By Joseph Nicholson
Documents Needed to Move to Canada From the US
If you're going to move to
Canada, even for a limited time, you'll have to apply for and receive an immigrant visa. Canada welcomes skilled foreign workers such as financial managers, engineers and registered nurses. Anyone who has worked in Canada can apply in the Canadian experience class, and those sponsored by Canadian family members (including anyone selected for employment by the government of Quebec) and residents of Canada's provinces and territories, also have a distinct class of applications they can submit. Business class immigrants such as investors, entrepreneurs and the self-employed are invited to apply, as are students, more than 130,000 of whom enter Canada annually.
Critical Documents
When you cross the border into Canada on your move, the Canada Border Service Agency will make sure you have several critical documents. In addition to a valid passport, you and each family member traveling with you will need a Canadian immigrant visa and a Confirmation of Permanent Residence. Furthermore, you'll need a detailed list of everything you're bringing with you and a list of items you're having shipped, each copied in duplicate. Pack these documents where they are easily accessible.
Applying for a Visa
The first step toward a Canadian visa is to download the appropriate application package from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Each class of immigrant has his own application package. Fill out all documents in the package and mail them with the application fee ($550 in Canadian dollars in 2009) to the Canadian visa office in Buffalo, N.Y. If your application is accepted you'll be notified and prompted to pay a Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which was $490 per person in 2009. Dependent children do not pay this fee. After paying, you will receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence card.
Other Documents
When you cross into Canada, the Canada Border Service Agency may ask to see proof that you have enough money to support yourself and whoever is with you for at least six months. If you have children, you'll need their immunization records. Though not strictly necessary, it's good to have your birth certificate, marriage license, professional licenses, health records, insurance documents and driver's license.
Resources
About the Author:
Joseph Nicholson is an independent analyst whose publishing achievements include a cover feature for Futures Magazine, and a recurring column in the monthly newsletter of a private mint. He received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Florida and is currently attending law school in San Francisco.
Photo Credits:
Dbenbenn
