So, Ya wanna move to 
Canada, eh?

So, You're thinking about immigrating to Canada, eh?

To make things easier, please click the link to our Canada to U.S. Immigration Info page, read that, then pop back here, k?


That'll make this a bit easier to grab, too.


Well, to a degree, it can be easier to come up to Canada than it might be to enter the States, but that's only in a couple of ways. The other options can take a bit longer. Patience remains a major asset.

Now, to make things simple...sorta, call the closest Canadian Consulate, (your congressman should have a number for you), and ask for the following pamphlets.

"Canada's Immigration Law"..cat. # C&I-156-10-97

"Do You Want to Immigrate to Canada"..cat. # C&I-092-09-95

"Do You Want to Work Temporarily in Canada?"..cat. # C&I-093-09-95

Where matrimony is the only way for you to get into Canada, the Cdn. based partner can call Immigration Canada and ask for the same pamphlets and an application .
This is an "Application to Sponser a 'Family Class Relative', ie:Spouse, Fiance(e), Children, Parents and Grandparents." cat. # IMM-5196E(07-98)

A) If you want to enter the country to be with the one you love but NOT marry, there are two ways to do this.

i) Apply to enter the country as a refugee. Good luck.

ii) Be looking for, and find, an employer up here that will 'sponsor' you. Every year, thousands of 'immigrant' workers enter to work in underserviced parts of the country. The largest employer being the agricultural field. There are all kinds of 'migrant' workers that pick crops such as fruit and tobacco. The other way is if you have a Bachelor's Degree in a certain field. Other than that, it's pretty tough to qualify.

B) IF either of you are of the means to support the immigrating partner, the immigrant can enter the country as a visitor and you two CAN marry IN CANADA. At this point, the Cdn. resident applies to Immigration Canada with the above form. Both partners can then remain in Canada and after appr. 3 months, the Immigrant will receive "approval in principle", at which point the Immigrant is eligible to work, pay taxes and receive health benefits.

C) To 'pre-apply' to sponser the Immigrant partner as a "Fiance(e), the Canadian based partner uses the same application form, "Application to Sponser 'Family Class Relative', ie:Spouse, Fiance(e), Children, Parents and Grandparents." cat. # IMM-5196E(07-98). THIS is the lengthy route. It can take from 6-12 months before the Immigrant is contacted to book the visa interview. It HAS been known to take as long as 18 months.

Now, there IS a third way that is very, very slim, only in that the Immigrant MUST BE a North American, Status Card holding, Native Indian. I'll quote from one of the immigration pamphlets.

"Indians: Persons registered as Indians under Canada's Indian Act, whether or not they are Canadian citizens, also have an absolute right to come into or remain in Canada."

I called Immigration Canada and they told me that, "all the native needs to do is find a Canadian based Indian Band who will "affiliate" the Immigrant with that band. A band counsel member told me that all they need is a letter requesting affiliation and a photocopy of the Immigrant's Status Card from the States. Now, not all Canadian Indian Bands are going to go about affiliating, but, if the Cdn. based partner knows ANY natives in Canada, it shouldn't be hard to go about finding one that will.

Well, that's about it. I wish I could tell you more, but since I'm looking at going in the other direction, well...you understand.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours. May they happen quickly and with as little grief as possible.

Canada to U.S. Immigration Info


A few humorous words about Long Distance Love