Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/53603
who isn't in the country – it may even be illegal in some cases – so discuss this before you go. Double-check the expiration dates on all of your financial plans and insurance policies and opt for early renewal where possible. Check your plastic While chip and PIN technology is common in Canada, magnetic stripe is still the norm in the U.S. So before you go anywhere, check with your bank that your credit and debit cards will work where you're going. If they won't, access to cash will be paramount. "We suggest that travellers familiarize themselves with where they can access low- fee cash machines to be certain to have access to currency," says Scott Sanders, direc- tor of card solutions for Bridgewater Bank. "If you prepare a daily budget for what you may need when you're purchasing from local merchants or smaller retailers, between your credit, debit card and cash, you should be covered." Before you leave, inform your credit card company of your travel plans. As a fraud pre- vention measure, companies watch custom- ers' accounts for suspicious activity. If you make a purchase that seems out of character (or far from home), it's possible that the trans- action will be declined. While you're on the phone, ask about any conversion fees that may apply to foreign currency purchases, to avoid surprises. And double-check your cards' expiration dates. You wouldn't want them to stop working while you're out of the country. Finally, Sanders suggests that you keep your credit card number and the company's emer- gency phone number in a secure location. "If you lose your card and need a replacement, LEARN MORE ONLINE Protect your family in the event of an out-of-province medical emergency with AMA Travel Tranquility Travel Medical Insurance. 1-866-989-6595; ama.ab.ca/ Travel-Insurance Drop by an AMA centre to apply for an international driving permit. AMATravel.ca/IDP Take your CAA MasterCard snowbirding and earn CAA Dollars while you shop. AMARewards.ca/CAAMasterCard If you're RVing to warmer climes, make sure you're covered by upgrading your membership to CAA Plus RV. 1-800-222-6400; ama.ab.ca WESTWORLD >> FEBRUARY 2012 27 often the only place you have the number is on the card itself," he says. Satisfy the tax man If your time in the U.S. will be lengthy – an average of four months or more annually – you may be classifi ed as a resident alien by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, which means you could be required to pay taxes in both Canada and the U.S. To avoid this, you'll need to fill out IRS Form 8840 each year. The form, known as the Closer Con- nection Exemption Statement for Aliens, requires you to disclose the location of your bank, your personal belongings and your furniture, and where your driver's licence was issued. Essentially, the form demon- strates that you have a permanent home in a country other than the United States. If you fail to fi ll out the form, you won't be able to claim the Closer Connection Excep- tion and you may be treated as a U.S. resi- dent. For more information, see the Canada Revenue Agency's document Canadian Resi- dents Going Down South at cra-arc.gc.ca. You can fi nd Form 8840 at irs.gov/form8840.