Serious about moving to Canada? Your Plan B in case your candidate doesn't win
CREDIT: FOX NEWS (Terry J. Alcorn)
Serious about moving to Canada? If you;'re in the Clinton camp or the Trump camp, what if things don't go your way. Are you ready to finally make good on your threat to move to Canada? For real?
Before you head out, please remember that while that the Land of Canucks is very similar to the U.S. in many ways, joining the ranks of Canadians won't be as easy as you might think. It's a process.
You'll need a good reason to move to Canada
First off, you'll need a "substantial" reason to move, or at least one that the Canadian government recognizes and accepts. Here's a tip: Despising Trump, Clinton, or politicians in general won't cut it.
Valid reasons can include relocating for work, attending a university, getting married, or another life change that would require you to be in Canada. But even if you have a life change, you'll still have a lot o red tape to go through.
"Most people assume because Canada and the U.S. share a border -- and because of the general ease with which people travel back and forth -- relocation is also seamless. But this isn't the case," says Niren. "Immigration to Canada can be challenging. There are lots of rules and restrictions for admission."
So here's Rule No. 1: If you want to move to Canada to work, don't wait until you're at the border to look for a job.
"Generally speaking, to qualify for a work visa to Canada, at minimum you would need a job offer in advance," says Niren. Same goes if you're attending a university or marrying a Canadian. Get the process in motion before you arrive, because it could take months.
Make sure your visa and immigration paperwork is shipshape
Once you've got a valid reason to stay in the country long-term, you're going to have to assemble your paperwork. All your required documentation must be complete, accurate, and verifiable -- which trips up some people.
At a minimum, you should be prepared to provide proof of your current residence, your income and net worth, your education level, and your background.
If you're moving for job purposes, you'll need to provide proof of your work status (your future employer can help you), and you'll have to go through a background check. It isn't impossible to do all this yourself, but if the thought of tackling it alone makes you nervous, you can hire an immigration expert. These professionals can help you work through the paperwork, filing times, and red tape.
Going for Canadian citizenship
You won't become a Canadian citizen right away, no matter what your reason for moving. The process for rull citizenship typically takes years.