In most cases, a non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S. resident spouse cannot receive U.S. Social Security spousal benefits if they live outside the U.S. for six consecutive months. However, the question ‘Can a foreign spouse receive social security benefits?’ has a nuanced answer. A foreign spouse who is a citizen or resident of Canada, among certain countries, can indeed receive these benefits if specific eligibility rules are met. To understand the intricacies of this process, read this infographic where Cardinal Point explains the conditions under which foreign spouses may be entitled to U.S. Social Security benefits.
Infographic: Canadian Expat – Selling Your Principal Residence
For individuals moving from Canada to the U. S. and planning to sell their Canadian home, there are different Canadian and U.S. tax implications. To avoid or minimize tax liability, specific criteria need to be met around the questions of whether tax residency is in Canada or U.S. when the sale occurs and if the home qualifies as a principal residence. If sold while still a Canadian tax resident, a status that can be maintained for a period beyond the moving date, exemptions apply. Additional compliance requirements need to be met when the property is sold by a U.S. tax resident.