A question about moving to Canada. *cross-post*

[grace0418]

I was wondering if any of my lovely fellow DUers have moved from the U.S. to Canada recently. If so, would you be willing to share your wisdom with me?

I live in Chicago and my husband is exploring the possibility of a move to Vancouver due to a possible job opportunity. This is a huge deal to me because I've wanted to move west for years and years but he's been afraid. He's a very careful person and feared giving up his good job here for the unknown somewhere else. I personally hate my job so I'd give it up in heartbeat but that's another story. Anyway, I've been open to many areas from northern California, to Portland, to Seattle. After a visit to Vancouver, BC about 8 months ago, I immediately added that lovely city to my list. In a way it's perfect because it is close enough to several of my family members living in the Seattle area to see them more often than I do now, but not so close that they'll be popping over every day.

Anyway, the other day a job possibility came my husband's way and I believe he can get it if he feels sufficiently motivated and excited by the idea. If I can gather a bunch of information, I might be able to convince him to take this leap, which would be a dream come true for me. I grew up in the Chicago area and have lived in the city proper for 14 years. Chicago is a lovely place, but I'm ready for a change. Help me help him! ;)

So any Americans living in Canada who have some advice for me? I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much in advance!

[enigmatic]

1. I've fallen madly in love with Canada

I've been up here 5 years this year, and I've been just about completely assimilated; I'll never move back to the US again, even though I'll always be connected to it by my citizenship and heart.

Immigration is tough for people who aren't sponsored by citizens of Canada or don't have a waiting job here; go to here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/

And see what fits for you and your Husband. And good luck!

[grace0418]

2. Thanks enigmatic!

Well, hopefully at least my husband will have a job before we go. In fact, I seriously doubt we'll even seriously consider it unless he's got the job lined up that started us on this path.

You've been there five years now, right? Have you considered applying for dual citizenship or are you sticking with your US? Is traveling outside Canada a pain for you?

Did you have property to sell when you moved? That's the other thing we need to figure out. We have a condo which we will have to sell (our building doesn't allow more than two rental units at a time and that quota has been met). But we have to figure out what to do about all the taxes and whatnot. Normally, we'd just sink the profit into a new place but we're not going to want to buy a place in Vancouver immediately. So that is a big thing that will need to be sorted out.

Lots of questions and logistics! Thanks for the link! :hi:

[enigmatic]

8. answers:

"You've been there five years now, right? Have you considered applying for dual citizenship or are you sticking with your US? Is traveling outside Canada a pain for you?"

I'm going to eventually get dual citizenship once my final papers go through; I've been studying the test off and on for the last couple of years and could probably pass if I took one today.

As for travelling, we haven't gone outside the country to the US yet, but that's more my own paranoia about getting stopped at the border and not beinmg let back in than anything else. Most peoiple I know who have done it have little problems at Canadian Customs, though I've heard some horror stories from the US side.

"Did you have property to sell when you moved?"

No, but another expat friend did and it went smoothly for him; I'll ask him if he has any advice on this...

I'll be happy to answer any questions I can; you'll love Vancouver, by the way. I'm in Edmonton (which is a Liberal oasis in Alberta (which I have to say, wouldn't be any more than a Purple State in the US), and I love it here..

[grace0418]

10. Thank you soooooo much.

If you hear anything from your friend, let me know. I'd really appreciate it.

I hope you don't mind I may be pm-ing you from time to time. Unless this all falls through.

Thanks Again!

[enigmatic]

12. Absolutely

PM me anytime about this; I'll try to help in any way I can:)

[MountainLaurel]

3. Nothing to add

But I'm looking forward to the responses. Husband and I have been considering moving to Vancouver as well, mainly to get out of the U.S. and so that he could enter a Ph.D. program at UBC. A lot of our concerns were about the cost of living in Vancouver. Housing seemed expensive compared to salaries (FWIW, I'm a librarian), even after calculating them in U.S. dollars, but we thought there might be some sort of tax differential that makes it even out in the end. Also, if anyone has tips about how viable it is to commute from the suburbs into town, I'd look forward to hearing them.

Good luck, Grace!

[grace0418]

4. I'll happily pass on any information as I get it.

You do the same, okay? Luckily, we've lived in Chicago for the last 14 years so the cost of living is not going to be a big issue for us. We're used to being broke all the time. ;)

There are a lot of factors to consider, though and it's going to be a big hassle. But I am sooooooooooo ready for a big change in my life. I love Chicago, I really do. But I've lived in Illinois my whole life (18 years in the suburbs, 4 years in Champaign-Urbana, 14 years in Chicago) and I am ready to experience something new. I always swore to myself that I wouldn't stay in the same place my whole life. Here I am at 36 never having lived more than 200 miles from where I was born.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Will do.

One of the reasons we're leaving DC to begin with is that we cannot afford a SFH without moving 60 miles from the city. My pagan soul needs a yard and something to cultivate. :D Traffic here is a nightmare, and public transportation is expensive and doesn't go where oyu want it. But if we could live within 15 miles of town and have reliable, quick public transportation available, that would be OK.

[TrogL]

6. Health Care

Need I say more.

[grace0418]

7. True, so true.

I'm not even allowing myself to think that far ahead. But yeah, it would be awesome.

[Telly Savalas]

9. Move!

We did about 4 years ago and the main drawback was that we're further from the family, but it looks like the opposite would be the case for you. Sounds like a win-win situation.

[grace0418]

11. Yeah, I'd actually be closer to most of my family.

I have a lot of siblings, but the clear majority lives in the PAC NW. My huband has some family out there too. Not his parents or siblings, though. So that may be something that holds him back a bit. I hope not though.

Thanks for the encouragement. Do you mind if I pm you sometime with a few questions? :hi:

[Telly Savalas]

13. Go for it.

I'd be happy to answer any questions. :hi:

[grace0418]

14. Thanks.

If I can get my husband off his duff to contact the guy about the position, I will be in touch. :hi: