So I want to move my family to Canada....Question!

[leftchick]

I know there is a test you take to see if you are allowed into the work force. I have not worked in the last 15 years, I have been raising my 2 boys, and have really been out of the loop. My husband has been with the same company for 14 years and really isn't even considering leaving, but that is another issue (I have my work cut out for me with that one!). My question is what happens if neither of us qualify? Are we just shit out of luck or can we be welcome as political refugees? Please help and thanks!

[kostya]

1. Start here

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.html

[Wat_Tyler]

2. You won't be taken on as a political refugee.

That status is only given to people who are fleeing for their lives.

[leftchick]

7. interesting...

because that is exactly what I feel we will be doing... :(

[Pachamama]

10. At some point in the future you may be in that situation as will many...

it could then be actually more difficult if millions of Americans flock there....thats why its better to start early with the skilled workers process....

[leftchick]

14. thank you for the link and information....

I will keep pushing my husband. My maternal instinct is screaming at me to get my children out.

[Wat_Tyler]

13. While I sympathise, the distinction is for people who actually are

fleeing for their lives.

[RawMaterials]

3. you go there find a shit job get a work visa, then look for a good job.

hope you have some money saved up, I have heard that it can take up to 2 years to imagrate after you have a job, it is also a plus to know how to speak and read french.

but the test is passible if you know french and have a college degree.

[iverglas]

12. nope

"you go there find a shit job get a work visa, then look for a good job."

Employment authorizations are not given out for "shit jobs". There are lots of Canadians available for them.

No one should ever enter Canada in the expectation of finding a job and getting a work permit once here. That would only happen in very specific circumstances, when an employer cannot find a qualified Canadian.

"it can take up to 2 years to imagrate after you have a job"

Immigrating is never a matter of time only, and the job almost always comes *after* the immigration.

"but the test is passible if you know french and have a college degree."

It's passable if you don't know French, if you have enough education *and* work experience (or arranged employment).

[eataTREE]

4. The short answer is no.

My understanding is that anyone can come to Canada and *apply* for refugee status, and has the right to stay until their claim is adjudicated. However, if you're not facing immediate danger of imprisonment, torture, death, or other real abuse due to your religious or political beliefs, your claim will be denied and you will be deported back to the good old USA.

Americans have tried to claim refugee status in Canada before, mostly people facing harsh sentencing for drug crimes in the US. No one has been successful as yet. For one thing, accepting such a claim would further strain already strained US-Canadian relations, and Canada just doesn't need the hassle.

Canada is a sovereign nation, folks. You don't get in the door just for not liking George Bush. Stay at home and help your country onto a better path.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Presumably She is Concerned About the DRAFT

She does not want to give up her boys to the Crusade.
I would not fault any mother who wants to leave the country
to keep her kids from being forced to die for Halliburton
and somebody's end-times prophecies.

It is not as though we have been at all succesful in stopping the war.

[leftchick]

17. thank you Andy! Well said for me....

I am just plain out of energy to fight the US fascism anymore. I do literally fear for my boys and want to get them the hell out now!

[Pachamama]

5. This site will help answer some of your questions....there is a qualifying

test to determine if you and/or your spouse is a "skilled worker"...political refugee status would be impossible unless you could show some serious life or death reason for needing it (ie. your husband or sons are being drafted and for religious reasons or conscientous objector reasons you need to leave). There is also entrepreneur and business status, but you have to be able to put up the equivalent of $300,000 CAD in an account to the Canadian gov't (that you get back eventually) but that you start a business and are either self-employed or if you start a business that you hire a Canadian citizen within a three year period for atleast a year.

Obviously you need to start with your husband on whether he even is willing to go. My suggestion after that is that if you are really serious, that you contact an attorney who can help out with the process. This generally will run you between $1600-$2000 for an attorneys assistance in the process. Meanwhile, you might want to investigate applying for jobs there and ofcourse figuring out what province you'd want to live in.

I obviously have been looking into this process for a while. I have transferred monies to banks in Canada, am in the process of looking at purchasing property there (we are headed there after X-mas for a ski vacation and property hunting) and meanwhile I've hired an attorney out of Montreal who specializes in immigration law. I figure if done right, this process from the time now till the time we move there will be 2 years from now, but we qualify for both skilled worker and the business status. Most likely we will start a business there and employ Canadians...they like that....

Unfortunately, the old adage is true...it takes money to make money...not saying that Canada doesn't welcome those without it...it is however, as in most things in life, more difficult without much money etc. This is why I suggest if you are not certain of your situation and status and options, look into them. Then start the process and get on it....You'd rather have things in the works and be further along then when there is a run for the border and the Canadian govt' turns down any new applications. This is why we are underway in our process....

http://canadianalternative.com/

[2Design]

6. how can you transfer money to banks in canada? I called and

you have to be a canadian citizen - or are you part canadian already?

[Pachamama]

9. Not sure where your info is coming from....

We are in the process of purchasing several properties in Canada...Purchases require money and that money needs to be available in Canada...On my last trip there, I opened an account through my attorney and then deposited funds...I have money in Europe too...Don't know why I can and you've been told no....I'm not a Canuck nor related to anyone there....

Europeans and Canadians come here and open up acccounts...as far as know, int'l commerce, banking laws and even NAFTA don't prohibit Americans from investing or depositing money in Canada..in fact, I'm pretty certain they encourage it...

[iverglas]

11. refugees

actually need not be fleeing for their lives. They must have a well-founded fear of persecution, and persecution comes in many forms. (It doesn't mean merely "discrimination".)

Canada applies the definition of "refugee" in the Convention on the Status of Refugees:

http://www.canlii.org/ca/sta/i-2.5/sec96.html

96. A Convention refugee is a person who, by reason of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion,

(a) is outside each of their countries of nationality and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to avail themself of the protection of each of those countries; or

(b) not having a country of nationality, is outside the country of their former habitual residence and is unable or, by reason of that fear, unwilling to return to that country.

Resisters of military conscription to fight in wars that are internationally recognized as involving crimes against humanity, e.g., may qualify, because prosecution for draft evasion (or desertion) would, in that instance, be persecution on the ground of, e.g., political belief. There is a case of this nature underway in Canada at present involving conscientious objection to the invasion of Iraq.

Canada cannot deny refugee protection simply because granting it would annoy some other country, or open a floodgate. That latter problem is the fate suffered by countries that respect rights in a world of countries that don't, unfortunately.

As for immigrating, the self-scoring tool at the CIC site says a lot, but not all. Someone long out of the workforce who did have appropriate educational qualifications and experience might technically qualify, but might not be regarded as a suitable applicant because of employability problems.

[justinsb]

15. Maybe

Where in Canada are you thinking of going? The Govt is saying they won't grant refugee status from the US and that's really not the way you want to go anyway.

[leftchick]

16. That is really my desperation thinking there about 'refugees'....

I am hoping my husband qualifies and I am thinking of Ontario. My folks are aging and live in NY state so it would be convenient.

[justinsb]

18. Maybe

I'm not sure what your husband does, so I can't really tell you on that score. One thing you might consider though, if you need an in that you don't have, is looking at nursing schools or some kind of early childhood development program. Ontario has a shortage in both of these areas and so that might really help with your immigration application - also neither of these programs takes an extrordinary amount of time - I think they are both 2 year programs. Feel free to post here or email me if you have any questions. I left following the last election, so I know how you are feeling.

Cheers,
- Justin

[democracy eh]

19. depending on skills, the provincial nominee

may be your best bet for getting in, look at what assorted provinces are seeking

provinces may be more flexible than the Feds

i.e. out here in NS we get on average 700 new immigrants a year. while certain skills are in demand, me thinks warm bodied younger than 50 tax payers may be desireable