Canada: The Trouble With a Northern Escape Plan

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Once I lived overseas, a number of the fellow world wanderers I acquired to know have been Canadians. One certain approach to get on their unsuitable facet was to ask what a part of the States they have been from… which might simply occur in the event that they hadn’t but mentioned “about.”

It wasn’t that they disliked the U.S. – though there was a few of that, particularly circa 2003 to 2004 – they have been simply annoyed that if you happen to converse as we do, you should be American by default. In different phrases, they disliked being seen as appendages of the mighty republic to their south.

Canada has all the time attracted some Individuals. Hundreds of us served of their navy from 1939 to 1942. Throughout the Vietnam Struggle, absconding to Canada was fairly in style, as I recall. However all in all, amongst Individuals, Canada is extra in style as a butt of foolish and inaccurate jokes and stereotypes than as a spot to reside.

Just lately, nonetheless, Web searches for “shifting to Canada” have instantly spiked to all-time highs within the U.S. (and the U.Okay.). I am certain you may guess the push components.

The query is: Can Individuals really get in? I got down to reply that query, and what I discovered wasn’t encouraging…

Oh, Canada. Land of ice hockey, geese, “eh,” plaid shirts and Bob and Doug McKenzie. What’s to not like, proper?

There are many Individuals who spend a number of time in Canada. U.S. residents are allowed to remain within the nation for lower than six months inside a one-year interval with out a visa or different particular paperwork. Many Individuals summer time there and winter within the U.S. However six months annually is the utmost.

Some Individuals may even work briefly in Canada with out a visa. For instance, I’ve a pal who’s a searching information who usually takes goose-hunting events out in Manitoba throughout the U.S. summer time.

Relating to everlasting residence and citizenship, nonetheless, Canada is not so welcoming. Like Australia and New Zealand, it units a excessive bar for foreigners desirous to reside there completely.

Retirement Visas

Canada has no formal retirement visa program. Your solely possibility is to use for an funding visa as a retired particular person. On this respect, the Canadian authorities considers your capacity to work and assist your self, identical to another immigrant. In the event you’re well-educated and converse fluent English (even higher, French), you are extra more likely to qualify. Equally, though you are retired, it helps if you happen to can display that you’ve got monetary assets to deal with your self and your loved ones. You probably have funds to put money into Canada, that is one other plus.

You probably have a baby or grandchild who’s a Canadian citizen or everlasting resident, nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll be eligible for the father or mother and grandparent tremendous visa, which lets you stay in Canada for as much as two years.

Work Choices

Nations like Panama or Costa Rica have visa packages that permit you to reside there on the proceeds of labor that you just carry out overseas, like an Web-based consultancy, because it does not contain competing with locals for work. Canada does not have something like this. The one manner you may receive residence as a self-employed particular person is to be a “cultural employee” (e.g., artist) or farmer.

Functions for Canadian employment permits are managed although the Categorical Entry Immigration Program (EEIP). It is a points-based system based mostly on age, marital standing, adaptability, language proficiency, schooling and work expertise. There are a potential 1,200 factors, and also you want a rating of roughly 500 factors to qualify. Going this route requires a confirmed job supply from a Canadian employer in a job class that has been recognized as topic to talent shortages.

In the intervening time, a number of the key classes for immigration below the EEIP will not be accepting any new purposes.

Funding Choices

For brand spanking new buyers, there may be the Begin-up Visa. It requires written funding assist for a qualifying enterprise from a government-approved angel investor group, enterprise capital fund or enterprise incubator. It additionally requires passing the Canadian Language Benchmarks take a look at for both English or French, and an enough amount of cash to settle and pay your bills earlier than your corporation begins offering an revenue.

For Individuals with an present enterprise trying to put money into Canada, or for expert staff, most provinces have their very own Provincial Nominee Program with completely different standards. Most search buyers or staff with expertise in brief provide in these elements of the nation. Francophone Quebec is just a little completely different – its Immigrant Investor Program requires a minimal internet price of CA$1.6 million and an funding of CA$800,000.

As soon as you are a everlasting resident, if you happen to’ve lived bodily in Canada for 4 out of six years (183 days out of every of these 4 years), it’s possible you’ll apply for citizenship.

The Verdict

I’ve unhealthy information for these fearful of us who suppose they’re simply going to pack up the minivan and the children and head throughout the border if the election end in November does not go their manner. It ain’t gonna occur. Canada, actually, is extra restrictive than the U.S. in the case of immigration.

Partially, that is as a result of the nation is much much less populous, and has a a lot smaller pool of immigrants to start out with. Meaning there are fewer potential immigrants attempting to get in on the idea of household relationships with somebody already there.

In fact, Canada has a robust historical past of welcoming refugees from conditions of struggle, oppression and civil strife. Who is aware of? Maybe Individuals will qualify quickly sufficient.

Now would not that be ironic…

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Source by Ted Bauman