Young, Less Educated Yearn to Migrate to the U.S.; Canada more attractive to older, more educated

[woo me with science]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/127604/Young-Less-Educated-Yearn-Migrate.aspx

by Neli Esipova, Julie Ray, and Rajesh SrinivasanWASHINGTON, D.C. --

GALLUP: Fifteen countries attract about 500 million of the roughly 700 million adults worldwide who say they would like to relocate permanently to another country if they could. Gallup finds the U.S. is clearly the No. 1 desired destination among these potential migrants, with more than 165 million saying they would like to move there, and neighboring Canada is a distant second with 45 million.

....

Together, the number of potential migrants who would like to move to the United States, which represents 24% of adults who would like to move overall, and Canada, which represents 7%, make Northern America the most desired region to move to in the world. But individually, both countries appeal to people from different parts of the world. Gallup finds the U.S. appeals more to the youngest and least educated adults, while those who choose Canada are on average slightly older and more educated.

These differences may partly reflect the emphasis each country's immigration policy places on different categories of migrants. In the U.S., Department of Homeland Security statistics show family-sponsored migrants account for the largest percentage of those who become legal permanent residents each year, followed by workers. The reverse is true in Canada, where government migration statistics show applicants with higher levels of education, job experience, and skills make up the largest portion of legal permanent residents, and those in the family category make up the second-largest portion.

While the U.S. and Canada have long histories as major immigrant-receiving countries, they also differ in how they welcome new migrants and integrate them into their societies economically, politically, socially, and culturally. Canada's government actively assists migrants when they arrive, including providing free language-training vouchers. The United States on the other hand, according to a 2009 Independent Task Force report on immigration policy, has no national integration policy and provides little support for English-language classes.

.....

While education tends to be lower in the 15 to 24 age group -- which the United States is more likely to attract -- the overall picture does not change when age is taken into account. Within each age group, the United States is still most likely to attract the least educated.

[DesertFlower]

1. interesting. nt

[paulsby]

2. we're #1. that's usually only acceptable in DU when you are discussing something BAD about USA

but this certainly isn't

[SocialistLez]

3. They can take my spot while I move to Canada...NT

[Captain Hilts]

5. Good luck getting a work permit. nt

[SocialistLez]

7. Yeah I've looked into it. Unfortunately it looks like I'm stuck here. nt

[Captain Hilts]

4. It's very tough to get a work permit in Canada, let alone citizenship. Don't think you can walk in

and get a job, healthcare, etc. They're as tough as we are.

[Posteritatis]

6. We're probably tougher a lot of the time, actually.

Too much so, at least in my opinion; we've been hit by the same xenophobic turn that the US has sufferede from in the last decade, and the Conservatives have been actively encouraging it.

[Captain Hilts]

8. They seem about even. A friend of mine has had to jump through flaming hoops to

get a work permit for someone from overseas to take care of her mother.

What surprised me was that now that this woman has a two year permit, she is PROHIBITED from leaving the country in that time to visit her family!!!! How mean is that?

So, Canada can be pretty tough. I had a screw up with my work permit as a result of a civil servant strike and boy, was that a hassle. At one point, Canada tried to deport me from Canada, while I was standing in the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC!!!

[Oregone]

9. Maybe so, but perm. residency is attainable

A young married couple with two bachelor degrees will qualify

[depakid]

12. Knowing a foriegn language- especially French, also seems to help

[Oregone]

13. Yep, thatll get you some points

My wife and I both can't speak French though, so no points for us there :)

We did get points though for English proficiency (their other official language). Coming from America, you don't even have to prove proficiency in English

[Captain Hilts]

15. It's not that easy. nt

[Oregone]

16. Worked for me

Its a points system. If you pass the metric, you're good really.

Then you prove you have a clean record and send in your medicals. Its not that complicated to immigrate (and you don't need a lawyer)

[dkf]

10. Older people want healthcare. Younger people not so much.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

11. Canada has a point system.

Does the US?

[Oregone]

14. For any interested, try the self-assessment test:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/assess/index.asp

BritishExpats.com is a great site for help once you decide to apply (yes, even for Americans). It guided me through a lot of the process and I didn't need a lawyer

And yes, the US has a similar metric. You qualify by your aggregate ability to run, jump, and swim in a practical application. Eventually this will lead to citizenship, but currently, only to some strange form of indentured servitude.