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neb
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2014 21:28
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OK if I wanted to move to Canada what is the process and can it be done to became a citizen?
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razmichael
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2014 22:11
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URL
May provide the info you need. Where are you thinking of going?
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2014 22:25 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Election / politics got you down?
http://www.cic.gc.ca/englisH/immigrate/index.asp
A lot will depend on if you need to work and what skills you have to offer. Family there helps. Marrying a Canadian makes it almost a shoein. Health checkup required. Be aware your credit score reverts to zero when you get an official permanent residency card and move there. And the personal tax rate is higher.
You need to spend two of the first 5 years in Canada and after 3 years can apply for citizenship.
If you are retired and have money you talking a different story. Virtually anyone can visit for 6 months at a time and buy property, etc. All you need is to have money. Cross into the US every six months for a weekend and then go back.
Anyhow the link has an online questionnaire that will determine if they will accept you.
I see RazM beat me to it with the link.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 2014 23:07
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Thanks guys for the info and I guess I should of did the same research like you did. Thanks. I might just pull up stakes and move in a year or so nothing holding me down here. The oil industry in my area is just out of control and way to many people for me. Big business is an awful thing to see and the people that lived here for 3 and 4 generations are leaving because of oil companies ruining the area. Cost of living is unreal theft, drugs, deaths, traffic and murders are all the problems that come with this industry. Yep I'm ready to get out of this area and move to a quitter smaller community.
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Steve_S
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 07:00
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Neb, you sound like many folks I know from South of the Border... There is a major influx of Amish folks here now, all escaping to quieter & more peaceful lands (except hunting season of course).
Taxes aren't anywhere as bad as some would have you think. Marrying is NOT a plan, don't do it !!
Our crime rate is very low and has been decreasing per capita since 1969... We have less homicides in the entire country in one year than any urban US City... so there is the dipstick to measure by.
MtnDon suggested 6 months here, pop south for 2 weeks and back. Sounds good BUT you will need health coverage as our Healthcare is for Canadians or Immigrant Citizens, US Citizen's aren't covered unless you have insurance coverage for it. US Prescriptions are a tad tricky too (meds are cheaper in Canada).
Our current Government is fiddle faddling on Immigration / Migration and the entire TFW (Foreign Worker Program) boondoggle has complicated things for legitimate folks. Even my GF who of a US Dr & University Professor without as much as a J-Walking ticket is being scrutinized - and she even owns land here to boot !
Just watch out for Immigration Brokers or companies that "help", the only people they help is themselves with your cash.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 08:33
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Steve_S>>>Thanks that was good. Yes health insurance is an issue and I would move there or stay here. I will look in to it further.
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ColdFlame
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 11:57
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Be careful which province/area you pick as well. Oil is big business up here, and the results are starting to rear their ugly heads. Not necessarily with regards to crime, but certainly with rising cost of living numbers, etc... Alberta (as a whole basically) is really bad. Southern areas of Manitoba/Saskatchewan are starting to experience this. BC is largely unaffected with exception of some larger centre's which have ridiculously high costs (Vancouver, Kelowna, etc...).
I live just outside of Calgary now and my goal is to purchase property in the interior of BC and move there at some point. I'm tired of the rat race mindset that has consumed the citizens of Alberta.
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LoonWhisperer
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 13:42
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It may help to visit here a couple times as your work through the process and absorb some pure Canadiana at Tim Horton's coffee shops and Hockey arenas all around the country 
And stay clear of Toronto lol. That is where I live but thankfully have my cabin and acreage to keep my sanity.
Best of luck!
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Wilbour
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 13:48
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My wife moved from NY State about 25 years ago. She thought Canada was just like the US except we say "about" like "aboot". What she did not realize until just recently is how different the culture is. In fact she is becoming more Canadian that I am (she beet me on the Smartest Canadian Trivia). You have to weigh the good with the bad though....
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 14:14 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Compare
Pick a city in Canada and one in the USA. This includes a cost of living index comparison which is better than a tax comparison, IMO. Many Americans don't realize there is the GST
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 14:19
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globeandmail article
and another comparer
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 14:33
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I'm from Canada in case that is not known; Winnipeg. Now in a city of 90,000 close to Albuquerque, NM. There is an astounding difference in the cost of a house. Lots of variables as housing prices and the associated property taxes vary a lot from place to place in the US itself.
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beachman
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 19:36
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Well, I was born in the US, grew up outside of Boston, JR college in Mass, then on to university in Canada. I ended up in New Brunswick (NB) after seeing if the US selective service still wanted me. Luckily the war was winding down and they were no longer interested. Moved to Quebec and then back to NB and have lived here since. I am still a US citizen and also Canadian.
If you remain a US citizen you still have all of the US tax compliance issues (no matter where you live outside the US). There is also a steep cost to formally expatriate. Then if you do, your foreign passport shows where you were born and that may raise a few questions each time you cross the border.
NB is a great place with inexpensive housing, but good luck getting a job unless you are retired or self-employed. My wife is from here but I came at a time when it was relatively easy to enter the country and thought for a long while that I would go back to the US. This country and its people have really grown on me and I like it a lot.
I still have a lot of family in the US - can't understand why I live here. I visit the US often - right next to Maine so it is pretty accessible. As Wilbour mentioned, the culture may appear similar, but it is very different and unique.
There are lots of great places in the US. Think hard and come for a long visit. Get the feel of where you want to be and make the move if you are ready. There are complications to immigration that you will have to check out. Good luck soul searching and moving if it comes to that.
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Wilbour
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 20:34
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I did forget to mentioned that no matter where you live, as an American you must file American income tax each year in addition to the local income taxes. If you want to renounce your US citizenship you have to pay an exit tax on your capital gains. In our case even though my wife's has been a stay at home mom for 25 years she will have to pay capitol gains on our home fully paid for with my salary.
In other words we will be paying the US government tax on investments on a Canadian property made by a Canadian while working in Canada.
Good thing I love my wife.
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beachman
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 21:04
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Wilbour - unless you are a US citizen, your wife only pays US tax on her income. There is a US home exemption that she can use on her portion if the property is in both names, and only on the gain. She also gets a foreign tax credit depending on prior elections, etc... I think the renouncement fee has risen to about $2,300 and she has to be US tax compliant to do so - filed all up-to-date and tax paid (doubt if she owes anything). There is currently a pretty good program for non-compliant US persons to "catch up" and I highly recommend that she does this if she hasn't already. The big issue is the FBAR's and she could be caught here if she has joint accounts with you. Many people have renounced recently because of the compliance issues but the IRS has softened the catch up rules recently and once she is compliant, maybe she would still file if it stays simple. Canadians enjoy a pretty good tax treaty relationship with the US that citizens from other countries do not have. There are all kinds of "US property" rules that can complicate things but hers may be simple. Being dual can have its benefits. It is unfortunate that US citizens living abroad are subject to these procedures but I think the IRS is realizing that most expats are not hiding vast sums of offshore money. Canada is starting to enact very similar laws although at present, once you move from this country and your permanent residency changes, you no longer have filing obligations here. You also loose your health coverage.
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 5 Nov 2014 21:31
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Thanks for the help. I really like the country and I do know some of the differences and some are good and some not so good. I really am debating this move but will be looking at different relocating areas also. Canada would be a great place to live.
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Wilbour
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# Posted: 6 Nov 2014 07:37
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Quoting: beachman The big issue is the FBAR's and she could be caught here if she has joint accounts with you
You can see the quandary we are in. All our assets were gained by me, a Canadian, working in Canada and paying Canadian taxes (higher than US taxes for sure). Since everything is a joint account including the family home which has had a substantial capitol gains, her renouncement tax could be significant. Our friends had to hire a lawyer and it cost them $10,000 over all just to end her US citizenship.
Most people don't realize that there are two countries in the world that treat their citizens this way, the US and a little country in Africa.
Although this dialogue hijacks the OP, it speaks to the differences between our two countries
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Wilbour
Member
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# Posted: 6 Nov 2014 07:47
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Quoting: neb I really am debating this move but will be looking at different relocating areas
There are so many variables due to your situation, no one would be able to decisively state one location is superior to another.
For example, if you don't speak French then you may want to avoid large portions of Quebec. It's against the law to post any language other than French on your business signs.
The cost of living is always higher in places that have good jobs so when you see low housing costs, you will not likely find a lot of high paying jobs.
You are not alone though, my cabin is on the largest of the 1000 islands in the St. Lawrence River and we have a large population of Americans who own property here.
But like any true Canadian I think at some point I have to say "Sorry" ;)
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Jim in NB
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# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 11:35
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Think about winter before you move permanently! Not sure where you are in the US but winters here can be comparable in a few spots, a little heavier in some others, and down right long and cold in many locations in Canada. There are a growing number of Canadian (I suspect many who have seasonal cabins) who spend their winters along way south of here!
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neb
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# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 13:10
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I live not to far from the border so I you know how hard the winters can be. Nine month's of ice and snow and three months of hard sledding been there and done that. I just want to get out of oil country and big business that have so much power and the Government here in US just bow down to them. The area is ruined from what it was. I want a very rural spot with no trucks 24/7 and all the problems oil brings a long with it.
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bugs
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# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 15:39
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Hey Neb
If I recall you know a bit of the "true north strong and free(?)".
Our gun laws are extremely strict compared to the US. You will likely have to leave any hand guns behind.
Land prices are going up in many areas (in my case SK) as it becomes a fad to either live in a rural setting or have a plot of recreational land. But there are still wonderful places in many provinces to be found where neighbours are genuine, the wildlife is real, the air is clean and where there is tranquility to recharge your soul.
bugs
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 16:34
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Neb,
Some suggestions / thoughts:
* Figure out your budget first.
* Best thing to do is start looking at land prices in different areas that you may be interested in.
* Look at the employment situation in that area, if you need to work... or if
* Retired / Self-Employed look at the options relative to your needs.
* Look at resources & services available in the areas your interested in. Size of towns, villages and main roads (mostly cause in Winter Main roads get attention 1st). After 30cm of snow, you want it plowed!
Once you figured out your "Target Areas" have a look at Realtor.ca and see what prices are.
Considering building your own "shack" or buying one all done, well the counties / municipalities will be listed there in Realtor.Ca mostly... then follow up by asking the listing agents as to building code, township, and look at the townships website for Building Info.
NOTE: We have "Un-Organized" townships where building permits etc can be pretty loose if any at all... they vary somewhat pending on region, province / territory (although I doubt your looking at our Territories).
I'm in North Eastern Ontario about 1.45 hrs from Canada's Capitol of Ottawa. Rural, peaceful & quiet. Towns are 20 minutes one way or 30 minutes the other way. I have Deer, Wild Turkey, Moose, Black Bear, Fox, Coyote, Hawks, Eagles & even the odd Turkey Vulture that have been by to visit me while building my place. Geez, the chipmunks even come right up to me and one very curious young Bull Moose who has stopped a couple of times to watch me from a fairly surprisingly close distance. Sitting outside @ dusk or sunrise can be quite entertaining, seems all the critters have someplace to go (They must be having wild bush parties & I ain't invited  ). I have "neighbours" but they are 15 minutes Double March down the road from my driveway, which is close enough for my liking.
A couple of guys mentioned weaponry... Hand Guns are a NO NO ! You'd be hard pressed there for one of those. Long Rifle, Shotgun etc... OK. Semi-Auto but NEVER Full Auto ! Longer Crossbow & Bow seasons too. Any criminal record and getting an FAC (Firearms Acquisition Certificate) for firearms are out of the picture.
There are quite a few Former US Citizens around my area that came & found what you are looking for. The Amish are settling all around here and are well welcomed and they are finding it quite nice here for them. Most are leaving the states from the Fracking Mess and all that goes with it... although they really don't like talking about all that...
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turkeyhunter
Member
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# Posted: 10 Nov 2014 19:24
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I will be glad to buy all your handguns before you defect Neb!!! 
I don't think you will need then there.
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 10 Nov 2014 23:20
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Defect to Canada ?? More like coming over to the Light Side... The force is strong with Neb ! hehehe
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