Americans and Canadians culture Q&A Thread.

[lisaviolet]

I’m curious, does Canada have birthright citizenship?

Yes.

Recently they expanded even beyond that, if a parent was born in Canada - you have citizenship.

I had no clue. Two of my nieces and nephews are American, I don't think they realize they have that option.

I have an option with Ireland and year after year I fail to do the paperwork.

 

[lisaviolet]

All I want to know is what is happening in Idaho?

 

[lisaviolet]

And for the other end, some surprises -

 

[prairie_girl]

Canadians, would you ever consider immigrating to the USA? I know some on this thread brought up the idea of immigrating to Canada. So I wonder if there is interest both ways?

No, I wouldn’t, for many reasons. Number one is that there’s no way my husband and I would be approved for health insurance and there’s no way we could pay oop for every visit and/or procedure we get throughout the year.

 

[bcla]

No, I wouldn’t, for many reasons. Number one is that there’s no way my husband and I would be approved for health insurance and there’s no way we could pay oop for every visit and/or procedure we get throughout the year.

Health insurance can no longer be denied in the United States on the basis of "pre-existing conditions". That used to be a concern for people who might need expensive care and wouldn't leave a job because of employer-covered medical. However, the costs of insurance has gone up, as has lots of employee fee. But then it depends on the particular copays for a particular visit. One the years a typical office visit copay was $10-15, and an ER visit might be $100.

 

[SirDuff]

Yes.

Recently they expanded even beyond that, if a parent was born in Canada - you have citizenship.

Actually, it is kind of the opposite. Canada made it harder for a parent to pass on citizenship to children born abroad. As of 2009 and 2015 the amendments, only first-generation Canadians can pass on citizenship to their children born abroad (with some exceptions). Before that, you had multi-generation families with Canadian citizenship, none of whom had ever lived in Canada.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...p/act-changes/rules-2009-2015.html#exceptions

 

[Frozen Canuck]

Canadians, would you ever consider immigrating to the USA? I know some on this thread brought up the idea of immigrating to Canada. So I wonder if there is interest both ways?

We have been living in the US for nearly 20 years now. We moved straight out of college when there was a high demand for people in Silicon Valley (shout out to NAFTA!). Initially, we talked about moving to the US for 10 years, gaining some experience, and then moving back; however, my husband has now specialized his skills into an area where there really isn't a job for him in Canada. Our kids have been raised here. One was born in Canada, the other two in the US, but we are working on the paperwork to establish their Canadian citizenship officially, as they are children with Canadian parents. Our older two kids have talked to people (at school, at college, at their jobs), about how their family is Canadian. Many of these people query, "But they've gotten their US citizenship now, right?" They are then SHOCKED to hear the response that, no...we have absolutely no desire to consider ourselves American EVER. The conversation usually seems to lean towards, "Well, now that you are in this great and amazing country, why wouldn't you want to call yourself American? Surely everyone would be American if they had the opportunity!" Nope. Not us, though I can't speak for others. We do know Canadians who have married Americans and then gotten American citizenship because it helped facilitate certain employment goals or whatever, but for me, when the opportunity arises, I will be getting out of here, not looking for a way to make it permanent.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We have been living in the US for nearly 20 years now. We moved straight out of college when there was a high demand for people in Silicon Valley (shout out to NAFTA!). Initially, we talked about moving to the US for 10 years, gaining some experience, and then moving back; however, my husband has now specialized his skills into an area where there really isn't a job for him in Canada. Our kids have been raised here. One was born in Canada, the other two in the US, but we are working on the paperwork to establish their Canadian citizenship officially, as they are children with Canadian parents. Our older two kids have talked to people (at school, at college, at their jobs), about how their family is Canadian. Many of these people query, "But they've gotten their US citizenship now, right?" They are then SHOCKED to hear the response that, no...we have absolutely no desire to consider ourselves American EVER. The conversation usually seems to lean towards, "Well, now that you are in this great and amazing country, why wouldn't you want to call yourself American? Surely everyone would be American if they had the opportunity!" Nope. Not us, though I can't speak for others. We do know Canadians who have married Americans and then gotten American citizenship because it helped facilitate certain employment goals or whatever, but for me, when the opportunity arises, I will be getting out of here, not looking for a way to make it permanent.

20 years is a long time to live in a country which is probably why the citizen question gets asked (it takes a while to gain citizenship here too). Regardless that alone wouldn't mean you have to consider yourself a citizen of that country. If I lived in Canada even for that long I wouldn't consider myself Canadian, I'd be an American living in Canada and just like you I would never have desire to consider myself Canadian.

I'm unfamiliar with visa stuff having just gone to other places to visit for a short trip. Is there any procedures for that, did you have to come on a work visa and just continue to renew it or was a visa even an issue/procedure?

 

[Frozen Canuck]

I'm unfamiliar with visa stuff having just gone to other places to visit for a short trip. Is there any procedures for that, did you have to come on a work visa and just continue to renew it or was a visa even an issue/procedure?

Yes. Back when my husband was recruited to the tech industry, NAFTA allowed for the exchange of labourers between the two countries, BUT (huge BUT), it was only allowed in certain desirable fields/industries (tech, doctors, nurses, etc.). The US would allow us to move and work in the country on a special visa (H1B, I think??? that needed to be renewed each year), but only if you were employed in an area where the US was lacking skilled workers. This meant that my husband could get a job and work as an electrical engineer, but I could not work at all (I was given a SSN that was stamped "Not Valid for Employment"), because my background was in education and there were plenty of teachers. By default, I also couldn't work in any other more common jobs--retail, food service, office work, etc. If I recall correctly, we were later allowed to apply for a longer visa, which I think was about 5 years long, while we in turn were sponsored for green cards through my husband's work. The green card process took YEARS, but thankfully there were professionals who took care of all of that for us. Even the green cards expire (10 years), and we have had to renew those as well. Now that I have a valid green card, I could go out and work at any job, if I wanted to.

Our relationship with the US has been purely transactional. When the work stops, I won't hesitate to pack us up and leave--and I won't be sad about it. For this reason, while our length of stay may lead people to assume that we are looking to immigrate permanently, our mindset is the complete opposite. I did not "desire" to come to America initially. It was just a good business decision. Likewise, there is nothing to hold me here once that chapter closes.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Our relationship with the US has been purely transactional. When the work stops, I won't hesitate to pack us up and leave--and I won't be sad about it. For this reason, while our length of stay may lead people to assume that we are looking to immigrate permanently, our mindset is the complete opposite. I did not "desire" to come to America initially. It was just a good business decision. Likewise, there is nothing to hold me here once that chapter closes.

While I haven't met someone who has stayed for a long time here without it being the goal to gain citizenship I don't see why it would have to be the only assumption. I can just see why the question gets asked because of the length of time and wouldn't look at it from a stereotypical viewpoint of Americans, then again I suppose I'm more practical in that viewpoint. Someone staying in any country anywhere would probably eventually get asked the question about if the path to citizenship was a goal if they are there for that long. Surely even that happens in Canada? (rhetorical question really).

I have known a Romanian, an Australian and now a Pakistani all of whom have gotten their citizenships here although the Pakistani I know (my sister-in-law's boyfriend) had already gained his citizenship before I met him.

 

[ronandannette]

Canadians, would you ever consider immigrating to the USA? I know some on this thread brought up the idea of immigrating to Canada. So I wonder if there is interest both ways?

No, never - not for any reason. I’d not eagerly emigrate anywhere but if Canada ceased to exist we would likely consider Australia or New Zealand first.

..."Well, now that you are in this great and amazing country, why wouldn't you want to call yourself American? Surely everyone would be American if they had the opportunity!" Nope. Not us, though I can't speak for others. We do know Canadians who have married Americans and then gotten American citizenship because it helped facilitate certain employment goals or whatever, but for me, when the opportunity arises, I will be getting out of here, not looking for a way to make it permanent.

My nephew is a WHL hockey coach (previously a player) and has spent more of his adult life in the States than in Canada. His wife is American (the kids were born there also). He has never and will never apply for citizenship and she did not apply for Canadian citizenships during their years in Canada. Their kids are thoroughly American both legally and by self-identification and I imagine won’t ever apply for their birthright Canadian status unless it benefits them in some way in the future. He always imagined “coming home” permanently once his hockey career concluded but it hasn’t gone that way and by the time their kids are grown and independent it will pretty much be too late.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Canadians, would you ever consider immigrating to the USA? I know some on this thread brought up the idea of immigrating to Canada. So I wonder if there is interest both ways?

no.

 

[Frozen Canuck]

My nephew is a WHL hockey coach (previously a player) and has spent more of his adult life in the States than in Canada. His wife is American (the kids were born there also). He has never and will never apply for citizenship and she did not apply for Canadian citizenships during their years in Canada. Their kids are thoroughly American both legally and by self-identification and I imagine won’t ever apply for their birthright Canadian status unless it benefits them in some way in the future. He always imagined “coming home” permanently once his hockey career concluded but it hasn’t gone that way and by the time their kids are grown and independent it will pretty much be too late.

Yeah...I always figured we didn't move back quickly enough. Our Canadian-born child seems more American than the two American kids. Our youngest is my only hope for bringing a kid back to Canada with me at this point. He loves Canada. We are attempting to complete the paperwork for his citizenship and our daughter is doing the same for herself. I don't know if she would consider moving to Canada or not, but she likes the option of being able to. A friend of ours is Canadian and married an American. They currently live in Wisconsin. He is in a unique position, where he can work in both countries, so often finds himself contracting out to a company in Manitoba. I can't begin to understand the logistics of it all, but it works for their family.

 

[ford family]

I had an Aunt and Uncle who emigrated to Canada in 1930 from the UK, living in Victoria BC until they died in the 90s. They remained British throughout their lives, renewing their passports as necessary.
Another Aunt and Uncle who went out at the same time, living near Salmon Arm BC took Canadian citizenship because he was active in politics and it helped his status.
The next generation who emigrated in the 60s, my cousins, all naturalised when they could and, of course, their children and grandchildren were all born in Canada.

ford family

 

[lisaviolet]

Actually, it is kind of the opposite. Canada made it harder for a parent to pass on citizenship to children born abroad. As of 2009 and 2015 the amendments, only first-generation Canadians can pass on citizenship to their children born abroad (with some exceptions). Before that, you had multi-generation families with Canadian citizenship, none of whom had ever lived in Canada.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...p/act-changes/rules-2009-2015.html#exceptions

Well call me confused. I knew all what you listed but just recently my sister posted a good job opportunity and said she was sending it off to my nephew. I thought he was ineligible being American - with no work permit - but googling found new and different answers surrounding citizenship.

As an aside I loved reading how the exceptions cross out most of the first statement/situations. Always fun meandering through government websites.

Is it not possible there was a very recent amendment?

EDIT: I have a feeling I have totally misunderstood your post - your point SirDuff, but I will leave my initial response until you clarify.

 

[lisaviolet]

For this reason, while our length of stay may lead people to assume that we are looking to immigrate permanently, our mindset is the complete opposite.

While I haven't met someone who has stayed for a long time here without it being the goal to gain citizenship I don't see why it would have to be the only assumption.

Mackenzie, are you sure you don't have Canadian blood in you?



My brother was like this as well. In the United States for over thirty years, never had any interest in American citizenship. Not only no interest, was adamant about it - meaning not a life carries on slant. Children are American born. My SIL wanted hers and got it (Colombian). But he had zero interest. Must have been hard not voting all those years.

(My cousin and family went down as well, a decade later. I am assuming they did citizenship - I have never thought to ask - as I think in their situation they would be crazy frustrated not to vote.)

 

[lisaviolet]

Before that, you had multi-generation families with Canadian citizenship, none of whom had ever lived in Canada.

This part I did not realize SirDuff. I knew about the changes after this fact/these years, but thought they were always our norm in my lifetime. How interesting.

That is like my situation in Ireland. Which I better get on in case they amend it.

 

[Aladora]

Canadians, would you ever consider immigrating to the USA? I know some on this thread brought up the idea of immigrating to Canada. So I wonder if there is interest both ways?

Short answer, no.

Longer answer, no because of healthcare, gun control, women's right to choose, politics.

DS is looking at a US university so he might be spending a few years down there but becoming a citizen is not an option for him.

 

[prairie_girl]

20 years is a long time to live in a country which is probably why the citizen question gets asked (it takes a while to gain citizenship here too). Regardless that alone wouldn't mean you have to consider yourself a citizen of that country. If I lived in Canada even for that long I wouldn't consider myself Canadian, I'd be an American living in Canada and just like you I would never have desire to consider myself Canadian.

I'm unfamiliar with visa stuff having just gone to other places to visit for a short trip. Is there any procedures for that, did you have to come on a work visa and just continue to renew it or was a visa even an issue/procedure?

My dad has been in Canada for close to 40 years and he is not a citizen, he is a landed immigrant. I’ve never wondered why he didn’t become a citizen, and it doesn’t bother me in the least.

While I haven't met someone who has stayed for a long time here without it being the goal to gain citizenship I don't see why it would have to be the only assumption. I can just see why the question gets asked because of the length of time and wouldn't look at it from a stereotypical viewpoint of Americans, then again I suppose I'm more practical in that viewpoint. Someone staying in any country anywhere would probably eventually get asked the question about if the path to citizenship was a goal if they are there for that long. Surely even that happens in Canada? (rhetorical question really).

I have known a Romanian, an Australian and now a Pakistani all of whom have gotten their citizenships here although the Pakistani I know (my sister-in-law's boyfriend) had already gained his citizenship before I met him.

Now you can add that you know someone who could get Australian citizenship but chooses not to.

No, never - not for any reason. I’d not eagerly emigrate anywhere but if Canada ceased to exist we would likely consider Australia or New Zealand first.

My nephew is a WHL hockey coach (previously a player) and has spent more of his adult life in the States than in Canada. His wife is American (the kids were born there also). He has never and will never apply for citizenship and she did not apply for Canadian citizenships during their years in Canada. Their kids are thoroughly American both legally and by self-identification and I imagine won’t ever apply for their birthright Canadian status unless it benefits them in some way in the future. He always imagined “coming home” permanently once his hockey career concluded but it hasn’t gone that way and by the time their kids are grown and independent it will pretty much be too late.

If Canada ceases to be, you can come with me and my family to Australia to stay with my family. My uncles back yard is literally the ocean.

 

[prairie_girl]

Short answer, no.

Longer answer, no because of healthcare, gun control, women's right to choose, politics.

DS is looking at a US university so he might be spending a few years down there but becoming a citizen is not an option for him.

I’d so love to add to this, but it’d get me points. I agree with everything you said.