Any Americans immigrate to Canada? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Table 5 · 08-06-2009, 09:06 PM

I know a lot of us have come down to the US to live/work etc. But Im wondering what it's like the other way around. My GF is American and we are toying with the idea of moving to Canada. Is it hard for someone to get a work visa? She has a good education, and has good work experience, but I seem to recall hearing somewhere that immigrating to Canada is not that easy, even for Americans.

Perhaps somebody who's come up from the States can enlighten me on the process.

Temporary_User · 08-06-2009, 09:23 PM

I'm an American. Duel citizen though, so it was a little easy for me to come up.

Table 5 · 08-06-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

My wife is/was, it was a pain in the ass, I can't remember much though, the work visa was not possible so we got married, that didn't ensure a work visa either.

Yeah, that's definitely an option, although I'd rather not go down that road just yet if possible, heh. How long after you got married was she able to get a work visa? I'm a lazy knob and I expect my woman to bring home the bacon while i surf hockey forums.

Displaced Flames fan · 08-06-2009, 10:17 PM

They use a point system. The more points she has on the scale the eaiser it is for her to go. I didn't have many points when I toyed around with it 14 years ago.

DOK · 08-06-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

but I seem to recall hearing somewhere that immigrating to Canada is not that easy, even for Americans. .

HAHA, that actually made me laugh out loud. No disrespect to you personally, but it sounds like your expecting a free or easy ticket because your American.

Shazam · 08-06-2009, 11:37 PM

Well first off you need to speak proper Queen's English.

Table 5 · 08-07-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOK

HAHA, that actually made me laugh out loud. No disrespect to you personally, but it sounds like your expecting a free or easy ticket because your American.

No, not really. First of all I'm Canadian, and I only say that because having gone through the process the other way around (Canadian moving to America) I know there are some special circumstances between the two countries. Nobody is expecting a free ticket, but there might certain provisions for a NAFTA member.

Iowa_Flames_Fan · 08-07-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

No, not really. First of all I'm Canadian, and I only say that because having gone through the process the other way around (Canadian moving to America) I know there are some special circumstances between the two countries. Nobody is expecting a free ticket, but there might certain provisions for a NAFTA member.

I've only done the Canadian-citizen-to-Canada route. My feeling is it's not that easy either way, but I went to the US on a student visa and stayed on a Trade-Nafta(TN) visa.

AFAIK, TN is a reciprocal visa arrangement, meaning that if your GF is professionally trained in certain professions, she can get a renewable temporary work-permit on that basis. Might be something to look into.

Otherwise, it might just be time to pop the question...

Antithesis · 08-07-2009, 07:46 AM

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...sess/index.asp

Here is a link to the test which gives you the points that DFF discussed earlier (finally, teaching grade 9 Social Studies pays off in the real world). She will need 67 points on this test. It's just a little pre-assessment as far as I know!

nickerjones · 08-07-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

Shut up, American! You guys shouldn't even be allowed to post on our site, I laugh in your general direction.

You hurt my feelers....guess i might as well go jump off the golden gate bridge ( pre-netting of course)

REDVAN · 08-07-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

I'm an American. Duel citizen though, so it was a little easy for me to come up.

Ok well now I've figured out what's wrong with you!

(jokes buddy, jokes... PM me if you're in Calgary, we need you for a game or two).

jolinar of malkshor · 08-07-2009, 09:17 AM

You don't have to be married to sponsor your girlfriend to be a permanent resident of Canada. As long as you are common law, you can sponsor her. You will have to sign a guarantee for usually 3 years that if she goes on welfare you will cover the costs.

jolinar of malkshor · 08-07-2009, 09:19 AM

As for a work permit, IFF is right. If she falls under the definition of a professional under NAFTA and meets the provincial licencing criteria, all she needs is a job offer from an employer and she can apply for a work permit at any port of entry.

If she is not a professional listed in NAFTA, then she has to find an employer who is willing to obtain a Labour Market Opinion from HRSDC. Once the employer has this opinion she would take it to a port of entry and obtain her work permit.

Fugly · 08-07-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

You don't have to be married to sponsor your girlfriend to be a permanent resident of Canada. As long as you are common law, you can sponsor her. You will have to sign a guarantee for usually 3 years that if she goes on welfare you will cover the costs.

Three years! That's longer than most marriages last any ways so you may as well get hitched.

tvp2003 · 08-07-2009, 09:58 AM

jolinar's information is correct (thanks -- you saved me a lot of typing!) -- it is also important to differentiate between coming to Canada temporarily (1 day to several years) versus immigrating to Canada (becoming a permanent resident/citizen). The stuff with the point system is for the latter; you can also sponsor her as a (common law) spouse as jolinar explained. Depending on her work experience, she may also qualify as a Provincial Nominee as well (assuming her Canadian employer is willing to sign off on her application).

If she's just looking to move to Canada without becoming a permanent resident (or while she's in the process of applying for permanent residence), she'll need a work permit (assuming she is going to work). It's easier if she qualifies as a NAFTA professional; the other option is to obtain a Labour Market Opinion (again, as jolinar explained).

Matata · 08-07-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

As for a work permit, IFF is right. If she falls under the definition of a professional under NAFTA and meets the provincial licencing criteria, all she needs is a job offer from an employer and she can apply for a work permit at any port of entry.

Does this work both ways? I'm an engineer (a professional) and I've thought about working in the states (money, weather, etc.)

jolinar of malkshor · 08-07-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matata

Does this work both ways? I'm an engineer (a professional) and I've thought about working in the states (money, weather, etc.)

From my understanding, yes. However, some professions you need to meet certain state licencing requirements. I am not familiar with USA requirements but NAFTA is a tri-lateral agreement so the basic rules should apply to all three countries.

FlamesAddiction · 08-07-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

I know a lot of us have come down to the US to live/work etc. But Im wondering what it's like the other way around. My GF is American and we are toying with the idea of moving to Canada. Is it hard for someone to get a work visa? She has a good education, and has good work experience, but I seem to recall hearing somewhere that immigrating to Canada is not that easy, even for Americans.

Perhaps somebody who's come up from the States can enlighten me on the process.

Unfortunatley these days, I think it's easier for a cocaine trafficer from Honduras to move to Canada than a hard working American.

I've actually been considering going the other way just to live somewhere warmer.

Table 5 · 08-07-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Otherwise, it might just be time to pop the question...

Table 5 · 08-07-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antithesis

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...sess/index.asp

Here is a link to the test which gives you the points that DFF discussed earlier (finally, teaching grade 9 Social Studies pays off in the real world). She will need 67 points on this test. It's just a little pre-assessment as far as I know!

79! hot diggidy dog.