and you get more for each dollar if you are living in a city away from major hubs like Bay area, California, Boston, or New York City.

Example,

A software engineer with 5-10 years of experience can expect salary of:

1. Canada: 60k CAD as salary (Exchange rate is usually 1 USD = 1.3 CAD)
2. USA: $75k USD
3. Australia: AUD $90k (Exchange rate is usually 1 USD = 1.4 AUD)

A Java Software Engineer may draw a salary of about USD 120K in New York City. The same job in Toronto, Canada will fetch about CAD $80k and AUD $100K in Sydney, Australia.

If you factor in the USD to CAD and USD to the AUD exchange rate, the salaries will look really low in Canada and Australia given the fact that the cost of living in both Toronto and Sydney are the same as living in New York City.

Cost of Living

#2 House Buying, Rental Costs

Rents and housing costs are higher in all 3 countries if you compare major cities like New York City, Toronto, and Sydney.

But, the US has an advantage due to the fact that it has more developed cities than a few major hubs.

You can get a decent job in Charlotte, NC, or Dallas, TX, and a big 4000 Sq Ft house for about half a million US dollars.

You may be able to find a similar house in Canada or Australia but you won’t be able to find a job in a small suburb to finance that purchase.

#3 Income Taxes

Canada and Australia have much higher income tax rates than the US. That’s because you are paying for free healthcare too as part of income tax.

• In the US, you pay the healthcare insurance as part of per pay check deduction if your employer has health insurance plans. 
• At the end of the day, the total deduction would be almost the same in Canada, Australia, and US.

The benefit of private insurance is quick service whereas public free system works on the basis of first in first served.

There are cases that may not get an immediate appointment for surgery or treatment if a more needy person is waiting in the queue before you in Canada and Australia.

#4 Home, Car Insurance

Canada has a much higher rate of car insurance than the US. A Canadian may be easily paying CAD $200+ per month for new Honda civic as compared to about USD $90 per month.

Australia is somewhere closer to the US in car insurance rates but certainly higher.

In the US, my personal opinion is that you can save almost half of the insurance costs by buying only liability insurance.

Weather – Canada vs Australia

Canada is extremely cold as compared to warmer Australia for almost 8 months of the year.

If your kids like playing with snowballs, you should go to Canada. Each one of us has their own preference.

Australia stays warm most part of the year from September to March. Here is our picture from December enjoying the Nobbies Center viewpoint at Philip Island in Melbourne.

Healthcare – Canada vs Australia

Both Canada and Australia follow the same type of public healthcare system. Public Medical clinic costs are funded by taxes. You can buy private health insurance as per your choice.

This is the same as the FREE government hospital system in India but the quality of service is much better.

Note:

• Dental and eye care are not given free of cost in Canada and Australia. You will need to pay out of pocket or buy private insurance.
• There are income slabs too which will force you to buy private health insurance if your income is above a certain level. This will ultimately be the same as buying private insurance in the US.

What else can I cover here? Any other topic that you need some information with? Leave a comment and I will try to add more information.

The post Canada vs Australia PR, Move from US (IT Salary, Culture) appeared first on AM22Tech.

NABC is an official letter signed by the local registrar or the municipality department mentioning that there is no record of your birth in the government records.

Similarly, Australian, Canadian, and other country immigrants will request either an original birth certificate or a Non-availability birth certificate document (NABC).

A birth certificate should have this information:

• Full Name
• Date of birth (dd/MM/yyyy format is acceptable)
• Place of birth (Village, City, or state name acceptable)
• Mother and Father’s Full Name
• The issuing agency’s official seal
• Registration date – must be within one year of your birth (365 days).
• Birth certificate Issue date – This can be any time after your birth including the current date.

Birth Certificate From Home Country

We will take the example of India to get a birth certificate. The process might be similar in most Asian countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and China.

Even if the process of the agency that issues the birth certificates in your country is different, the content is the same.

Birth Certificate from India

Every Indian state has its process but most of them follow the same process. Your local municipality is responsible for issuing the birth certificate.

These days, most of them have digitalized their records from the past and they should be able to find your birth record from the 1980s. Some of them have also created an online service to request a birth certificate.

Here is a sample birth certificate issued by the Municipality of Delhi in India.

Your birth certificate is acceptable for the USA green card with the form i-485 or I-130 family green card application as long as it has the text written in English.

No Birth Certificate Available

If you do not have a birth certificate, then you would need to provide two secondary documents:

#1 Non-Availability of Birth Record (NABC)

The best option is to get a letter from your home country authority like the municipality in India that they have no record and cannot issue a birth certificate for you.

This letter should be issued by the municipal authority from your birthplace.

This NABC can be used for USA Green Card (i485), Australia PR, Canada PR, New Zealand immigration, and UK residency or work visa.

Sample letter of no birth certificate availability

This is a sample NABC issued by the government of Tamilnadu.

Another NABC sample is for the birth records not available in Guwahati, Assam:

#2 Notarized Affidavits from Parents/Neighbors/Relatives

The affidavit should mention the details of your birth as recalled by this person.

Your mom and dad can write these affidavits for you. If they are not alive, you can ask any of your close relatives who are older than you to write these.

Two separate persons should write this and describe the place, date, and method of your birth as known to them.

These affidavits should have the details of the person who is writing them:

• Full name, address, date, and place of birth
• Their relationship with you
• How do they know you
• Date and place of your birth
• Names of your father and mother

Sample Birth Certificate Affidavit

How to create a Birth Certificate Affidavit Online?

You can use AM22Tech’s Birth certificate app to create affidavits online.

Log in to apps.am22tech.com here.

Enter your details:

1. My Details: Step one is to enter your details as per your passport, gender, country of birth, date, and place of birth.
2. My Family: Enter your family details including your Father and Mother. Spouse information is optional if you are single or divorced.
3. Affidavits 1 and 2: This should be the information about the person who is writing this affidavit for you. Enter their full name, date of birth, full current address, and relationship with you.
4. Click the ‘Save‘ button to save your data.
5. Click the ‘Create Affidavits & Email‘ button to create and email your affidavits to your email address.
6. Affidavits cannot be viewed online for security reasons. They can only be sent to the email address that you used while registering on am22tech.com.
7. Print each affidavit separately on an A4 white paper.
8. Each affidavit writer should sign the affidavit.
9. Enter the date of signature and then get the notary’s signature and stamp.
10. Use a scanner to scan and save it for your records.

Translation

If the birth certificate is written in any native language like Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati, Telugu, Chinese, Urdu, etc., then you should get it translated preferably by professional translators.

• Professional translators in the USA usually charge about $20 a page.
• Any of your friends who know both your native and English language can also translate it for you. USCIS in the USA allows non-professional translators too.
• Australian, Canadian, and other countries require translation from officially authorized translators only.

Sample Translation Cover Letter

FAQ

The post Birth Certificate, substitutes, NABC for USA Green Card, Australia, Canada PR appeared first on AM22Tech.

1. Apply online: FBI Website, pay fees online, mail fingerprints – Cheapest, very good options. Get a Certificate in 3-5 days.
2. Mail FBI application and fees by post – Slowest method takes up to 14 to 16 weeks.
3. FBI approved third party agent – 3-4 days Fast processing but most expensive.

FBI certificate is officially known as Identity History Summary Checks.

All 10 fingerprints are required for running a background check and receiving FBI Clearance Certificate.

You can apply for FBI clearance for Canada permanent residency, USA Green Card, or Australia PR using one of the 3 options:

Apply Online on FBI Website

The FBI Police clearance certificate processing time with an online application is 3 to 5 Days.

Step 1: Create FBI Clearance Request Online

FBI Police clearance certificate online request.
Open the link in Mozilla or Internet Explorer. Chrome and Safari do not work.

I am not sure why but, the FBI website link throws an invalid_request error in the Chrome browser and the website does NOT open.

Step 2: Enter email to start Application

Follow the steps under the section Obtaining Your Identity History Summary->How to submit a request.

To start your application, enter your email and click the submit button:

Step 3: Email from FBI

Once you submit, you will receive an email from the FBI with your login password and unique FBI page link.

Click this unique link and fill the FBI application form.

Enter your PIN (from email) and click Log in. ‘Accept’ the terms and conditions.

Step 4: Fill Online Application

You have the option to receive a response by First-Class Mail via the USPS too.

• FBI Police clearance fees are $18.
• Pay FBI fees online by credit card.
• No extra fees for postal mail response.

At this time, the STATUS on the FBI website will show as ‘INSUFFICIENT’ for your case as the FBI is waiting for your fingerprints.

Step 5: Get Fingerprints

Print FD-258 form on a plain A4 size white paper and write with Blank ink.

You can buy FD258 card from Amazon:

• FD 258 card from Amazon prime (pack of 3) or
• Pack of 25 FD 258 cards.

The fingerprint card needs to be printed on a hard white paper. I recommend buying it from Amazon than printing it at home.

Take Fingerprints Yourself?

You can pretty much take the fingerprints yourself if you are outside the USA like in India or any other country.

I strongly recommend getting the fingerprints from your local Police station if you are currently in the USA.

Fingerprints at FedEx Mail Office?

FedEx and other local postal mail vendors in the USA also provide fingerprinting services for a price starting from $25+ per person.

I tried for me and my wife as it seemed pretty easy using this official FBI fingerprint guide. But the ink was just messing up the fine finger lines and merging them. If the fingerprints are not good, the FBI will simply reject your application.

Local Police Station in USA

The local police station in the USA charges anywhere between $5 to $10 for each person’s fingerprints and they are experts.

They provide the form FD-258 too. So, you do not need to print it yourself.

Most of them will do it for free again, if the first prints are rejected by FBI.

This is a sample FD-258 form that was fingerprinted using Plano, TX Police station’s fingerprinting service:

Step 6: Print and Mail

Print the order confirmation email that you would have received from the FBI.

Send the email confirmation and form FD-258 (with your fingerprints) to the FBI CJIS division by postal mail. You can mail them to the FBI from outside the USA too.

Step 7: Tracking & Processing

Once the mail is delivered to the FBI, they usually take about 48 hours to update the tracking status on their website and inform you by email.

FBI will then scan your fingerprints to complete your criminal record background check.

The whole process of an FBI background check is automated and you can expect to receive the clearance certificate within minutes of their acknowledgment email (for your fingerprints).

• You can download the FBI clearance PDF file once available.
• If you opted for postal mail FBI clearance certificate too, then it will arrive by USPS mail between 6-7 days.

The paper hard copy is exactly same as the PDF.

FBI Clearance by Postal mail

FBI police clearance request by postal mail processing time is 14 to 16 weeks.

1. Download the FBI police verification application form from here. Print and fill up the form.
2. Get a Cashier’s check or Money Order for $18 per person as fees, payable to the “Treasury of the United States”.
   You can pay by credit card too. Print this payment form and fill in your credit card info to send with your application.
3. Get your fingerprints. Follow the same process as listed above for FINGERPRINTS.
4. Send application, payment, and fingerprints to the FBI office via traceable postal mail. The address is mentioned above.

This is the SLOWEST method of getting police verification from the FBI.

The ONLY difference between this method and the first option above is that you make the payment online in the first method. The first one is a lot faster than this one.

FBI Approved Third Party Agents

FBI Police clearance processing time with third party providers is 3-4 days. This is the fastest and most expensive option.

1. Choose one third-party vendor from the FBI-approved list.
2. They take your fingerprints electronically and transmit them to the FBI electronically too. This makes the process the fastest among the 3 options.
3. They are available outside the USA too in a country like India.
4. This is probably the fastest method to get an FBI clearance certificate for Canada immigration or Australia PR if you are located outside the USA.
5. The fees vary with each vendor and normally start from $200 per person. They collect the total fees from you, including the FBI’s $18 fees per person.

FBI officially says that this third party service is ONLY available for USA citizens and Green cardholders.

But, I know from reliable sources who are neither US citizens nor green holders and have used it to get FBI clearance within 3-4 days.

Sample FBI Clearance Certificate

FAQ

The post How to get FBI Clearance Certificate (Online, By Mail, Outside US?) appeared first on AM22Tech.

No need to worry if you have CIC login issues or cannot log in to your ‘myCIC’ account. There is a simple solution and it requires the deletion of browser cookies.

There is no issue with your computer. It is a problem with the Canada CIC website design.

Canada CIC immigration website Loop Fix

#1 Open in Google Chrome Browser

Open Canada CIC Log In page in the Google Chrome browser.

Click on the small ‘lock’ icon in the browser address bar and then click ‘cookies‘.

#2 Clear Cookies

Select each cookie and then click ‘remove’ until all cookies have been deleted.

#3 Login with GC Key

You can now log in with your user name and password and you will be able to see your application without the loop.

FAQ

The post Canada CIC Website Log-In Loop Fix – Takes Back to Language Selection Page appeared first on AM22Tech.

Super lucky, eh? But while we had our passports stamped, our CoPR in hand, and an 8-month process completed, we did not feel like a permanent residents. We were yet to make our landing but had a long list of doubts and queries to contend with. Here’s what we were thinking:

• Where in Canada should we consider landing?
• What time of the year should we land to make the most of job opportunities, and avoid harsh weather conditions?
• Can I try to get an internal transfer to my company?
• How do we move with our dogs?
• How do we carry our stuff and which airline would be best to choose?
• What should we do about our finances, and how should we carry our money?
• Do we know anyone in Canada? Distant relatives or 4th-degree friends?
• Should we start preparing our profiles to find a job before landing?

Some of these questions need to be discussed in detail, which we will get to of course at a later date, until then, let me tell you how we went about it.

Negotiating Intercompany Transfer – India

The first thing on my mind was to talk to the folks at my company and see if there was any chance I could score an internal transfer. This would have solved so many problems for us and put us on a fast track to early settlement.

My company did offer a lot of promises and dreams, that led me to postpone my landing date only in the hope of a transfer. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, nothing worked out.

If you are working in an Indian IT company, then prepare yourself to be disappointed. My wife had already quit her local job and was looking forward to the move. Although this wasted our time, we did end up saving some more money from the income that helped us later on.

If you score a transfer, then good job! Things will fall into place. If not, then don’t dwell on promises, and begin making arrangements for your exit, keeping your notice period in mind.

Deciding on where to land in Canada

For most immigrants, this is a no-brainer. 46% of all immigrants land in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario. Here’s why:

• A fastest growing city in Canada in terms of job opportunities
• Toronto is also the financial capital of Canada, and most companies have their HQs here
• Fantastic access to US mid-west east coast and Europe – a traveler’s dream come true

The other half meanwhile thinks Vancouver is the place to be, thanks to its climate which is far milder than the rest of Canada. Vancouver does have it harder in terms of job opportunities.

But it’s important to note that there are other cities in Canada with lesser opportunities but ALSO LESSER COMPETITION. Please keep this in mind.

Do consider Montreal, Moncton, Halifax, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and other major cities if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle.

We went with Toronto and GTA region for our love to travel (European destinations) and distance to friends and family in Chicago. Despite its size, we have grown very fond of the city. It may not be as big as San Fran, NY, Chicago, and others, but it’s got a very nice and soothing vibe to it.

When to land – Winter, Fall, or Summer?

The most common thing that newcomers do is avoid the winter. We did too. We landed in April, just shy of winter’s heart, right about when spring was about to hit. Our reasons were simple, make it easy to acclimatize for our pets, and not have to go winter gear shopping before landing.

But here’s the kicker, after being here for 18 months, I now think landing in the fall is a much better decision. Competition for jobs is much lower, fall is equally beautiful as spring, and gives you a quick taste of what winter would be like.

Anything around April-May in Spring is good, and August-September is good.

Utensils from India

The most popular opinion on the internet is not to bring anything from India, as everything is already available here. But I would beg to differ.

Everything stainless steel is super expensive in Canada. And some particular Indian vessels are hard to get or just exorbitant.

If you have the baggage weight, think about getting some steel plates, cutlery, cooker, steel ladles, grinder, and Idli cooker for the kitchen.

If you could throw in some nice cotton bed sheets, then you will be good to go.

Buy Winter Clothes in Canada

For winter wear, Columbia winter clothes are pretty standard, but only up to -10 degrees. Anything colder than that you are looking for some heavy down jackets from North Face, which are best purchased in Canada.

The same goes for fleece-lined sweaters, beanies, etc. Go easy on them, and shop for them in Canada.

I personally feel that Indian ethnic wear (sarees), and jewelry have no place in day-to-day life here in Canada.

People love to dress up subtly and avoid gaudy jewelry. Saving a few festivities, Indian wear is usually left lying in the suitcases.

Note: storage space inside apartments is usually less. The more passive stuff (things that are rarely used) you bring, the more you’ll struggle to store them. It is not uncommon to find suitcases doubling as side tables in many Indian homes.

Strong advice on weight management for your luggage: try to stick to Airline policy, or risk paying heavily for additional weight.

Best Airline from India to Canada

Since we were flying with our dog, we chose Lufthansa as stated above.

If you are flying with kids, then Emirates is the best out there.

British Airways is also a popular option, but they are notorious for delayed baggage cases. Even a Bollywood actress Sonal Kapoor has complained about repeated baggage mishandling:

Sri Lankan airways are the cheapest flight you can get, but only if you are living in the South.

Air Canada pales in comparison to Middle east carriers, so please manage your expectations.

Indian PPF account – Close or Keep active?

When we were emigrating, we were lucky to close up our PPF and withdraw all our funds. But the rules were changed shortly after, and you couldn’t withdraw your PPF. Consider making a partial withdrawal.

You can close the PPF account once you become an NRI. Many people keep the account active and keep depositing money to get a high rate of interest. It is better to keep it busy unless you really need this money.

Canada Currency Cash

The best way to land in Canada with funds is to carry some in cash (up to CAD $ 4000 limit), some in forex card (C$ 1000 is good enough), and the remaining you can do a one-time wire transfer from your home account to your Canadian bank account.

Alternatively, if one of you is already in Canada, then the spouse can send money from India to Canada via services like BookMyForex which offer competitive rates. Remember that these transfers can take between 6 hours and 4 days depending on which service you choose.

For your first few weeks in Canada, you may be shacking up in a basement where payments are typically made in cash. But if you are staying in an Airbnb, then you might not require too many funds in cash.

Job Search in Canada

We started aggressively working on our LinkedIn profiles and building our resumes as per Canadian standards before landing in Canada.

I made it a point to connect with all my friends and expand my LinkedIn network to as many people in my field of work as was relevant.

It is important to bump up my testimonials and endorsements on LinkedIn. If you are in a highly technical or regulated profession, then consider completing your certifications in India, where it is much cheaper.

Settlement Advice

One of the most useful things you can do before landing in Canada signs up for FREE pre-arrival settlement services.

These are agencies that are directly funded by the Federal Govt. for the sole purpose of helping immigrants orient themselves to life in Canada, and getting them access to a bunch of resources to get them started on the right foot. In these settlement initiatives, you can:

• Learn about Canada, provinces, regions, currencies, food, accommodation, etc.
• Network with other newcomers in your region and become part of a community where you help each other and build strong bonds for years together
• Learn about services like SOPA that can help you develop soft skills, and job search/resume development skills to help market yourself better to prospective employees
• You can also learn about special funds for education, loans for newcomers to start new businesses, and monetary benefits for certifications, all provided at a cost to the Canadian taxpayer

We took this 3 months prior to our landing and it helped us develop our resume, and orient ourselves better. It costs you nothing and takes about 1-2 days of your time. This workshop is loaded with information, and I would strongly recommend it to all newcomers.

We signed up with an agency called Planning For Canada that conducts these workshops across many cities in the world. If you have received your PR then you are eligible for these free settlement services.

For any queries related to Canadian PR and settlement, feel free to reach out to us on our Forums

The post Canada – Where to Land, Job, Pets, Clothes, Utensils from India? appeared first on AM22Tech.