American Community in Canada
Many Americans choose to leave the US and move to Canada. Most of these immigrants enjoy living in Canada's biggest cities. Some top destinations for American immigrants include Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary.
Life in Canada VS Life in the USA
Americans would not have difficulty adjusting to life in Canada after living in the US. While there are differences, your lifestyle would not change too much. Canadian residents enjoy universal healthcare, which may be a big selling point for individuals leaving the US. Canada's official languages are English and French, although English is spoken primarily throughout the country except for the province of Quebec. Americans shouldn't experience any language barriers in most of Canada, aside from the change in spelling of a few certain words. The cost of college or university in Canada is much lower than in the US, which is a great benefit of moving to Canada.
Canada Visa Offices in the USA
The best place to submit Canadian immigration applications is at your nearest Canada visa office. We have two locations in the United States. You can find these offices located in New York and Los Angeles.
How to Immigrate to Canada from the US
Study Permits
Students from the US who choose to study in Canada in a program longer than six months will require a valid study permit. A Canadian study permit allows students to live in Canada to attend a designated learning institution (DLI) for the length of their program of study and usually some extra time to make arrangements for whatever plans may follow. No matter their country of origin, international students will be allowed to work part-time during their studies for 20 hours each week and 40 hours during breaks in their program.
Work Permits
Canada offers work permits to those looking to work in Canada temporarily. With an open work permit, you can work for any Canadian employer without restrictions. In some cases, foreign nationals entering Canada for employment purposes need to have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA is typically filled by the employer, who must demonstrate that they have a good reason for hiring internationally rather than a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. If you are coming to Canada for work, it is best to have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer to submit with your application.
Becoming a Permanent Resident in Canada as an American
Permanent residence is the goal of most immigrants coming into Canada. Permanent residents (PR) of Canada can live wherever they want in Canada and work for any Canadian employer. If you obtain PR status, you are granted access to many of the same benefits as a Canadian citizen.
Express Entry
Express Entry is a Canadian immigration system run by the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). One benefit of submitting a visa application through this program is the quick application processing speed. All applications are usually processed in 6 months or less. The IRCC will pull candidates from the Express Entry pool every couple of weeks, and those selected applicants will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada.
Express Entry candidates are selected based on a number of factors, and there are many ways to make yourself more likely to be selected by improving your application. Individuals from the United States are well-positioned to immigrate to Canada because they usually already have excellent English language skills, a high quality of education, and valuable skilled work experience.
The Express Entry immigration system has 3 immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Provincial Nominee Programs
Canada is a large country comprised of 10 provinces and three territories. Each province offers something different, from exciting, fast-paced cities to vast natural landscapes. Canada's Provincial Nominee Programs provide immigration candidates with a nomination from a specific province. With this nomination, your application in the Express Entry pool will improve. A provincial nomination will also require you to intend to live and work in that province for a certain period of time. Each province's PNP exists with the intention of finding workers to contribute to the economy and join their community.
At present, there are PNPs for British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Quebec also offers immigration options that are separate from the PNPs.
Business and Investor Immigration
Are you looking to immigrate to Canada for business purposes? Canada offers a wide range of business and investor visa immigration programs you may qualify for. These programs are aimed at entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals, and more. The current programs available for business immigration are:
- Federal Start-up Visa Program
- Provincial Business Programs (through PNPs)
- Owner Operator Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Federal Self-Employed Program
- Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program (QSWP)
- Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
- Quebec Entrepreneur Program
- Business Visitor
How My Visa Source Can Help with Canadian Immigration from the USA
Congratulations on taking your first step toward permanent residence in Canada!
My Visa Source's award-winning team of qualified immigration lawyers will dedicate themselves to your immigration case and provide you with legal representation throughout your immigration journey.
By partnering with us, you are positioning yourself for the highest chance of immigration success and the best opportunity to achieve your visa-related goals.
Immigration is a complex process that requires strong legal strategy, precise paperwork, and perfect attention to detail. You will want to work with a team who has experience dealing with immigration officials and government departments and understands how to reduce the risk of wasted time, money or permanent rejection.
