I had a great discussion with Allison Tierney, a writer with Vice. An American ex-pat herself (when North Americans, or the English, immigrate, they're ex-pats; when others immigrate to North America or the UK, they're immigrants -or worse, "aliens"). For decades, Canada's best and brightest were irresistibly drawn to our great neighbour to the South, like a moth to a flame. It appears that more and more Americans are now realizing that they can also move north and partake of our crazy social experiments like health care for all, or an inclusive military, or our top tier (public) education system. Allison put together a list of ten questions that Americans would want to ask a Canadian immigration lawyer. That article is now up and can be read here.
The article includes my thoughts on a certain degree of nonchalence, or perhaps even arrogance inherent in the assumptions that some Americans make; as if they can simply stroll across the border, collect a Canadian passport, pick up a hockey stick at Canadian Tire and a double double at Tim Horton's and Voila!
...I want to deal with the underlying arrogance by Americans whenever this question pops up. Many times they expect to stroll into Canada, and I want to make it clear… Canada is not a consolation prize. All of a sudden you feel like America is not your country anymore; Rolling Stone has put our very photogenic prime minister on its cover, and we have health care.
No, you can't just move up here.
While we'll treat Americans the same way (no, they don't have a special pathway although perhaps they should) as we'll treat an applicant from any other part of the country it's logistically and practically a little easier with Americans given they can enter temporarily to visit, or work through NAFTA (at least, until President Trump rips it up and throws it in the wastebasket) for example.
One way to immigrate, and one reason that we get the best of the best from around the world, is the Express Entry system which has transformed our immigration selection system into a kind of dating site (or shaadi.com) The Bachelor or The Bachelorette reality TV show. Applicants create a profile and are ranked against the other contestants -I mean applicants -and Canada picks. Again, no special treatment for Americans; they will still be required to provide proof of language proficiency.
Criminal records always matter; seek professional advice if you have a record. There are ways to address dated convictions.
Also, I've been asked this a few times -don't hold you're breath thinking that Canada is going to accept refugee claimants from America fearing the Trumpocalypse.
Finally, there's a lot of immigration advice out there and many feel that they're qualified to spread it around, like fertilizer sown into the soil just before planting crops. All applicants should do their due diligence and research in this regard. Moving to another country is probably one of the biggest decisions a person can make in their life!
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