Retirees Desire Permanent Residency In Quebec

[joshuals]

Retired couple in our early seventies. US Citizens. Financially independent. Do not intend to work. English is first language, but we read, write, and speak French as second language. We have spent about 150 days per year in the same location in Quebec (as seasonal residents) for several years and have integrated into society. Would like to information on possibly becoming permanent residents.

What is the possibility of being deemed eligible?

Where do we begin the process?

Thank you for your input.

 

[zardoz]

Retired couple in our early seventies. US Citizens. Financially independent. Do not intend to work. English is first language, but we read, write, and speak French as second language. We have spent about 150 days per year in the same location in Quebec (as seasonal residents) for several years and have integrated into society. Would like to information on possibly becoming permanent residents.

What is the possibility of being deemed eligible?

Where do we begin the process?

Thank you for your input.

Go to http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/eligibility.asp

My suspicion is that you will not find that you are eligible to immigrate to Canada. However, nothing to stop you checking.

 

[scylla]

Retired couple in our early seventies. US Citizens. Financially independent. Do not intend to work. English is first language, but we read, write, and speak French as second language. We have spent about 150 days per year in the same location in Quebec (as seasonal residents) for several years and have integrated into society. Would like to information on possibly becoming permanent residents.

What is the possibility of being deemed eligible?

Where do we begin the process?

Thank you for your input.

It would only be possible if one of you had an adult child living in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident - and who makes sufficient income to sponsor you as a couple for permanent residency. Otherwise it's most likely impossible since Canada has no retiree immigration class. You would need to qualify and immigrate through an economic class (e.g. as skilled workers). Unfortunately your age and retirement status will effectively make it impossible to qualify for any of these programs.

You will need to be satisfied with visiting - unless one of you has a child in Canada willing to sponsor you.

 

[joshuals]

@zardoz

Yes....been there, done that. When I get to the second page where it asks for a reason for moving to Canada, there are no responses in the dropdown that remotely fit my situation, since I do not intend to work. Hence, I am unable to continue with the questionnaire.

When I contacted the Canadian Embassy in the US about 10 years ago, their rather terse response was that they "have no provision to accept retirees". I just thought I'd see if perhaps things had changed.

@scylla

Thanks for your input. Nope....no children in Canada.

We have been well-received at the border when informing the agent that we would like to spend 150+/- days. Over the years we spend 22 weeks in Canada and 30 weeks in the US in any given calendar year. In your opinion will we be able to continue this length of visit indefinitely under current policies?

 

[scylla]

We have been well-received at the border when informing the agent that we would like to spend 150+/- days. Over the years we spend 22 weeks in Canada and 30 weeks in the US in any given calendar year. In your opinion will we be able to continue this length of visit indefinitely under current policies?

Unfortunately that's impossible for any of us to answer. How long and how often you are admitted into Canada is up to the CBSA officer you speak to at the border. Having said that, provided you spend more time in the US than in Canada each year, can show you have the funds to support yourselves as visitors in Canada and can provide evidence you have purchased travel insurance for your visit - you should be fine. It wouldn't harm to carry proof of your ties to the US (e.g. property owned, utility bills) whenever you enter in case you're ever asked for more evidence.

 

[joshuals]

@Scylla

My wife thinks I'm crazy, but we arrive at the border with enough documents to choke a horse......deed to US property, US and Canadian bank statements, utility bills, birth certificates...you name it. We were sent do secondary one year, but the agent did not ask to see any of the documents. It's amazing to see how the conversation with agent always lightens up when they find we are fluent in French.....

 

[scylla]

@Scylla

My wife thinks I'm crazy, but we arrive at the border with enough documents to choke a horse......deed to US property, US and Canadian bank statements, utility bills, birth certificates...you name it. We were sent do secondary one year, but the agent did not ask to see any of the documents. It's amazing to see how the conversation with agent always lightens up when they find we are fluent in French.....

You're wise to have these to documents with you. 9 out of 10 times they aren't needed. But the one time they ask for more evidence of ties to the US, you'll be happy you have them.

 

[joshuals]

@scylla

For sure!! We travel by car from the southwestern US to a border crossing into Quebec Province....a trip of nearly 5000km that takes a week. That's a long way to go, only to be turned around at the border for lack of documentation!!

Thanks for your time.

 

[Mthornt]

@scylla

For sure!! We travel by car from the southwestern US to a border crossing into Quebec Province....a trip of nearly 5000km that takes a week. That's a long way to go, only to be turned around at the border for lack of documentation!!

Thanks for your time.

joshuals it's very interesting that you mention this situation. My soon to be wife and I both live in the southwest (Arizona), and we are planning to spend part of the year in Quebec, the summer of course, and the other part of the year here in AZ. I'd be interested to discuss the best way to go about doing this, and it sounds like you have a good amount of experience. We have two dogs, which makes it easier for us to make the LONG drive from AZ to Quebec.

 

[joshuals]

@mthornt: sent you a PM