anyone recently move to canada (or know the process)

[faithnotgreed]

enigmatic got me thinking about this so if theres anyone out there who has recently moved to canada then can you please help me with these specifics
or pm me if that works better for you

im thinking of applying to move - to where in canada i dont know since this is just beginning but i do want to know more the specific reality

how long did it take you from start to finish of the process
did you find that if you followed the directions as listed on the canadian site then it went fairly smoothly
did you hire an immigration lawyer
what were the unexpected obstacles if any

thanks so much for any guidance

[kestrel91316]

1. I've heard there is now a long waiting list for Americans to

immigrate to Canada. I also have heard that in the event of a US military draft, Canada will NOT shelter draft evaders but will track them down and extradite them for the US.

I don't have links, just a recollection in my head, lol.

[faithnotgreed]

2. if you do come up with any links

that would be great
thanks

im not so concerned about evading the draft but do want to know the process and if they are back logged

thanks again

[Maple]

5. There was a backlog

right after the US election, but they've been working at it steadily ever since.

There is no agreement to 'hunt down draft dodgers'. The American media carried that story far and wide though.

The only agreements involve 'terrorists' and standard ones on criminals.

We have some Americans here now who have left the military, and they are applying to stay in Canada. Hard to tell how that will go because they are on shaky legal ground...it's a volunteer military, not a draft, so they weren't 'forced' into it.

We have an underground helping them across the border though, and I'm sure there are a lot more present than what show up 'on the books'

If a draft was instituted, the pressure on the PM to let them in would be enormous... there is already a large organization in place to do just that... and he could do it in 5 minutes with an order-in-council.

[faithnotgreed]

6. thank you maple

good to hear from you and i appreciate your time

you sound quite informed so on the off chance you may know things like this
i am asking if the obvious provinces of bc and ontario are far more unlikely to get into than the rest
that would seem to be the case just from common sense

ive known of the provincial nominee program and each one has their different requirements and jobs they are seeking to fill
but the official sites as a whole do not (and i understand why) give much specific information about things such as wait list or true likelihood of entree

ive taken the skilled worker test online and like many i have about the minimum passing mark but its all so across the board that i dont know if one province is that much more in need or in want of american citizens who can contribute in some way
the online information so far doesnt give you that kind of information unless for example you fit a particular vocation from the province who needs those people

but as for me (and many i imagine) i dont know where is my best shot
ideally i want to live in a progressive place of organics and vegetarians and mass transit but the economics of those places are likely prohibitive even if i could get in
though i dont know if thats a possibility or not

thanks so much for any guidance regarding this rambling post
peace

[Maple]

7. You can go

anywhere you like as an immigrant in Canada.

Most go to Toronto in fact, even though we wish they'd spread out more. :D

Alberta has thousands of jobs going begging, and have even asked for extra immigration to help fill them, but we can only advise people about it, or recruit by job title, we can't force anybody to move anywhere.

The city of Toronto has 4 million people...the entire province of Alberta only has 3 million.

We do want immigrants though, thousands and thousands of them, and will want even more shortly as boomers retire. Everything from truck drivers to university professors.

Organics, vegetarian and mass transit...yup, best places for you would be Ontario and BC. Just choose your weather, and apply.

Welcome to Canada btw. :D

[faithnotgreed]

8. wow~

on edit: please dont feel (in case you do) that you need to answer all my posts or even answer them quickly
at your convenience is wonderful enough

you make it sound... well
easy

if i wanted to immigrate (as long as i qualify through the workers program for example) to bc then i could
dont they base your application on actual jobs available in the local economy youre applying
i am sure they arent hurting for workers in vancouver

what about the pnp - how is that different

i thought they are trying to funnel people to the other places as you mention
i would be glad to settle in a smaller area but still would want the same things as i listed so imagine im still looking at the same 2 main options

i am clearly confused about the pnp and skilled workers aspect and what the differences are

thank you again maple
you have a lot of information so i appreciate your support in the midst of my confusion

[Maple]

10. LOL well you got your wish

I haven't checked in here for days, so I'm late in replying.

No they don't match it to the job market, you're free to take a job wherever you wish. BC needs people too...there are always jobs available. You don't apply to just a specific province...you apply to the country as a whole. It's not difficult, it's just that paperwork, as you know, takes time.

The only 'unemployment' we have is structural...people who don't have the skills needed in the economy. 50 year old cod fishermen in Newfoundland for example, where cod fishing is shut down due to a lack of....cod. Very hard to turn people like that into say, computer programmers.

Alberta needs thousands of workers for the oil fields, amongst other things, but for that they would advertise for specific kinds of workers...riggers for example.

Ontario has lots of cities and towns, so Toronto needn't be your only option here. London, Hamilton, Sudbury, Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham....

You lost me on 'pnp'...what does that stand for?

[faithnotgreed]

12. pnp

is the provincial nominee program
so i was a bit confused about the difference or why one would apply through a specific province
but i think i can figure out that if you have a unique or specific career that a specific province is looking for then it can be a fast track (of sorts) if you just apply directly

but i do get the gist

thank you for taking your time~ im glad for that

i am thinking of toronto as you know and since you list some of the specific surrounding areas can i ask of those (or others) which ones are the more progressive

thanks so very much maple
you have been quite helpful

[Maple]

14. Well out of those I listed

Toronto is the largest city at 4 million, and I'd say Chatham is the smallest city at 44,000...but Chatham has acupuncture and reflexology and chiropractors, and organic beef and vegetables and so on.

No homeopaths though. They are hard to come by anywhere apparently. Wanted, just not plentiful.

Ontario and Quebec are the most progressive places...I'd say Alberta is the least.

[faithnotgreed]

15. ok great

i will check out chatham

i did think about quebec but as my french was never great and hasnt been used in ages it would take me time just to get substandard so i better focus on ontario and bc

thanks again maple
its been a real pleasure talking to you

[achtung_circus]

11. Ditto.

What in the halibut is "pnp".

[faithnotgreed]

13. the halibut

of pnp = provincial nominee program

from what i know when i looked into immigrating several years ago nearly all the provinces have their own application process

each one has their own things they are looking for in a potential immigrant so they can get selective or put the call out for specific jobs/people they are looking for

so apparently you can apply through that way - or you could when i first researched it

[One_of_8]

9. Thanks for the great info Maple

I too am investigating the idea of immigrating to Canada. Thank you for the helpful tips on where the job opportunties might be better! Am planning a vacation to Canada next spring, and can hardly wait.

[Nay]

3. See this link.

Go to the following website to see all the ways to start the immigration process. You can rate yourself as to how probable it would be for you to be accepted into the country.


www.cic.gc.ca

[faithnotgreed]

4. thank you nay... i took that test and would do ok

i dont see any major problems and with a bit of $ i would bring in i think i could qualify

i was just wondering if someone has done so recently and how long or difficult was the process
and yes how long the wait etc from anyones experience

thanks again