Live in Canada without a work visa?

[riderxcx]

I am a US Citizen who has had interest in immigrating to Canada for well over a decade and a half, yet find that it is still easier said than done. I currently work as a flight attendant for a US carrier which obviously requires extensive travel.

I remember in the past having a roommate who was a Canadian citizen who owned a house in California which was essentially his vacation home. I asked him if he’s done any immigration process to do it, which he replies that he had not. So as far as I can tell he’s essentially being looked at as a tourist. His only restriction is that he had to be out of the US at least 6 months out of the year.

With my career as a flight attendant, if the same policy exists in reverse from the US to Canada, being out of the country for 6 months per year is easy to accomplish. I am seriously considering renting a place in Canada while continuing to work in the US with an admitted long term goal of immigrating to Canada permanently.

Is this possible in my situation?

Does it compare to, for example, an American retiree interested in living in Canada or a wealthy American interested in immigrating to Canada who may not need nor want to work in Canada?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I am a US Citizen who has had interest in immigrating to Canada for well over a decade and a half, yet find that it is still easier said than done. I currently work as a flight attendant for a US carrier which obviously requires extensive travel.

I remember in the past having a roommate who was a Canadian citizen who owned a house in California which was essentially his vacation home. I asked him if he’s done any immigration process to do it, which he replies that he had not. So as far as I can tell he’s essentially being looked at as a tourist. His only restriction is that he had to be out of the US at least 6 months out of the year.

With my career as a flight attendant, if the same policy exists in reverse from the US to Canada, being out of the country for 6 months per year is easy to accomplish. I am seriously considering renting a place in Canada while continuing to work in the US with an admitted long term goal of immigrating to Canada permanently.

Is this possible in my situation?

Does it compare to, for example, an American retiree interested in living in Canada or a wealthy American interested in immigrating to Canada who may not need nor want to work in Canada?

You can certainly come to Canada as a visitor. However, continuing to do that on a long-term basis is unlikely. CBSA doesn't like people who try to live in Canada as visitors, so if you are essentially living here and just leaving for your work, you can expect to be refused entry eventually and possibly even issued a one year Exclusion Order.

Also note that being here as a visitor doesn't help in any way for you to immigrate. If that is what you really want, you should be researching to apply now. The older you are, the harder it is.