Find a place to live before you pack up and leave the United States. Fly out and get to know the country before making your decision. Make sure you have maps with you so you know how to get around. Decide how you will get to Canada. Will you fly and have a truck deliver your stuff? Will you rent a moving truck and tow your car? Have a plan before you pick up and leave.
Become a permanent Canadian resident. You can't just become a Canadian citizen by moving to Canada and living there. You have to apply for citizenship. There are six different categories or classes you can select from, including Skilled Worker Class Immigration, Business Class Immigration, Provincial Nomination, Family Class Immigration, Quebec-Selected Immigration, and International Adoption.
The Skilled Worker Class is the most common and easiest way to get residency in Canada. You are evaluated on a point system. You must get at least 67 out of 100 possible points. You will be evaluated and given points based on your age, work experience, education level, adaptability, arranged employment, and language proficiency. Your criminal history will be examined. The labor market condition will also be considered before approving your application.
The Business Class is used by the self-employed, investors, and entrepreneurs. If you are self-employed, you need to have experience as well as the intentions and abilities to set up a business that will benefit you and Canadian society. Or you need to purchase a farm and have the ability to manage it. If you are an investor, you must have experience in business and have a net worth of $800,000 Canadian. You must also invest $400,000 Canadian into the Canadian economy. If you are an entrepreneur, you must have experience in business, whether you have owned shares in a business or owned a business. You'll need to have a net worth of $300,000 Canadian, as well as the ability to manage and own a business that creates at least one full-time job. You have three years to do this once you've received your Permanent Resident Card.
Provincial Nomination is when a province selects you to move to their province and live there. You need to contact the immigration office in the province you desire to live in and apply.
With Family Class Immigration, your close family members who live in Canada can sponsor your immigration to Canada.
Quebec-selected immigration includes six different categories of applications. They include permanent workers, businesspeople, students, temporary workers, families, and sponsored refugees. The temporary workers and students must have a desire to become permanent immigrants.
International Adoption involves Canadian residents adopting children from foreign countries.
When you are approved for the class that you applied for, you will be given a Permanent Resident Card. Once you've become a permanent resident and have lived in Canada for three to four years, you qualify for Canadian citizenship.
Getting Canadian citizenship: You must be at least 18 years old, know how to speak and write in English or French, and understand how Canadian society works. You must have lived in Canada for three to four years. You will take a test on the structure of Canadian government and Canadian politics. This process can take anywhere from a few months to many years. Once the process has been completed and you are approved to be a Canadian citizen, you will attend a citizenship ceremony. You will receive your certificate of Canadian citizenship and can then apply for a Canadian passport.
