Retire to Canada: they allow if no pension but large savings?

[oscar111]

My aunt wants to know if she would be able to get into Canada.

She's 63, no pension but enough in stocks etc to live off the interest/dividends.

Is there some amount she has to have in such savings, to qualify?

would becoming a

RESIDENT ALIEN

make it easier for her to qualify?

she is single.

Thanks a bunch and bless you all for helping her,
oscar

[Inland]

1. Someone give us this news we can use

[wideopen]

2. Not sure.

A friend of mine's dad just moved up to Nova Scotia last week, he's in his 70's. Apparently has plenty of money but he can only stay for 6 months a year. He left because he said the country is "going to hell", this is pretty scary to me coming from someone w/70+ years of experience.

[FloridaPat]

3. I read an article about going to Mexico. Rent is $350-450 a month for a

home with a gardner. Health insurance is free. If you want the better health insurance, it's $150 a year. There are American communities down there. Nice temperatures year round. * is not the president.

[oscar111]

5. thanks about Mex., but she likes cold air,

and mex is too hot at sea level.

she doesnt like mountains, so mex mountains are out.

thanks to all who have re'd so far on canada.

any idea why that oldster can only stay six months a year? Due to his no pension? or due to resident alien status, not applying to be a citizen?

how is it that canada is going to hell? i hear good things about their healthcare and businesses being second most honest in the world. OTOH, i hear they have homelessness.

[Spazito]

4. Here is the Canadian government site on immigrating to Canada

http://canadainternational.gc.ca/gtc/entry-Requirements-en.aspx


I hope this helps.

If she has a specific Province in mind, this link might help as each Province has different needs:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/provnom/index.html

[mcscajun]

6. I reviewed this situation last year.

Nearly all of the primarily English-speaking countries (Canada, Ireland, UK, Australis, New Zealand) have needs-based immigration policies that do not encourage retirees. Most want either skilled workers who'll fit into specific industries or skill areas, or they want entrepreneurs who'll be starting a business that they themselves will be working in.

The UK was the only place where I recall a separate "retiree class", and for that you had to prove that you had sufficient assets to ensure your own income at a level of US$50,000 or more.

You should, of course, do your own in-depth research and follow-up periodically, as policies are subject to change.

I just don't see any great willingness to take older 'refugees' from the US, generally.

[oscar111]

7. Belize in centrl amerca? retirees ok?

they also speek the english,
i teenk so is true. LOL.

they welcome retirees?

i know it is a hot country, but maybe i can get her to think about being more open to that area.

and thanks for the fabulously informative re!! even if pessimistic. Most helpful to know.

[oscar111]

8. MSCAJUN, thanks a bundle!! wow great reply

even if pessimistic, most helpful.

do you recall if Eng gave a dollar amount in the assets they require?

like, with diff assummptions, the fifty K might flow from
three hundred K or fivehun. or one million dollars.

like, assume to live different lengths, and a chunk will throw off more... ifyou eat principle... for short life expectancys, than for long ones.

or assume big bear markets, and ... and so on.

a stated asset amount would be helpful... did Eng say ?

[mcscajun]

9. See your PM

I put details from the UK website in there.

[oscar111]

10. aunt is also open to Scandinav's and Europe generally

any of them take retirees, no pension?

what asset amounts needed?

thanks, i will really wow her with all the good info you folks are providing so fast!!!!!!

[justinsb]

11. Retired people

will have a hard time actually imigrating to Canada or Europe because most of these countries have socialized medicine and are reluctant to allow people who are no longer working to actually become citizens. Your Aunt would have to carry private health insurance. She can visit for up to 6 months at a stretch, but likely could not actually become a citizen unless she was sponsored by a relative who was already a citizen.

I moved here when I was 32 with my 2 children - I don't think, even if the democrats swept into control of the white house and both houses of congress that I'd be comfortable in the states anymore - it is just not my culture. I don't like guns, believe in what I guess you'd call socializm lite (there is a place for free enterprise but the basic necessities of life should be denied to no one), I believe in peacekeeping and disaster relief, not police actions or armed invasion, I believe that most disputes can be settled with beer, that multiculturalism and tolerance are the last best hope for the world.

I've found myself very welcome here, but many here fear a wave of US immigration (although they have no fear of one from Mexico or China.)

[oscar111]

12. IMMIGRATION LAWYERS.. what are they all about?

i dimly recall seeing ads for them in a paper thirty years ago.

are they able to do anything? For someone like my aunt? or are they for other situations, like those who snuck in and got nabbed?

[justinsb]

13. Immigration lawyers can be very helpful

in cutting through red tape, expediating things, handling paperwork etc., but they still have to operate with the immigration laws of the country in question which doesn't really change the equasion any.

[CHIMO]

14. Information From

A previous post on the topic.
Hope it may help a bit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=190x2837#5707

[iverglas]

15. phew

Saved me repeating myself. ;)

"Retiree" is no longer a class of immigrants to Canada. (It used to be that a self-sufficient retired person with some genuine connection to Canada could retire here; no longer.)

Citizenship is only available to people already admitted to Canada as permanent residents (equivalent of "resident aliens") who have lived here for the required time. Permanent residence is only available to those who qualify as independent immigrants (the point system) or as sponsored immigrants (close family in Canada, as defined in the regulations, e.g. spouse, child, parent) or, in exceptional cases, as entrepreneurs or investors (see the cic.gc.ca site for details, but not likely applicable here).

The 6 months here / 6 months there model -- residing in Canada half the year on visitor status -- is probably the best to aim for. It's what Canadians who "retire to Florida" generally do. That would involve purchasing health care insurance in the US before coming to Canada, because no Canadian provincial public health care plan benefits would be available.

Speaking as a former immigration lawyer, I would not generally discourage someone from consulting one, simply so that they can get accurate information and good advice about their own specific situation. However, no immigration lawyer can work miracles, so in a situation like this I would not advise retaining one to submit an application (lawyer's fee + application fee) unless there were some very good indication of a real basis for doing that.


(typo fixed)

[chathoma]

16. Investor Category

I was just reading something on the Canadian Immigration website about an investor category.
Apparently an investment of (CAN)$400K can be lodged with the Canadian government for an interest free period of 5 years in exchange for residency. The investor immigration category is listed as a business category. Perhaps this could be used for wealthy individuals who want to retire to Canada?