Help! DH wants to move to Canada...

[Microcell]

My sister and BIL lived there for a year, with a job lined up. They loved it there in Toronto, but the money ran out on BIL's job (it was a grant situation) so they were booted. They tried since they were in Canada to get approval to stay there while he looked for another job, and the Canadian Government said NOPE! Time to go back to the good ole USA!

I think they liked it there, but not enough to get citizenship, so that might have been their problem.

 

[froglady]

DH did a fellowship in Toronto, so we lived there for a year. He had tons of paperwork to fill out, we had to go to the Canadian Embassy in Boston (the closest to us) and the hospital had to prove that they had been unable to fill the position with an equally Canadian citizen in order to hire him, or prove that international fellows were important for the program. (ie, giving it a better worldwide reputation) He had to replace a US citizen.

When we got to TO, we had to report to immigration, and they made it very clear that we would not be allowed to stay once his visa expired. I was not allowed to work as the hospitals had to try to fill any vacancies with Canadian nurses first. One hospital did call me in June as they could confirm a shortage due to vacations, but by that time we had adjusted to living on his stipend. I know that one wife got a job a a department store, but she was terminated because the government decided that the store hadn't tried hard enough to fill the position with a citizen.

We also had to pay a deposit to bring our car in, which was mailed to us once we returned home.

Granted, this was back in 1981, so things may have changed a lot. They may have been responding to the influx of "illegal" US citizens from the mid 60s/early 70s.

 

[paigevz]

Well, I took the test and it said I can go to Canada if I am very careful with my Visa paperwork and it's approved. I got a score of 71 and I needed a 67. Hmmmm......................Texas...... .....Canada..............

 

[milkabum]

I'm thinking that Milkabum enjoys taking the meandering back roads to the Canada/U.S. border near Gananoque, Ontario. Highways will easily whisk a driver from Mississauga to the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge in about 90 minutes. The 401 would take about the suggested 4 hours to the border at Detroit or the Ivy Lea Bridge in Gananoque.

G'oh Canada..

 

[minnie56]

As far as the advice!
It's a great Country lo live in and I arrived here from England almost 45 years ago when I was 5 . I have tried other places, including back to England and Florida...but I always have to come home. It is clean, wide open spaces and the people are overall honourable and friendly.

Research it well..and good luck!

 

[N.Bailey]

My husband just got back from a business trip to Canada (Ontario) and he loved it there. He's been tossing the idea out there since he's returned, but I'm a hard sell. He loved the people and said he just had an overall great experience and he's looking forward to going back.

He brought home a paper (National Post from June 21)and on the cover there was a headline,
WHY HOCKEY RULES
(and other sports suck)

My husband got a BIG kick out of that. They were quite gracious when they lost the cup, too. That was quite impressive considering what it means to them. That deserves high kudos, IMO.

 

[barkley]

it must me something to do with draining the socialized resources of the citizens. i've read some articles over the past several years about actress sharon gless (don't know if i'm spelling right-she was on 'cagney and lacy'). she and her husband own a very successful film production company that films almost entirely up there. she has been trying for years to immigrate up and live where she is working. in the articles/interviews she's said the biggest issue is showing that she has to prove that she would not become dependant on health and other socialized programs.

another issue in moving to another country is to consider the implications to any future retirement plans or social security you may have entitlement to. i can't recall which ones they were-but when i started getting social security there was a notice that detailed out which countries i could live in while retaining my u.s. citizenship and continue to keep my benefit (i can't use my medicare outside the u.s. though), and some companies that offer a deferred retirement (like with government-if you are vested and leave you contact them to "retire" at the age required at which time you draw your pension and are eligible to med/dental coverage)-with some of these you can't get the med/dental if you live outside the u.s.-and it's a one time opt in/opt out-you can't move back to the u.s. in a few years and choose to pick up the medical coverage-it's a once in a life time option. so the consideration if you move but retain your citizenship is how you will get medical coverage, you either have to have an employer in that country that will cover you for the rest of your days or have some strong plans in place for the retirement years.

i think this is why some u.s. retirees have "permanant addresses" just within our borders and spend the maximum amount of "visiting time" in canada. if they need med attention the cross back over to the u.s..

 

[bambii]

can not have satellights for television.. that is what ive heard so im not sure how true it is..

 

[crazee4mickey]

can not have satellights for television..

What?
OMG, you are joking right?
Hope so, as yes we EVEN have satellite TV just like any 2 star strip motel ........

As for medical, we don't have to pay, everyone gets health care no matter what your income is..............I'm not 100% sure but I think every legal citizen gets this benefit~~someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong

 

[lizardqueen]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I am going to show DH them and then we can check out that link together. Yes, I realized that I couldn't just "pack up and head there tomorrow", but that's what it feels like. We would have to wait to see what happens as far as our foster kids. We are praying like mad that the parental rights get terminated at the next court hearing, then we would have to wait at least another 6 months before we could move anywhere. But, in the meantime at least we can research everything. Thanks so much.

 

[DISUNC]

Funny you should post this! This subject has been coming up more & more with friends, family and co-workers lately! It seems many of us Americans in our 40's & up are looking North to move....gearing towards retirement! Much better health care, Better "quality of life" issues (even though its cooooooold) and it seems like the jobs are a bit better paying and nicer benefits.

I never thought about it...but I must say it has become a HOT Topic at gatherings here in the US!!!!

Will WE Americans become Canadas Illegal Immigrants problem???

 

[DISUNC]

can not have satellights for television.. that is what ive heard so im not sure how true it is..

In certain sections of PA you cant have satellite TV!!!!!!!

 

[declansdad]

Much better health care, Better "quality of life" issues (even though its cooooooold) and it seems like the jobs are a bit better paying and nicer benefits.

just so you know, it's not always cold up here.

 

[donny]

canada is ok, toronto, quebec and niagra falls are pretty cool, being from buffalo canada is 30 minutes away and ilve been there about 50 times, it's pretty good but i dont suggest anywhere north of toronto or montreal cause people speak french more and are kind of more of jerks

 

[Nancy]

Move near the border. Perhaps a little place outside of Toronto, perhaps Mississauga Hello neighbour Mississauga is a great place to live, and it's only 4 hours from the border.

What border are you talking about? I get to Mississauga in a little over an hour, sometimes longer depending on traffic coming over the Rainbow Bridge and around the St. Catharines area.

 

[Sandy22]

canada is ok, toronto, quebec and niagra falls are pretty cool, being from buffalo canada is 30 minutes away and ilve been there about 50 times, it's pretty good but i dont suggest anywhere north of toronto or montreal cause people speak french more and are kind of more of jerks

You're kidding right??? Talk about making a blanket generalization. BTW Quebec City IS north of Montreal. Kinda neat that they can be "pretty cool" and "jerks" at the same time!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

canada is ok, toronto, quebec and niagra falls are pretty cool, being from buffalo canada is 30 minutes away and ilve been there about 50 times, it's pretty good but i dont suggest anywhere north of toronto or montreal cause people speak french more and are kind of more of jerks

Donny has no clue as to what he is writing. He's been to Canada 50 times -- not a lot for someone who lives across the river from the place. I've lived here all my life and have visited 9 of our provinces, but unfortunately none of our wonderful territories north of the 60th parallel.

Some of the most beautiful parts of Canada are to be found north of Toronto. Barrie is one of the fastest growing cities in Canada and has retained the wonder of being a city on a spectacular lake. Bruce and Grey Counties are filled with quaint towns and villages, yet also provide vibrancy to Canada's economy through agricultural activities, tourism, industry and the arts. There are wonderful towns to be found in northern Ontario -- unofficially known as Canada's 11th province (to some residents of Northern Ontario, that is.) Same with the area north of Montreal -- specatacular landscapes!

It is true that Canada is officially bilingual, however I have never once found that French speaking Canadians are any more jerks than, say, people from Buffalo, Cheektowaga, or Tonawanda.

 

[grinningghost]

I'm thinking that Milkabum enjoys taking the meandering back roads to the Canada/U.S. border near Gananoque, Ontario. Highways will easily whisk a driver from Mississauga to the Queenston/Lewiston Bridge in about 90 minutes. The 401 would take about the suggested 4 hours to the border at Detroit or the Ivy Lea Bridge in Gananoque.

I was thinking the same thing. I generally take the Peace Bridge and get to Mississauga in 90 minutes tops.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I was thinking the same thing. I generally take the Peace Bridge and get to Mississauga in 90 minutes tops.

Not that there's anything wrong with that route. I know it very well from living in Belleville and taking the "milk run" bus along the north shore of Lake Ontario all the way to Toronto. Those are hours of my life that I will never, ever be able to reclaim.

 

[MareQ]

It is true that Canada is officially bilingual, however I have never once found that French speaking Canadians are any more jerks than, say, people from Buffalo, Cheektowaga, or Tonawanda.

Yup - There are jerks to be found everywhere. I get tired of hearing that same dang stereotype over and over again about the French Canadians.