Immigration
 

As some of you might know, my boyfriend (losthellhound) is Canadian. I'm American. Now, as much as I enjoy the 6+ hour drive to see him :rolleyes:, I'm thinking it'll be much better if we lived together. Of course, it's not that simple.

Rather than getting into my freak out fest over the immigration process, I'll just ask if anyone else here has gone through this? What did you do, how did it go, how long did it take? All that jazz.

Work temporarily in Canada (you need a job offer, and the job offer has to be ok'd by CIC/HRDC)

Live in Canada as a permanent resident based off work skills/experience (there is a test you have to pass (which you can do online to check your score), and possibly other hoops)

Look into the fees to apply to be a skilled worker immigrant.

1500 CND (1300 USD) in application fees + fees for a medical exam, a language test, and a police crime check, and proof of means to support yourself for a period once here.

=/

I've been all over that CIC website ;)

I'm really hoping to be there around April 2005. But it's looking like it'll take a bit longer than that :(

Hope you're ready for the higher taxes we have to pay up here in Canuckistan :P
Seriously though - it's a nice place to live, it's just expensive on the ol' wallet. (I live in BC). Beautiful Country - so it's well worth it.

One of my best friends started dating an American when she came here on a holiday about 18 years ago.. She moved up here and with him signing on as her sponsor she was able to get a job as a hairdresser. She got her landed immigrant status and subsequently her citizenship last year. I can ask her for a few more details on what program she used to get her initially.
Just so you know Averett, she's now a very happy Canadian and has absolutely no regrets on giving up her US citizenship.

pfeewt high taxes...it's all about quality of life :thumbsup:

Thanks splck :) I'd appreciate any insight she can offer. Its pretty overwhelming right now.

Hey, there's a new thread in the General forum about this, check it out at:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=77544

And come on up anytime, but read my post in the CANADA! thread for things to be aware of. I'm sure every Canadian can add to it as well.

Peace,

Pierre

Just get married;)



j/k