A US Citizen's Guide to Moving to Canada: 4 Key Tips to Consider

November 23, 2020

About 30% of Americans are interested in moving to Canada. That interest has led many people who are eligible for visas to mosey across the border in pursuit of a new life.

While Canada does have a very active immigration system, becoming a legal resident/citizen of the nation takes work and preparation. In this post, we break down some of the key moving to Canada from US ins and outs in hopes of helping you better prepare for what's ahead.

Keep reading if you'd like to walk away from this post with a fuller understanding of US/CAN differences and entry requirements!

1. Assessing Eligibility

Becoming a legal resident of Canada takes a lot more effort than just rolling up to the border and being waived in. Sure, if you're driving in from the US, you can certainly enter the country with a tourist visa. Those visas will require a prompt departure though.

More substantial residency can be obtained through other visas including work visas, family sponsorships, business visas, and rural immigration visas.

You can learn more about visa types here.

2. Picking Your Location

Depending on the type of visa you receive to settle in Canada, it may be that you have to settle in a particular province. These mandates are meant to force people to fill up developing communities that need more labor, tax dollars, etc.

If your visa doesn't have strings attached, our recommendation is to look into larger cities like Toronto or Winnipeg, both of which have sizeable immigrant communities.

Areas like Quebec, which is culturally French, may require additional research before a move given its differences and threats of leaving the Canadian union.

3. Appreciate Cost

No matter how you slice it, immigrating costs money. For starters, there are the fees you'll need to pay for processing applications. For a family, which can cost just under $2,000.

Beyond that, you'll have to navigate the costs of hiring an inner City moving & storage company to transport your stuff, costs of securing new housing, getting legal assistance, and more.

4. Prepare for Differences

When visiting Canada, you’ll notice that it feels a lot like the United States. In living there, differences become clearer.  If you need to buy things from specific stores in the U.S. that you can’t find in Canada, you can learn how to do this from articles like this one: Brandy Melville international shipping.

For example, Canada has socialized medicine which is great for low-cost care but can be troublesome when it comes to wait-times and quality. This is particularly true for high-skill procedures. Canada's tax rates might also be higher than what you're used to paying for certain benefits.

Dive deep into all of the moving to Canada from US differences you're likely to run into before jumping ship. That way, you're not caught off guard by culture shock.

Moving to Canada From US Isn't for Everyone

While promises of greener grass waiting on the other side of the border can be luring, particularly during troubling times domestically, do your best to take a practical approach to your relocation desires.

Being a legal resident in a foreign country isn't for everyone. Due diligence regarding the benefits of moving to Canada from US will help you realize if it's right for you.

If you'd like more guidance on your moving to Canada from US ambitions, check out additional content on our blog.

 

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