Help for my family and I

[DuckBoy]

I never thought that I would ever even consider this since I am proud American. I am just testing the waters right now. I have been considering claiming refugee status or imigration to Canada. I am happily married with four children and I am tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have been considering it because of our reckless goverment, wondering who we are going to war with on what week. Im seriously now worried about the lives of my family from corrupt goverment and the fact everyone wants to wipe us off the map. You never hear of Canada getting in a war with someone dfferent each week. We just want to live peacful normal lives without having to worry about being blown back to the stone age. Also, a a Christian, I feel we are being judged all the time. Our goverment has taken to catering to every religion but ours. Finially, I take my wife to midnight showings of movies all the time. Now I have to worry about violent shooters dressed in SWAT gear shooting everyone up in the theater. Do we have a claim for refugee status if we decicded to and or how do we immigrate? And am I wrong for getting to a point where I feel ike this? I have been to Canada! Why is it everyone you come up to on the street is so nice. Every stranger is so nice! Here everyone are the worst for the most part.

 

[AAL1984]

If you apply as a refugee it will be rejected, US citizens dont need protection from Canada.

Your best bet is skilled worker immigration.


Having said that dude Relax!!! I dont think you need to immigrate at all, just turn of the news for a bit. US is still largely a safe and prosporus place. Random shootings happen everywhere even Canada. There is lots of crime and violence in Canada too, all of North America is like that. There is nothing in Canada you cant find in the States.

Canada is no Switzerland its more and more becoming like the US but without the cheap prices and good weather.

I laugh when ppl think Canada is some sort of utopia, its a nice country but has a lot of the same flaws and issues as the US, in many cases worse IMHO.

Regards

a Canadian with an American wife , lived in both countries.

 

[scylla]

There is zero chance you will be approved as a refugee.

As AAL1984 has recommended, if you are interested in moving here, then you'll need to look into immigrating. One of the skilled worker streams is likely your best bet. Full details for all of the programs are available here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

Chance are that you'll need a job offer in Canada in order to qualify to apply.

Good luck.

 

[Leon]

I would like to add to this that sometimes it is easier for you to start out on a work permit. If your occupation falls under NAFTA, see http://www.canadavisa.com/nafta-temporary-work-permit-canada.html it is relatively easy for you to get a work permit if you have a job offer in your field. When one family member has a work permit, it is easy for your spouse to get a work permit too.

 

[Creampop]

As an American I completely understand everything your are saying and as stated above the skilled workers category would be your best option. But, don't be fooled, the things you are speaking of ARE everywhere.... IMO all government is corrupt. and in reality if the US gets wiped of the map countries connected will be affected to. In America how much Canadian news do you get? Did you hear about the shooting last month where a man walked into a mall and opened fire killing 2 injuring 7 in the food court? or the drive by in the middle of a community block party that killed a 14 yr old girl 23 year old man and injured 24 others? and speaking of the movie theater shooting, one of the girls who died in it, her boyfriend is up here she was visiting him and was at the mall when the shooting happened she comment on facebook about getting out because of a feeling she had... point is it can happen anywhere... GL!

 

[DuckBoy]

Thanks for all your input so far guys! All of you have been great so far in your help and honesty. While I do view Canada as a Utopia from visiting on business and personal I do see many of your points... We don't hear of Canada’s bad news new that often. Honestly, the girl who died in the theater shooting here that avoided the shooting there in the mall was unknown to me that something like that happened in Canada until they had mentioned that in the news. I had not seen or heard of these shootings. Maybe it’s just me, hoping that just maybe, maybe, the grass would be greener on the other side. I’m just so sick and tired of feeling helpless to protect my family. I guess this theater shooting sent me over the top. I wonder how bad things are that I have to think about protecting my wife from a shooter at midnight showing. How bad is it that some of these guys in there left their friends and one guy left his kids and girlfriend to save his own A*#. As an American, I have always had the upmost respect from Canadians. While there, you all were some of the nicest and greatest people I have ever met. I have heard from many people that living there beats the US. I was just thinking that by living there and becoming a citizen my family would have the same experiences that I had visiting and hearing about. However, I do know that the grass always looks greener on the other side; but at the same time, maybe it would only be half as bad there. Also, hoping that the good there would outweigh the bad. I appreciate all of your opinions and suggestions! Please keep them coming. Your opinions and suggestions will help me make an informed decision on what to do of staying here or coming to your side of the border.

 

[Creampop]

I don't want you to think I was trying to down Canada in anyway cus honestly I LOVE it here! and am glad after 13 years of visiting I have decided to make it official and move. I was just saying violence is everywhere. But there are alot of things that I miss from home tho like cherry coke OMG I would kill for one sometimes LOL and jack daniels BBQ sauce but once I obtain my PR I can cross the border every weekend and shop anyways in whatever you decide Best of Luck!

 

[scylla]

Two things that I think come as a suprise to Americans who move here:

1) Amount of tax we pay.
2) Lots of stuff costs more (cars, clothes, gas, booze, etc.).

 

[AAL1984]

Thanks for all your input so far guys! All of you have been great so far in your help and honesty. While I do view Canada as a Utopia from visiting on business and personal I do see many of your points... We don't hear of Canada's bad news new that often. Honestly, the girl who died in the theater shooting here that avoided the shooting there in the mall was unknown to me that something like that happened in Canada until they had mentioned that in the news. I had not seen or heard of these shootings. Maybe it's just me, hoping that just maybe, maybe, the grass would be greener on the other side. I'm just so sick and tired of feeling helpless to protect my family. I guess this theater shooting sent me over the top. I wonder how bad things are that I have to think about protecting my wife from a shooter at midnight showing. How bad is it that some of these guys in there left their friends and one guy left his kids and girlfriend to save his own A*#. As an American, I have always had the upmost respect from Canadians. While there, you all were some of the nicest and greatest people I have ever met. I have heard from many people that living there beats the US. I was just thinking that by living there and becoming a citizen my family would have the same experiences that I had visiting and hearing about. However, I do know that the grass always looks greener on the other side; but at the same time, maybe it would only be half as bad there. Also, hoping that the good there would outweigh the bad. I appreciate all of your opinions and suggestions! Please keep them coming. Your opinions and suggestions will help me make an informed decision on what to do of staying here or coming to your side of the border.

You mentioned you were a person of faith. As a fellow believer sometimes we just need to accept the fact that not all aspects of our life are in our hands, its in Gods hands and this life is temporary. Having faith in God doesn't mean you wont encounter waves, however your ship won't sink. Waves can and will come, thats life.

You cant let some idiot shooter ruin your life, relax, take all basic precautions but none of us can protect ourselves 24/7. A person can die for no real reason from
a random clot in the brain, or driving home, thats life. More ppl
die from driving than random shootings, I dont see anyone giving up their car.

 

[AAL1984]

Two things that I think come as a suprise to Americans who move here:

1) Amount of tax we pay.
2) Lots of stuff costs more (cars, clothes, gas, booze, etc.).

Another thing is that a lot of ppl think Canada is really clean or something. However we have cities just as bad as Baltimore, Buffalo, Detroit etc..lots of urban decay and litter in Canada too. Just look at Winnipeg or Edmonton, very ugly cities. Even most of Montreal looks like Jersey. Regina is a dump and Vancouver has the biggest drug ghetto in North America. Plus our infrastructure sucks compared to US.

Personally I think US is cleaner than Canada with better looking cities overall, just my opinion. My American Texan wife does not agree with me, she wants to stay here.


Only clean and safe and close to Utopia like place I have ever seen is Switzerland, OP should go there. You pay more taxes but it is worth it and it is very clean and safe, no shootings, low crime.

 

[Leon]

There are drugs everywhere. There is no city that does not have drugs. However, the drug world is usually more or less separate from regular peoples daily lives so if you are not a part of it, you will generally not see very much of it. The violent crime you hear about is mostly payback in that world. Occasionally innocents get caught in the crossfire if they are living in those neighbourhoods but it does not happen very often.

When choosing a location to live, go to the grocery stores and gas stations around the neighbourhood and ask if it is safe. They will know because they have to go home at night after their shift ends. If you avoid these neighbourhoods, you don't have to be scared because it is very unlikely that anything will happen to you. Even if you live in the middle of it, as long as you mind your own business, it is still highly unlikely that anything will happen to you. Somehow most Canadians seem to survive just fine without getting shot or stabbed every year so don't be scared.

 

[scylla]

Something else to consider as an American moving to Canada right now is housing prices. While American housing prices have generally dropped (in many places substantially) over the last few years - Canadian housing prices have done the opposite (especially in large urban centres). So if you're a home owner, you might be selling at the low in one market and buying at a high in the other when you make your move.

Note: I love Canada. But like any other place, it has its downsides.

 

[AAL1984]

There are drugs everywhere. There is no city that does not have drugs. However, the drug world is usually more or less separate from regular peoples daily lives so if you are not a part of it, you will generally not see very much of it. The violent crime you hear about is mostly payback in that world. Occasionally innocents get caught in the crossfire if they are living in those neighbourhoods but it does not happen very often.

When choosing a location to live, go to the grocery stores and gas stations around the neighbourhood and ask if it is safe. They will know because they have to go home at night after their shift ends. If you avoid these neighbourhoods, you don't have to be scared because it is very unlikely that anything will happen to you. Even if you live in the middle of it, as long as you mind your own business, it is still highly unlikely that anything will happen to you. Somehow most Canadians seem to survive just fine without getting shot or stabbed every year so don't be scared.

Not true, you will never encounter drug gangs or drug culture in places like Dubai, Singapore, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi etc..very safe. no crack heads breaking into your car or gangs shooting each other up. This is because they have severe consequences for drug crimes, you get executed plain and simple.

Not like Canada with its pathetic revolving door justice system. For example the Toronto Eaton center shooter was out on bail after committing numerous violent acts, many police officers I have spoken to here tell me how frustrated they are in terms of putting in so much work to catch a bad guy but he/she is out on bail before the paper work is even done.

Canada has stupid laws, another reason not to immigrate here.

Honestly, unless it is because of your spouse I can't see why any American would come here, for what? What possible reason could an American citizen (unless they are a draft dodger, or running from the law) have to move to Canada, what can they find here that you can't find in the States?

Even with the economic recession States still has tremendous opportunity and potential.

 

[Leon]

Not true, you will never encounter drug gangs or drug culture in places like Dubai, Singapore, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi etc..very safe.

Ok, I will correct myself. In any Western country that is. If you want to live in a Western country, it is something you have to deal with. If you don't want to live in one, then don't immigrate to one in which case, what are you doing on this forum?

It is also not quite true that crime never happens in Dubai. I saw a program on TV not long ago telling the story of a French teenager who was living there with his family who was raped by 3 grown men. He pressed charges against them and ended up on trial himself as he was raped, he must be a homosexual and that is also against the law. He was set free on bail for this terrible crime of having been raped and his parents quickly left the country with him as they were advised to by the French embassy. I would rather take my chances with revolving door justice than living in a country like that.