How Many American Citizens Moving to Canada?

[calvin1998]

In the US the topic is always about IMMigration, but never EMIgration.  I am very interested if knowing how many other US citizens are contemplating a move to Canada.  I have heard there are many. 

[scottz]

I would bet quite a few, I'm from Australia, and I am thinking seriously about it, if I were us citizen I'd have moved already I think... ha ha..

[scottz]

BTW as an example, Australia has 23 million citizens and almost 2million expats... I bet the ratio is much lower for the USA, but Id assume at least 5 to 10 million US citizens are living abroad....

[calvin1998]

The reason I am asking is that I am hearing more and more of people leaving the US for Canada.

[links18]

In reality, more Canadians move to the US than the other way around. The post-Bush reelection exodus of progressive minded Americans to Canada never quite materialized, probably because many of them did not understand the long term process that is involved--and the fact that you have to keep about $10,000 in the bank for about 18 months (not easy for struggling young people to do--even in the US). The Conservative Party vicotry in the last federal election probably had something to do with it also.

[gilipsie]

Just curious but why would you think Americans would come to Canada?  Is it to leave the rising crime numbers?  Or the war?  Or something else.  I actually never thought about Americans moving to Canada.

[2moms2bc]

I can't give you a statistic, but I can tell you that, in the past six months, I've been in touch with over 20 couples who have moved since 2004 or are still in the US, but awaiting their PR cards. In fact, I'm conducting research on US citizens who are moving to Canada. I think that CIC has figures on country of origin, but I don't know that they distinguish between, e.g., someone in the US on an H1B who applies v. a US citizen who applies. I'm also fairly certain that, even if they do make such a distinction, they don't distinguish between a US citizen who is motivated by politics/values and someone who gets the right job offer and for whom politics is a non-issue. So, no hard figures, but anecdotally - people are making the move!

As for why - the folks I'm interviewing fall into roughly three groups: 1) values, 2) family recognition, and 3) bi-national couples who can't stay together unless they leave the US. As for the Conservative Party in Canada - they're moderates by the (new) US standard! ;-)

http://www.us2ca.blogspot.com

[thaiguy]

1) values, 2) family recognition, and 3) bi-national couples who can't stay together unless they leave the US.

My partner and I fall into all of those categories.

[JDHagen]

My husband and I are new to this forum and this is our first post. We are Americans, both born and raised here. I am 49 and my husband is 50.

My husband works as a Journeyman Painter and I am disabled. Soon his employer will drop my health insurance coverage because they don't want to pay for it. In the U.S. that means you lose your money, your home and just about everything. You cannot earn enough money as a skilled laborer to pay for medication and health care and the hospitals can refuse to treat you.

We are thinking the health care situation in Canada would be immensely helpful even if we had a lower income. At this point, I admit to feeling very angry and sad about our situation, but hopefully. if emmigration to Canada becomes a reality for us things will be better.

Jana

[calvin1998]

My husband and I are new to this forum and this is our first post. We are Americans, both born and raised here. I am 49 and my husband is 50.

My husband works as a Journeyman Painter and I am disabled. Soon his employer will drop my health insurance coverage because they don't want to pay for it. In the U.S. that means you lose your money, your home and just about everything. You cannot earn enough money as a skilled laborer to pay for medication and health care and the hospitals can refuse to treat you.

We are thinking the health care situation in Canada would be immensely helpful even if we had a lower income. At this point, I admit to feeling very angry and sad about our situation, but hopefully. if emmigration to Canada becomes a reality for us things will be better.

Jana

I agree.  You must take care of yourself as the government will not take care of you here. 

[kappal_tero_deekra]

I'll say.  Do take care of yourself.  I am surprised not more people are leaving the US of A.  All these wars, bad politics, botched up immigration rules, bad deficits, etc.  Makes many to wince!

[2moms2bc]

Re: 1) values, 2) family recognition, and 3) bi-national couples who can't stay together unless they leave the US, thaiguy wrote: "My partner and I fall into all of those categories."

Yes, most GLBT people are in at least two, if not three. In the interviews I'm asking folks which is the *most* central reason. Most bi-national couples, not surprisingly, say #3. But, some GLBT couples who don't face that issue indicate 1 OR 2. That is, for some "family recognition" isn't a motivator. For others, values matter but family recognition comes first.

BTW, if you're interested in participating, you can get info at www.us2ca.blogspot.com. And, of course, this goes to any other US citizen or partner of US citizen couples (e.g., JD Hagen) as well!

Cheers!

[calvin1998]

Re: 1) values, 2) family recognition, and 3) bi-national couples who can't stay together unless they leave the US, thaiguy wrote: "My partner and I fall into all of those categories."

Yes, most GLBT people are in at least two, if not three. In the interviews I'm asking folks which is the *most* central reason. Most bi-national couples, not surprisingly, say #3. But, some GLBT couples who don't face that issue indicate 1 OR 2. That is, for some "family recognition" isn't a motivator. For others, values matter but family recognition comes first.

BTW, if you're interested in participating, you can get info at www.us2ca.blogspot.com. And, of course, this goes to any other US citizen or partner of US citizen couples (e.g., JD Hagen) as well!

Cheers!

That is the same for us. My partner is out of status.  But even so we wanted to go to Canada even if he was not.  Increasingly we feel like as if we are on the Titanic before the iceberg. 

[craig53]

We did-- US to Canada that is-- first because we love Canada (my family is originally from PEI as well.). But very much also because of arrogant BS attitude of America towards the rest of the world, imperialist government policies, callous attitudes towards the poor and the working classes, denial of a piece of the healthcare pie to so many, and because I just got tired of beating my head against the wall after 30-some years as a Quaker peace activist in a warmongering country. How's that?

[thaiguy]

.. because I just got tired of beating my head against the wall after 30-some years as a Quaker peace activist in a warmongering country. How's that?

Capital interests have taken over our governement.  The increase in war, increase in litigation, increase in poverty, increase in healthcare costs, decline in social security, decline in our environment, etc. etc. are just symptoms of the fact that our government has been compromised.  It's very sad.  It's not the America I was taught about in school.

[links18]

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/thousands-of-americans-heading-north/20070802035009990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001


Here is an article about Americans moving to Canada. But really guys, Canada may offer each of us something we desperately need and can't get at home, but it is far from the Utopia Michael Moore and company make it out to be. Canada has many problems too and the sooner we recognize that, the smoother our adjustment to our new home will be and the less likely we are to be disappointed and end up moving back. For starters, we need to accept the fact that most of Canada is REALLY COLD for a ALOT of the year!

[calvin1998]

[/quote]
It's very sad.  It's not the America I was taught about in school.
[/quote]

No it is not.  Worse yet, the discrimination that exists against the LGBT community is horrific, as you well know.  So lets be a little more understanding of those that lose their status here, Thaiguy. 

[kappal_tero_deekra]

It would be interesting to know how many other nationalities living in the US are planning to relocate there. 

My husband and I are both US citizens but we want to relocate.  I am sure many others in the US want to as well.

[calvin1998]

Many in the US have fears of a collapsing social security pension system, unaffordable health costs, as well as deteriorating freedoms.  Many are waiting to see the outcome of the next election.  I personally know of Americans that plan to leave should the next president be a Republican, or should the Republican party garner more Congressional seats. 

[SerenityNow]

People thought we moved from the US to Canada for political reasons 2 years ago, but my husband got a job offer he couldn't resist. Of course, if we were Republican, we wouldn't have considered the offer. I did feel as if we were abandoning ship.

[kappal_tero_deekra]

What ship?  The Titanic?  Tam-e be su! (What are you talking about?!)  You made the transition and good for you.  My hubby and I want to take ourselves and our kids and go to Canada.  We are constatnly thinking about it, especially as we get older. The property taxes here are prohibitive, even if you own your house outright. 

For example, our small home in Edison, New Jersey, costs us about USD10,000 a year in taxes, deekra.  What for?  So we can pay for more foreign wars?  Kappal!

[SerenityNow]

It's an expression. Someone else already referred to the US as a sinking ship, the Titanic, even. Hey, at least it's in English. What's "deekra"?

If you're worried about exhorbitant taxes, Canada is not the place for you. All these services aren't really free. The property taxes you pay on your home are collected by Edison. It probably shows on your tax bill where the money goes, but it does not fund directly the Department of Defense. I suppose you could say the property taxes are so high because the feds are giving less money to states which in turn means less money for cities. But almost all other communities thoughout the US have much lower property and income taxes than you. You happen to live in one of most expensive areas.

By the way, Canada is not entirely innocent as far as foreign wars go. The US military couldn't spread itself as thinly as it has without the help of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Canada is an "enabler".

Now onto health care. Canada offers basic health care to everyone. "Basic" doesn't mean "immediate", "nearby", or "at any cost". You have more choices and easier access to health care in the US, if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance, then Canada is much better. We always had good insurance, but I am fine with this. It took over a year to find any doctor willing to accept me as a new patient. Fortunately, I like her, and I'm happy with the service I've received--I'm paying for it, I'm going to use it! Canadians wait months for elective surgeries that could be scheduled within days for Americans. I heard about a man who needed life-saving surgery, but Canada refused to pay for it (too high risk). He ended up going to the UK. The best thing about Canadian health care is that you won't go bankrupt to use it.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. We really like it here despite the cold. My husband has found his ideal job, unfortunately at less pay than his previous jobs. As an earlier post stated, Canada is not Utopia. This is a huge decision for everyone. It will cost more than one year's property taxes to make the move. Don't want you to move and be disappointed.

[kappal_tero_deekra]

It's an expression. Someone else already referred to the US as a sinking ship, the Titanic, even. Hey, at least it's in English. What's "deekra"?

If you're worried about exhorbitant taxes, Canada is not the place for you. All these services aren't really free. The property taxes you pay on your home are collected by Edison. It probably shows on your tax bill where the money goes, but it does not fund directly the Department of Defense. I suppose you could say the property taxes are so high because the feds are giving less money to states which in turn means less money for cities. But almost all other communities thoughout the US have much lower property and income taxes than you. You happen to live in one of most expensive areas.

By the way, Canada is not entirely innocent as far as foreign wars go. The US military couldn't spread itself as thinly as it has without the help of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan. Canada is an "enabler".

Now onto health care. Canada offers basic health care to everyone. "Basic" doesn't mean "immediate", "nearby", or "at any cost". You have more choices and easier access to health care in the US, if you have insurance. If you don't have insurance, then Canada is much better. We always had good insurance, but I am fine with this. It took over a year to find any doctor willing to accept me as a new patient. Fortunately, I like her, and I'm happy with the service I've received--I'm paying for it, I'm going to use it! Canadians wait months for elective surgeries that could be scheduled within days for Americans. I heard about a man who needed life-saving surgery, but Canada refused to pay for it (too high risk). He ended up going to the UK. The best thing about Canadian health care is that you won't go bankrupt to use it.

I'm not trying to dissuade you. We really like it here despite the cold. My husband has found his ideal job, unfortunately at less pay than his previous jobs. As an earlier post stated, Canada is not Utopia. This is a huge decision for everyone. It will cost more than one year's property taxes to make the move. Don't want you to move and be disappointed.

Good advice. But property taxes in any place with JOBS is sky high here too.  We have a small one family house in Edison New Jersey and we pay about USD10,000 in property taxes not counting the upkeep, water, etc.  Also real wages are not rising although everything else is.  When unemployed, a person can easily pay USD500-600 a month for health insurance alone (prescription is separate).  Many people actually go bankrupt or forgo surgery. 

You are right, Canada is not utopia, but neither is anywhere else.  If Social Security and Medicare go bankrupt as many think they will, then the overall standard of living in the US will plunge.  It is really frightening. 

[edgy555]

You can count me in that number too.  The reasons are myriad, but basically it comes down to that I don't feel like the US is the kind of country I want to live in, despite the fact that I was born and spent my entire life there.

[calvin1998]

You can count me in that number too.  The reasons are myriad, but basically it comes down to that I don't feel like the US is the kind of country I want to live in, despite the fact that I was born and spent my entire life there.

It is interesting how I hear this more and more.  We never heard this before years back.  A sign of thing to come, perhaps?