If one were moving to Canada...

[sebarnes]

My dh is a dual citizen (USA/Canada) but has lived in the US since he was 13 or so years old. We have been weighing the option of moving to Canada for a few years to give the kiddos some experience of what life is like in other places. But, in reality, we have no idea how to start. He has no family in Canada, so we'd be starting from scratch. What would be the best way to go about looking for a job, etc. And should he apply to sponsor me before looking for a job or after he has found one? How do we look for housing? I think we would like to live in the area he grew up, Vernon, BC. I'm sure these questions sound very silly to someone who lives in Canada, but we would love some pointers. TIA!

[mandib50]

i think one way is to look up the town/city you want to live in. often those webpages have links to realtors and from there you can look at homes. www.mls.ca is also another option for housing.

jobs ... i would look through the papers online for the area you are interested in.not sure on immigration issues, i'm sure you could google canada immigration and get some answers.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

I would get the ball rolling on your immigrant status as soon as possible as that sort of thing can take a while. Immigration Canada is a geat place to start.

[Piglet68]

If he's a citizen then he can just move back here. In BC at least it will take 3 months of residency before he can apply for Medical coverage. I would suggest that he first look for a job, then housing, then figure out how to get you status. In the meantime I believe you won't be able to work, but if you are SAH then it doesn't matter. Immigration Canada's website will surely have info on that process.

Your children will have to apply for citizenship but given their father is a canadian citizen they should be entitled to it and it should only take a few weeks to get it all processed for them.

Vernon is a lovely area.

[mamaverdi]

BC sounds so lovely.

[josybear]

vernon is a nice town. it's a retirement town, there are a lot of seniors, but they aren't the richer old folks you'll find in nearby kelowna and penticton. if you can work in the health care sector or find another job catering to seniors, work shouldn't be too hard to find.

personally, if i were to move back to bc i'd live in kamloops. it's got lots of good jobs (railway, especially) and more young people, and the cost of living isn't too crazy.

good luck!

[Morningcalm]

Originally Posted by Piglet68

Your children will have to apply for citizenship but given their father is a canadian citizen they should be entitled to it and it should only take a few weeks to get it all processed for them.

My son was born outside of Canada and both my husband and I are Canadian citizens. So, based on our experience in getting our son's citizenship card, it takes a lot longer than a few weeks to get one. We were able to get a temporary 1 year passport in three weeks but we have to wait 8 months for his citizenship card. Apparently, that length of waiting time is normal.

According to BC Medical Service Plan, you have to either be a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident to get medical care. So, I would make sure that you have a private health care plan in the meanwhile. Your husband will be able to get MSP after the 3 month waiting period but you may have to wait until you get your permanent residency. I would call MSP and immigration to find out about all of this.

Good luck with your move to Canada! BC is a lovely place.

[Morningcalm]

Real estate in Canada:

www.mls.ca

Canadian newspapers:

http://www.canada.com/

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_...onmorningstar/


http://www.dailycourier.ca/about_us.php


Jobs:

http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/

http://www.jobsincanada.com/

[sebarnes]

Thanks everyone for all of the info! You're awesome!

[hollyvangogh]

Originally Posted by Piglet68

If he's a citizen then he can just move back here. In BC at least it will take 3 months of residency before he can apply for Medical coverage. I would suggest that he first look for a job, then housing, then figure out how to get you status. In the meantime I believe you won't be able to work, but if you are SAH then it doesn't matter. Immigration Canada's website will surely have info on that process.

Your children will have to apply for citizenship but given their father is a canadian citizen they should be entitled to it and it should only take a few weeks to get it all processed for them.

I don't think ANY immigration processing takes just a few weeks (I'm in the process right now, DH is Dual just like yours). And it isn't cheap. My permanent resident paperwork is going to cost us over $1,000.

In Alberta if you've been living outside Canada and move you get medical coverage starting the day you move here (you might have to pay for some things while getting the paperwork done, but you get reimbursed). I'd check and see what the other provinces do for people moving but *not* from another province.

I second the advice to visit the Canadian immigration website. But I'd also add this advice: take some pain killers first. It will give you a major headache.

Seriously...hate that website. :

[sebarnes]

Thanks I have been to the website and read it extensively, so we know the bones of what we need to do, but it's always so much different in practice, you know? We've started filing paperwork for the kids, but I'm just feeling a little...daunted...or something. It's really helped to get all of you guys perspectives

[Piglet68]

My daughter was born in the US. DH and I are both Canadian citizens. I sent away for a citizenship card for her and I did get in a just a few weeks. No waits for a passport, either.

Maybe it was different six years ago.

[momma-d]

We're in Ontario, not BC, but I can give you a bit of our experience anyways...
DH is dual (US/CDN) and, by default, so is DD. I am a US citizen. We began our sponsorship/permanent residency paperwork prior to our move and that helped at the border, since we could show that our application was in progress (save your reciept). It is definitely not cheap (yes, around $1000).
In the meantime, we had to live here for 3 months before we could get OHIP (health coverage) for DH and DD (they're now covered), and I won't be eligible for coverage until we get a letter back from Immigration Canada stating that I passed the medical exam.
I second the recommendation to get your own private insurance (I have mine through Blue Cross) until you can get coverage through the gov't. just in case...
I also can't work until I get my permanent residency. And I can't vote (or run for political office) until I have my PR...
Think that's all...
HTH! Good luck!

[Hollycrand]

Is there any way you could take a vacation and go up to BC? Once you see how beautiful the place is, it might help give you a jump start on your immigration process?

[sebarnes]

Thanks again for all of the advice!

Originally Posted by Hollycrand

Is there any way you could take a vacation and go up to BC? Once you see how beautiful the place is, it might help give you a jump start on your immigration process?

We are planning to go for a vacation to check things out in the somewhat near future.

[~kitnkaboodle~]

I am a dual citizen to england and Canada. My mom was born in england and so me and my sister became automatic dual citizen's of course we were also born before they took the automatic dual citizenship was abolished. My mom applied for permanant residancy which takes less time to get then a citizenship card which you don't need in order to live or work here. Because your husband is a canadian citizen you can move up here with him without a passport and apply for your permanant residency while you are here. The only thing is until your permenant residency card comes you would not be able to leave the country until you have obtained it. It takes about 3 to 6 months in order to get your permanant residency card and it has to be renewed along with your passport every 5 years. I hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[~kitnkaboodle~]

Originally Posted by momma-d

We're in Ontario, not BC, but I can give you a bit of our experience anyways...
DH is dual (US/CDN) and, by default, so is DD. I am a US citizen. We began our sponsorship/permanent residency paperwork prior to our move and that helped at the border, since we could show that our application was in progress (save your reciept). It is definitely not cheap (yes, around $1000).
In the meantime, we had to live here for 3 months before we could get OHIP (health coverage) for DH and DD (they're now covered), and I won't be eligible for coverage until we get a letter back from Immigration Canada stating that I passed the medical exam.
I second the recommendation to get your own private insurance (I have mine through Blue Cross) until you can get coverage through the gov't. just in case...
I also can't work until I get my permanent residency. And I can't vote (or run for political office) until I have my PR...
Think that's all...
HTH! Good luck!

You can't vote or run for office with a permanant residency either you have to have your citizenship card. My mom has been a permanant resident for 39 years and has never been able to vote ever.

PS. I am not trying to be rude I just wanted to correct that.

[momma-d]

Originally Posted by Corbynsmama

You can't vote or run for office with a permanant residency either you have to have your citizenship card. My mom has been a permanant resident for 39 years and has never been able to vote ever.

PS. I am not trying to be rude I just wanted to correct that.

Oops...you're absolutely right about that.

[~kitnkaboodle~]

Originally Posted by momma-d

Oops...you're absolutely right about that.

I totally was hoping that didn't sound rude because it wasn't meant to I just wanted to correct it and make sure everyone was right. The only difference between a citizenship card and a permanant residency card really is a citizenship card entitles you to vote and run for office and permanant residency doesn't. I learned that through the experience of hearing my mom and dad talk about it all through growing up. My dad had to apply for canadian citizenship when he was 8 due to my grandfather being in the military and being based in Germany when he was born and they didn't have what you would call a 'canadian base hospital' like they do now. So I have learned alot about citizenship growing up with parents who have dealt with it.

[momma-d]

Originally Posted by Corbynsmama

I totally was hoping that didn't sound rude because it wasn't meant to I just wanted to correct it and make sure everyone was right. The only difference between a citizenship card and a permanant residency card really is a citizenship card entitles you to vote and run for office and permanant residency doesn't. I learned that through the experience of hearing my mom and dad talk about it all through growing up. My dad had to apply for canadian citizenship when he was 8 due to my grandfather being in the military and being based in Germany when he was born and they didn't have what you would call a 'canadian base hospital' like they do now. So I have learned alot about citizenship growing up with parents who have dealt with it.

No worries...I'm totally open to learning more about things I don't know a ton about...and to being corrected when I'm wrong