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I am interested in moving to Canada, but am not sure where to start the process. On the internet, I see tons of stuff about Canadians wanting to come to the US, but not so much the other way around. Is there a form or application of some sort to fill out to get started? I saw one site that said I have to apply for permanent residency first, but not sure if that's right. Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
What's driving your desire to relocate? How long would you hope to stay? Those two factors affect the answers you'll be given.
The reason people don't really relocate from the USA to Canada is because, other than government healthcare, there isn't much going for us up here. Terrible weather (unless you love snow... Then we have some awesome options for you) high taxes that negate absolutely any benefit of government healthcare, and housing cost that is higher than just about anywhere in the world in terms of value for the dollar. If you still want to come up here for some reason, well, to each their own...
There are many types of visas and different situations qualify for different visas.
Take Canada's on line immigration test and see how you score. Unless you have a special skill, they probably don't want you; they have enough average/normal people of their own (just like everywhere else in the world).
Thank you, AikenHorses. I've done some travelling in Canada and fell in love with it. I want to relocate because I want a change of scenery and Canada seems a lot more laid back than the US and the people seem a lot friendlier. I do love Michigan though, so I would only be staying for about 3 years. I'm a mental health therapist, so I also need to find out if I need to take another certification exam to be licensed in Canada.
Thank you, AikenHorses. I've done some travelling in Canada and fell in love with it. I want to relocate because I want a change of scenery and Canada seems a lot more laid back than the US and the people seem a lot friendlier. I do love Michigan though, so I would only be staying for about 3 years. I'm a mental health therapist, so I also need to find out if I need to take another certification exam to be licensed in Canada.
If you want laid back and friendly, then Toronto is NOT the place for you. Ottawa might be, or perhaps Calgary if you like prairies and mountains for a change of scenery. East coast (like Nova Scotia) is really friendly but can be a bit odd and unwelcoming to non-locals in some cases in the smaller towns. The biggest city in Nova Scotia is Halifax, and it is large enough to absorb most of the unwelcoming attitude you might otherwise get outside the city. Just some pointers.
Easiest ways to immigrate are either by marrying a Canadian, securing a job offer from a Canadian company, or coming as a student. The latter is probably not the most appropriate route for you, but the job thing may work out in your field- you'd have to research the opportunities here in the mental health field. It is possible there would be open positions for you in a company willing to sponsor your application to work in Canada.
Start there, because without sponsorship, you probably cannot immigrate.
CANADA is nothing like the USA on immigration polices. The USA can care less about illegals and people overstaying visas and Canada is very strict. I know that typically VISAS are granted to skilled workers that the country is looking for. If you can get a JOB working for a canadian company, they will give you a visa. You must live in the country for a certain amount of years until you can apply for a citizenship. Knowing French is a plus...
Wow....I love the US and as a Canadian HATE this country. I would move to the USA in a second and we tried but the US immigration laws are so strict since 9/11 and so many people want to go live there as the better quality of life.
Honestly, the healthcare is awful...the average Canadian pays $6000 a year and we have had people die in Emergency hospital rooms. I waited 12 hours with a blood clot. It is horrid. And our hospitals have holes in the wall...it is very bad. And the weather is horrid here......depressing and almost winter all the time across the whole country. At least the US you can choose to live in somewhere without snow if you want or if you want snow, you can choose to live there. I live in Ottawa and our property taxes for a 90 foot by 100 foot property, 4 bed, 3 bath home is $5200 a year and still the city has no money to fix our sinking curb. Ottawa is an awful city...I was transferred here for work and hate it. Barely any summer. Toronto, where I am from, is less cold but still very expensive. Our home in Ottawa was almost $500,000 and my spouse and I make a combined income of $200,000 a year and are taxed at almost 40% yearly. In Canada you work for free between Jan - May. Really it is not great...I go to the USA for my MRI's and healthcare alot as your doctors are much higher quality as is the care. In Ottawa, the CAT scan machine at one of the hospitals broke down and they sent letters out to residents in the area begging for money as despite all we pay in health care, there is no money for a new one. It is disgusting.
And we have a huge amount of refugees on welfare here...welfare for life. I love the USA and try tpo spend alot of time there. Also with our lovely HST of 13% in Canada in most provinces on heat, hydro and everything, you get killed on utilities. Almost 400-500 dollars a month. It is nuts. A movie ticket in Ottawa is $13.99 plus HST for one person. Stay in the USA>........you will not realize the golden egg you are on until you leave. If you want change of scenery move to a different state. You guys have it all there compared to us stuck up here in this cold, dark, expensive and socialist country where the more you work, the more you are punished through higher tax.
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Why move to Canada???
