In recent weeks, the number of Americans looking to make the move to Canada has skyrocketed.
Besides the obvious: stunning nature, the liveable cities, the diversity and the lower crime rates, the biggest appeal is publicly funded healthcare. In Canada, all Canadian citizens and permanent residents have access to their home province’s health insurance program which covers necessary hospital and physician services.
What are your options to enter and stay in Canada legally?
- Entering Canada as a permanent resident
One of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada from the US as a permanent resident is through Canada’s Express Entry system. If you are eligible for any of the three Canadian immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) you may be able to immigrate through Express Entry. To get started you will have to create an Express Entry profile and submit it to the IRCC. Candidates will then have their eligibility assessed and assigned a CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System score. Candidates with the highest score will be invited to apply for permanent residency. The CRS score is based on your work experience, language ability in English or French and education.
Additionally, each province operates its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which offers immigration programs for skilled workers. Some of the programs are aligned with Express Entry, meaning if you receive a nomination from the province you will be rewarded extra 600 points in your CRS score. Others are so-called base programs which operate independently from the Express Entry system.
Canada also allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, children, or parents and grandparents. Other relatives can only be sponsored in very specific circumstances.
2. Entering Canada as an international student
Canada offers globally recognized world-class education. As an international student in Canada, you may be eligible to work part-time – while studying at an eligible DLI (designated learning institution). After graduation from an eligible institution, you may qualify for PGWP. The post-graduation work permit allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience which will help them to qualify for permanent residence.
3. Entering Canada as a worker
You may be able to enter Canada under CUSMA – free trade agreement which is an economic agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico that facilitates trade between the three countries. It also allows selected categories of temporary workers into each other’s markets. Work permits under CUSMA can be issued through the International Mobility Program to American citizens with an eligible job offer from a Canadian employer to come and work in Canada temporarily without needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). They also allow American companies with Canadian branches to transfer American employees in specialized or managerial roles quickly and easily.
If your profession or position doesn’t qualify under CUSMA you may be able to obtain an employer-specific work permit which requires an LMIA. A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document issued to the employer which proves the employer could not find a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident to fill the role offered to a foreign national.
If your spouse or common-law partner is a temporary foreign worker or international student in Canada, or if you are undergoing the inland sponsorship process you may be eligible for a spousal open work permit.
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