How to Move to Canada from the United States

Different Ways to Immigrate to Canada from the United States

For over a century, Canada and the United States have shared a detailed and interesting history. These two prosperous countries were both settled by immigrant communities from all over the world and the countries still continue to receive thousands of migrants to this day. Additionally, not only do foreign nationals wish to immigrate to Canada, but so do American nationals. Thousands of American citizens immigrate to Canada for more reasons than one. Some Americans are attracted to Canada for opportunities they could not receive in the United States. Therefore, in this article, I will explain the different options available for American nationals that wish to permanently immigrate to Canada.

Americans Wishing to Immigrate Permanently to Canada

There are several options to choose from when immigrating to Canada. Of course, there are certain eligibility requirements that individuals need to consider and abide by prior to applying to immigrate to Canada. Below, I will explain in detail, the several options available to American citizens who wish to immigrate permanently to Canada.

Express Entry

This option of immigrating to Canada is quite advantageous as it is a rather fast application process compared to other options; the applications under Express Entry are often processed within a six month time period. Through this Express Entry option, Americans have the opportunity to both work and live in Canada permanently in less than one year. Additionally, Americans who apply under Express Entry often have higher chances of being selected and invited to apply for permanent residency. The reasoning behind this is because of their language abilities, the probability of having the appropriate work experience needed, and the possibility of having a higher education completed which will earn them higher points as well. It is highly recommended for American citizens to pursue an Express Entry application if they would like to gain permanent residency in Canada.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada is comparable to the United States in that it is sub-divided into different jurisdictions called provinces and territories, whereas the United States is sub-divided by States. However, unlike the states within the United States, Canadian provinces and territories do have a say in which new immigrants can come to Canada, and specifically, to which province and territory. If the American citizen that is applying for permanent residency in Canada is aware and knows which province or territory they would like to immigrate to, then the provincial nominee program may be a beneficial starting point. Please note that there are also eligibility requirements that must be met in order to be eligible and apply under this program. Candidates must have a specific skill set and appropriate work experience in order for the province or territory to nominate them.

Spousal &/or Common-Law Sponsorship

There is a large percentage of Americans who have Canadian spouses or common-law partners. Because of this, there are a significant amount of spousal and common-law sponsorships that get processed yearly. It is important to note that the Canadian government places high priority on these types of applications as they highly regard family reunification. Thus, spousal or common-law sponsorship is one way to achieve family reunification. In addition, the Canadian government also recognizes same-sex marriages as well as opposite-sex marriages. Due to the high amount of spousal sponsorship applications, the Canadian government is diligently working to reduce the processing times.

Business Immigration

Canada values business people, entrepreneurs, investors, and many more individuals that can have a significant ability to contribute to the Canadian economy and labour market. Canada’s labour market and economy is one of the most diverse and the Canadian government encourages business people to contribute to Canada’s social, economic and cultural aspects. Canada offers Provincial Business and Entrepreneur Programs for entrepreneurs who are interested in helping Canada’s economy grow. Many different provinces have these entrepreneur programs, such as British Columbia which has the entrepreneur immigration program; Ontario which has the Entrepreneur Stream; and, Manitoba’s Business Investor immigration stream, just to name a few.

Subsequently, Canada also offers Federal Business and Investor Immigration which is meant to attract investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals from around the world to Canada. In this case, Americans can also come to venture capital, business, and entrepreneurial skills. These attributes are found in many Americans and they are often great candidates for programs like these. There are different programs that they can participate in such as the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Pilot Program; the Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program; and the Self-Employed Persons Program.

All of these programs are specifically designed for investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals to pursue further business investments and endeavors within Canada. The Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Pilot Program is intended for high net worth international investors who can contribute to the Canadian economy. The Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program is intended for entrepreneurs to grow their companies within Canada. Lastly, the Self-Employed Persons Program is intended to bring individuals who will become self-employed in Canada. Keep in mind, there are specific eligibility requirements that come with these programs and applicants must ensure they meet the requirements prior to applying.

Contact Akrami & Associates

If you are an American citizen and you would like to come to Canada and live here permanently, it is important to take all of the aforementioned information into consideration before applying. Permanent Residency applications are difficult to pursue on your own, especially if you are unfamiliar; it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to apply. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients come to Canada from the United States to pursue permanent residency. If you believe that you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Canada as an American citizen, please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!