How to move from USA to Canada. What American citizens need to know

So…how do you feel after Tuesday? election results? Angry, scared, ready to leave the US for Canada? If so, you’re not alone.

On Wednesday, early Google trends showed increased activity from people searching for “How do I get a passport” and “How do I move to Canada,” following last night’s posts? victory for Republican former President Donald Trump.

While experts have long pointed out that Americans are fed up with divisive politics as a reason to leave the country, that is actually the case to leave some of it may take over a year or more depending on how you immigrate.

Here are some things you need to know before selling your home and moving to Canada.

Can an American citizen simply move to Canada?

Well, yes, but there are several steps that American citizens must take if they want to live in Canada. The easiest way to do that is through Canada Express Entry System.

How Canada’s Express Entry works

According to his government websitethe Canadian Express Entry program consists essentially of two parts.

The first part is completing one online profilein which those who want to immigrate to Canada have a online test to determine which three entry-level programs applicants are eligible for. The test takes about 10-15 minutes. Then, applicants for both programs must complete and submit all necessary documents and required tests.

The story continues after the photo gallery.

The second part of Canada’s Express Entry involves waiting, possibly up to six months.

Invitations to apply for permanent residency in Canada are sent to a group of the most highly qualified candidates, in order of how well they rank. Are a points systemthe Canadian government said. If you qualify for one of Canada’s three Express Entry programs, you will receive this a score determine how quickly you can be invited to apply for citizenship.

Applicants who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) have 60 days to decline the invitation or submit an online application for permanent residence or they will be removed from the pool.

What questions are asked on the Canadian Express Entry system?

The Express Entry system asks questions about your:

Nationality.
Age.
Language skills (Canada has two official languages: English and French).
Family members (if you already have family living in Canada, this helps).
Education.
Work experience.
Available funds.
Details about any job offer that may have you working in Canada.

Depending on your answers, you may qualify for one of the Canadas three immigration programs.

How many citizens apply for Canadian citizenship?

Canada was welcomed last year more than 437,000 new permanent residentsalong with more than 604,000 temporary workers, according to a post by Marc Miller, The Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. In 2023, approximately 488,571 people applied through Canada’s Express Entry system.

However, that doesn’t mean the process was quick.

How long does it take to immigrate to Canada from the US?

If you were hoping to be living in Nova Scotia at the end of November, we have some bad news. Immigrating to Canada under the Express Entry program can take a while, from six months to a year, experts say, and sometimes longer.

The story continues after the photo gallery.

How much money do I need to immigrate to Canada?

Not counting your potential living expenses, the application fee for applying for permanent citizenship in Canada is $1,525 Canadian dollars, which is roughly the equivalent of $1,095 US dollars for a single person. Adding a child costs $260 Canadian ($187 US) per dependent.

A complete List of Canadian Citizenship Fees can be found on Canada’s official website.

Will I lose my US citizenship if I move to Canada?

No, current US law allows you to enforce this dual nationality.

Can I move to Canada without a job?

Yes, actually. The Canadian Express Entry program does not require you to have a job before beginning the immigration process. It helps if you have one according to CanadaAbroad.comthrough which foreign immigrants can do this The Canadian Jobs Bank.

What else should I know?

Living abroad takes time and careful planning. There are many online resources available for those considering such a move. Expatsa company that helps Americans live outside the US offers an online test with 20 questions to get started, as well as advice for citizens ready to immigrate from the United States.

Emigrate versus immigrate: what’s the difference?

While they may look and sound the same, there is a difference between “emigrate” and “immigrate,” and that difference is whether you are coming or going.

Both words mean that someone leaves one country for another, writes Britannicathat defines immigrate as,” to come Unpleasant a country to live there.” Emigration is now defined as leaving the country where you are by to live somewhere else. And it is the key words ‘to’ and ‘from’ that separate immigration and emigration. according to Grammar.

For example, an American citizen immigrates Unpleasant Canada. She emigrated by the United States. You can use this trick, Grammarly writes, to remember the difference.

There is a letter ‘i’ at the beginning of ‘immigrate’, which you can associate with the word ‘to’, as if you were moving inside another country. The letter ‘e’ stands at the beginning of emigrate, which can be associated with the word ‘exit’, as if leaving your home country, for example Canada.

Johannes Tufts covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Send him a news tip at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JTuftsReports.