How to move to Canada from the US as a citizen?

Did you know that in 2019 more than 10,000 U.S. residents made a move to Canada.? The growing economy, boosting start-ups and great employment opportunities have made Canada a great destination not only for the US citizens but the whole world.

The US citizens can benefit from special immigration programs to move to Canada.

This article explains which immigration programs are there for US citizens to move to Canada.

How can US citizens move to Canada?

There are different ways that US citizens can move to Canada. There are over 70 immigration programs in Canada that you can use one of them and move to the country. But you need to know each and every one of them in detail. You would better choose the one that is appropriate and suits your conditions.

Canada Student visa

The quality of education systems in the US is high and one of the best in the world. But each country has its own standards and quality of life and education.

One of the easy ways that US citizens can move to Canada is through a Canada student visa. There are different universities, education centers, and colleges that you can apply to and study.

There are 97 universities in Canada that offer more than 15,000 educational programs in BAs, MAs, or diplomas.

Some of the most famous ones with very high local and global ranking are as follows:

You need to apply for one of the Canadian universities and receive your educational certificate. Then, you can apply for a Pst Graduate Work Via or PGWV. When applying to a university, remember that it must be under the PGWV program.  The point to remember is that Canadian employers prefer to hire people who have lived in Canada and have the experience.

The entire application process for a Canada student visa is online. You just need to have your biometrics in the Canadian embassy.

Job offer and Open Work Permit

The other way that US citizens can move to Canada is through a job offer and Open Work Permit. US citizens don’t need a tourist visa to visit Canada so they can travel to the country and seize the opportunity to look for a job.

You can also look for a job online on websites and platforms that are designed for this:

• Monster.ca
• Ziprecruiter.ca
• Eluta.ca
• Jobbank.gc.ca
• Careerbuilder.ca
• Ca.indeed.com
• Hotjobscanada.ca
• Simplyhired.ca
• Jobs.ca
• Indeed.com

The above websites can help you to find a job in Canada.

There are a few conditions that your job needs to meet so to be eligible for an Open Work permit.

LMIA

The Canadian Employer needs to receive the LMIA certificate from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Enough funds proof

The employee needs to have enough funds to cover his/her expenses in Canada. The employer could undertake to pay all the expenses.

Clean record

Receiving a clean record certificate from the police in the US is a must.

Health

Being in good health is a must for the employee.

How long can you work in Canada with an open work permit?

Canada open work permit is not permanent. But with the experience, you can increase your scores for one of the Federal skilled immigration programs or Express Entry.

The Express entry score systems are as follows:

• Nationality
• Age
• Language proficiency
• Family members
• Education
• Work experience (inside or outside Canada)
• Details on any job offer

Sponsoring your family through the sponsorship program

Canada sponsorship program allows you to sponsor some of your family members:

• spouse
• common-law partner

If you have such a person in Canada, he/she can sponsor you and move to the country.

The relationship between the US citizens and the Canadian sponsor must be proved through formal documents or acceptable proof. At least, some evidence must be provided that the two people have spent some time together.

There are special requirements for the applicant and the citizen. You can read the eligibility principles and rules for each one in the Canada Family Sponsorship article.

Canada Startup Visa program

The US citizens can move to Canada if they have an innovative business plan or idea. The program provides lots of opportunities to US citizens and is one of the greatest ways to move to the US.

If you want to apply for the start-up program, you need to receive aid from a Canadian:

• Venture capital fund
• Angel investor group
• Business incubator

The above three categories can be called VABs. They have the authorization to help foreign start-ups and businesses to move to Canada.

The VAB you choose must be designated by the Canadian government and be interested to invest in your start-up.

Some VABs only invest in particular fields and have no interest in other ones. You need to find one that is willing to put money into your business, company, or start-up.

There are also some syndications that you can receive help from.

The other eligibility principles for the Canada start-up program are as follows:

• Hold qualifying business
• Proof to be proficient in English/French
• Proof of ownership
• Have enough funds to settle in Canada

You can find out more about the Canada start-up program from this article. The details and all the information you need are provided there.

Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

The Federal government of Canada has allowed its provinces to have their own immigration program and attract the skilled workers they need. Each Canadian province has its own requirements so the Provincial Nominee Programs enable them to hire the appropriate person.

The Canadian provinces that use the PNP program are:

• Alberta,
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick,
• Newfoundland, and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

The instructions to apply for a PNP of each province is written on their website.

The US citizens can apply directly through the PNP program or apply through the Express Entry. Receiving a PNP nomination will increase your score in the Express Entry program, and it will become likely to get accepted.

After acceptance, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence by the Canadian Government. The US citizens won’t have to wait for a few years to receive PR. The Express Entry allows them to apply directly for the PR, which holds so many benefits.

If you’d like to know more about Canada Provincial Nominee Program, visit this article to find it all out.

Express Entry

The Express Entry program is the most famous immigration program among others. Anyone who has thought about moving to Canada has heard its name or has applied through it at least once.

It’s a point-based electronic program. People from all over the world can enter it so US citizens.

You create a profile in the system and receive a score by your:

• Type of skill you have
• Education
• Employment background
• Language proficiency certificate
• Financial independence proof

The applicants who receive the highest score receive an invitation to apply for Canada PR or Permanent Residency.

There are different Express Entry subcategories that you can apply through one of them:

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or (NAFTA Work Permits)

CUSMA or as formerly known NAFTA stands for The North American Free Trade Agreement. It’s an agreement between

• The US
• Canada
• Mexico

The aim of CUSMA is to ease trade between the three countries and allow workers to work in the other country a bit easier.

If the US citizens have a job offer from a Canadian employer, they can work in Canada without receiving the LMIA certificate.

The program also enables the US and Canadian companies to transfer employees to the other country easier.

Global Talent Stream

The Canadian Federal government permits employers to bring the employees and workers that are not in the country through the Global Talent Stream. It is part of the Global Skills Strategy.

The program is to attract employees in the IT sector and high-growth industries. The US applicants need to meet the eligibility principles such as:

• Labour Market Assessment (LMIA),
• commitment to certain salary requirements
• Employer be in the high-growth sector list.

The application process for the Global Talent Stream is one month or less as the IRCC wants to process every application ASAP.

Canada Working Holiday

The working holiday program was introduced to facilitate the exchange of international young people in different countries. The US citizens who are 18-35 years old and meet the other eligibility principles can apply for the working holiday visa and stay in Canada for one year.

The eligibility principles are as follows:

• Have a valid passport
• Comply with the age limit
• First time being applied for the program
• Have enough funds to cover the expenses
• Hold insurance

Different countries can apply for Canada working holiday visa. If you are eligible, you might be able to apply with your other passport if you have dual citizenship.

There could be other requirements by your conditions. You can learn more about the Canada working holiday visa from this article.

Self-Employed Persons Program

Canada permits you to live permanently in the country and work for foreign employers. It is ideal for developers, programmers, and people working remotely.

US citizens can also work as self-employed people in Canada but they have to be eligible:

• Have two years of experience
• Have enough funds
• Hold sufficient skills and knowledge to start a business
• Achieve the least required point in the evaluation system.
• Make a great contribution to the economy or culture.
• Achieve the least required point in the evaluation system.

The self-employed program is a point-based system and the criteria to evaluate the points are as follows:

• Education (Maximum 25)
• Proficiency in official Canadian languages (Maximum24)
• Work experience (maximum35)
• Age (Maximum10)
• Adaptability (Maximum point 6)

How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada from the US?

The immigration from the US to Canada cost is up to the immigration way you choose. For instance, if you want to move to Canada through a student visa and then apply for PGWP, you need to pay the tuition fee and the fee for visa processing. Then comes applying for a PGWP permit.

In the meantime, the cost of the Express Entry system is $1,325 for the main applicant and an additional $1,325 if a spouse or common-law partner is in the application process.

Before asking about the cost of moving to Canada from the US, you would better find the way that is appropriate for you and suits your conditions.

How can US citizens apply for Canadian Citizenship?

It is required for US citizens to live for a few years in Canada to be eligible for citizenship. To do so, they need to move to Canada through a work visa or student visa and live there for the required period.

The other way is to apply through the Express Entry program, which leads to PR right away. After living for about 10 years under PR in Canada, US citizens can apply for citizenship.

Let’s sum up…

US citizens can move to Canada in different ways and there are many programs that you can apply for. The article explained all of them and provided descriptions that you can use to find out if it’s suitable for you or not.

You can find out which immigration way is suitable for you and go through the process.

You can find out more details about each way in the link provided at the end of each way. The Visa Library has explained each one in detail.

If you have any questions regarding the US citizens moving to Canada, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will respond to them right away.