Now that their worst fears have come true, all those Americans who said they would move to Canada in the event of a Donald Trump victory are suddenly reaching for their passports.
With the crash of the Canadian immigration site election night, it’s clear that many of them were serious about the move. But it’s not that simple to relocoate to another country. The process takes time, money and patience.
Here are the steps you should take before purchasing that plane ticket.
Not everyone is eligible to move to Canada. The Citizenship and Immigration site advises that it is easier to attain permanent residence if you are a student, have family already living there or are a skilled worker. (If you are a skilled worker, you will apply through the “Express Entry” program.)
Find out if you are eligible to apply for permanent residency (PR) by taking this online survey, which assesses your nationality, language ability, education, work experience and more.
Documents
Find the correct application forms for permanent residency here. Find a checklist for your PR application here.
When you submit your application, you will need to provide necessary documents including photocopies of the personal page of your U.S. passport, birth certificate, financial information and proof of English or French language proficiency, advises USA Today.
Cost
“Application fees for the skilled worker ‘Express Entry’ program run $412 in U.S. dollars for the worker and a spouse, plus another $112 per dependent,” reports CNBC. In addition, hiring an attorney to represent your case can cost between $400 and $7,500.
Time
According to CNBC, “the average processing time for someone applying for entry as a skilled worker was six to 12 months; a live-in caregiver, 51 months; and a self-employed person, 95 months.”
Once you have compiled all the documents you need, send your application to the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Now you must wait to see if your application has been approved.
Moving to a different country is not an inexpensive ordeal. According to Jack Griffin, president of Atlas World Group, (via CNBC), it is a “rigorous process” that can cost between $20,000 to $30,000.
If moving to Canada is not your cup of tea, there are other countries around the world where you can still feel at home. These countries include Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and Ireland.
Check out the article “President Trump is a Reality, 5 Countries Hillary Supporters Can Move To” to explore your options now that Donald Trump is the next elected POTUS.
