As another election cycle lingers in the US, online information recommends that Americans and people in the United States contemplate Canada as an immigration alternative. Canada entices a small, however prominent number of immigrants from the United States annually, several animated by political growth in their home nation. Therefore, how can United States nationals and people living in the United States get ready to make the journey to Canada? This article has gathered the following guide to answer several of the most necessary questions.
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The Simplest Way To Migrate From The United States To Canada
Several techniques can help nationals of the United States relocate to Canada. These can widely be summarized into:
- Temporary resident routes
- Permanent resident and citizenship routes.
Temporary resident routes are often knotted to a sign intention, function, or task that a person has come to Canada for a study permit, work permit, or tourist visa. These routes permit Americans to reside and get employed and or study in Canada for a short duration.
On the contrary, permanent resident routes permit Americans to become permanent residents of Canada, crucially providing them the capacity to reside and settle in Canada as they desire while maintaining their American nationality. These routes take a lot of time; however, sometimes, an alternative is only after qualification is developed via a temporary resident route.
Finally, routes to nationality permit Americans to become Canadian nationals. American citizens can simultaneously be dual nationals of the United States and Canada and are required not to give up one nationality to attain the other.
The Common Temporary Resident Routes To Canada
This question can be more particularly summarized by the type of temporary resident status one might seek: student or worker.
How Americans Move To Canada To Study?
About 15,000 United States nationals annually choose to study in Canada, attracted by the high-quality education system and diverse cultural experiences. Canada boasts more than 1,500 institutions, offering a wide range of opportunities.
Once accepted by a Designated Learning Institution, Americans can apply for a study permit. This involves providing a letter of acceptance, proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses, and a provincial nomination letter. This letter confirms that the provincial or territorial authority supports the student’s admission to an educational institution. Qualified international students in Canada can work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and an unlimited number of hours during scheduled breaks, such as summer or winter, to supplement their income and gain valuable work experience.
After completing their studies at a qualified Canadian institution, students can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit. This permit allows them to gain Canadian work experience for a period of three years, depending on the length of their educational program. This work experience can significantly enhance their chances of obtaining permanent residency through dedicated routes for foreign graduates of Canadian institutions, such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under the Express Entry system. To apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit, students need to provide proof of their graduation, a valid passport, and a letter of completion from their institution. The application process can be done online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
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How Americans Move To Canada To Work
Americans seeking employment in Canada possess many alternatives, each providing various events and kinds of jobs. A Canadian work permit is essential for temporarily working lawfully in Canada. Work permits can broadly be summarized into two primary types: open work permits and LMIA-based work permits (closed).
LMIA-Based work permits usually employ international employees; an employer must obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is administered as proof that using the international employee will have a neutral or favorable effect on the local labor market. When the LMIA is acquired, candidates can apply for a temporary work permit from IRCC, often under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Some professions may be eligible for expedited processing under certain programs, facilitating the employment procedure for specific high-demand positions.
Open work permits: several work permit holders in Canada do not need an LMIA. Open work permits authorize people to operate for any employer in Canada, with some exclusions. These permits are naturally provided under initiatives that match the International Mobility Program, which includes the IEC program that exempts the Working Holiday work permit or the Post-Graduation Work Permit for graduates of Canadian academic universities.
Americans, specifically, possess some work permits and alternatives available to them.
- Global Talent Stream: This national program, an aspect of Canada’s Global Skills Strategy, permits Canadian employers in developed and IT industries to quickly employ experienced international workers when no Canadians are qualified. The procedure involves concluding an LMIA and satisfying certain conditions, including income dedication. Work permit requests under the Global Talent Stream are naturally run in 30 days or less.
- The Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), previously known as NAFTA, provides a streamlined process for United States nationals to apply for temporary work permits in Canada. These work permits typically do not require a Labor Market Impact Assessment. Under CUSMA, United States nationals can work in Canada as professionals, intra-company transferees, investors, and traders. Professionals must be qualified in one or more of the 60 targeted professions. Intra-company transferees must have been employed continuously by their United States employer for at least one of the last three years in an executive, administrative, or specialized knowledge position. Traders and investors must demonstrate significant trade between Canadian citizens and the United States or substantial investments in Canadian businesses.
- Intra-company Transfer: Provided the solid trade connection between the United States and Canada, several American businesses have branches, associates, and subsidiaries in Canada. The Intra-Company transfer program permits these enterprises to bring primary workers to Canada without requiring an LMIA. Qualified workers, naturally in administrative, managerial, or skilled understanding positions, can move to Canada with their families.
- Working without a work permit: Most United States nationals can execute work in Canada without a temporary work permit. This has to do with business visitors who get involved in trade exercises but do not go into the Canadian labor market.
- Working Holidays (International Experience Canada): Under the IEC program, United States nationals between 18 and 35 can get an open work permit for one year. This scheme is formed for young individuals, including current full-time post-secondary students or final-year students not returning to study, to obtain employment skills and enjoy a working holiday in Canada.
