4 ms·

My family was traditionally extreme right wing (My dad likes Trump, is racist, is a young earth creationist, etc), but both my sister and I ended up being prett

My family was traditionally extreme right wing (My dad likes Trump, is racist, is a young earth creationist, etc), but both my sister and I ended up being pretty moderate, if slightly liberal leaning (we are both Socially Liberal, Financially Conservative), and my wife, who has similar parents (though not as extreme) is considering voting Democrat (Sanders, but not Hillary, definitely not Trump, if he wins, we might move to Canada - for real) Anecdata and all that, but I still get along well with my parents, and my wife, hers. We avoid religion and politics (though if it comes up we kinda stay quiet while the other rants, no arguing). I consider myself Moderate and really don't like the "foam at the mouth" extremes on either side, to be honest, I don't understand the need to go to that extreme, and to fight and argue so passionately about it.

rwmurrayVT 11y ago
This is a bit off topic, but how exactly do you plan on moving to Canada? My longterm girlfriend is Canadian and I am American. I'm a mechanical engineer with work experience. I have yet to find a realistic way for me to just "move to Canada".
- guyzero 11y ago
  There's a point-based skills assessment for skilled workers. If you get 67 points you can immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident. Once you're there you have complete freedom of movement - it's like a green card as opposed to being on a work visa. You may be able to qualify for a NAFTA work visa as well, but if you want actual residency as an engineer you're probably better off applying for permanent residency. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-factors.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-factors... Canada isn't Utopia - it can be hard to find engineering jobs, housing is expensive in big cities and cost of living is higher than the US. There's a reason why so many Canadian engineers end up moving to the US.
  - randcraw 11y ago
    That's really interesting. Often in the past 20 years I've considered such a move, largely in response to the trends in US politics and policy. As a Michigander I think I have a fair sense of what it'd be like to live in the climate of the Great White North, but not as much feel for the economy or the culture. It'd be fascinating to hear from folks who have made that move, especially with a view to assimilation: Canadian citizenship.
    - atomic77 11y ago
      In my view, everything you need to understand the difference, culturally and economically, between Canada and the United States, follows from two important phrases found in the respective founding documents of the countries: "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" - America "Peace, Order and Good Government" - Canada
  - atomic77 11y ago
    For a qualified American, I think a NAFTA visa makes a lot more sense for the potential wave of American "trumpfugees" - first requires them to get a job (and still want to accept it after doing the conversion back to USD :) and also have an easier path to the realization that Canada is actually a different country with a culture that they may not be willing to embrace.
    - guyzero 11y ago
      Digging around a bit it seems like the Canadian equivalent of the TN status page is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/international/nafta.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/inter... Basically get a job offer, have the correct qualifications and be on the NAFTA approved professions list, apply at your point of entry.
  - rwmurrayVT 11y ago
    I know it is not a Utopia. I have spent a lot of time there, both with her and when my mother was working in Toronto. It looks like I've only managed to score a 66... Language:24 (English CLB:9) Education:21 (B.Sc. M.Eng) Experience:1 year full-time (MAYBE stretch to 2 years..) Age:12 Arranged Employment:0 Adaptability:0 (if she was my spouse or common law this wouldn't be needed..) It's possible I could get the points for the French language with a few months of study and if I "extend" my work experience based on past part time/freelance type employment to two years. Does having a score of 67 "guarantee" my immigration or does it just qualify me for the pool of candidates?
    - redblacktree 11y ago
      It looks like arranging employment would do it.
      - rwmurrayVT 11y ago
        Easier said than done these days as a M.E.. A great deal of M.E.'s that are born in Canada are having trouble finding a job since the oil market is down so far.
- atomic77 11y ago
  Canada and the US have, as part of NAFTA, an agreement to grant work visas right at the border for 'professionals', including engineers. It's a straightforward process. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp#nafta http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp#nafta http://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/amresource/8cfr2146.htm http://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/amresource/8cfr2146.htm
- epimetheus 11y ago
  I haven't dug into any specifics yet so it's probably harder than I imagine. It's actually been a dream of mine for some time anyway; not to get away from the US, just that I love Victoria and Vancouver and Vancouver Island. I have some family friends that did it, and live in Vancouver (moved there 15+ years ago), and we'd probably plan on talking to them about the pain points too. Work might be harder for me, as mentioned in other comments, but my wife might not have as much issue being a Physical Therapist (just a guess to be honest). I'd love to move to other Countries as an alternative though; New Zealand and parts of Sweden or Norway sound pretty good (the milder climate areas). I have that digital nomad itch, but married with a kid so that keeps me more tied down, and don't actually like the heat, so the typical places don't interest me much.

rwmurrayVT 11y ago

This is a bit off topic, but how exactly do you plan on moving to Canada? My longterm girlfriend is Canadian and I am American. I'm a mechanical engineer with work experience. I have yet to find a realistic way for me to just "move to Canada".

guyzero 11y ago
There's a point-based skills assessment for skilled workers. If you get 67 points you can immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident. Once you're there you have complete freedom of movement - it's like a green card as opposed to being on a work visa. You may be able to qualify for a NAFTA work visa as well, but if you want actual residency as an engineer you're probably better off applying for permanent residency. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-factors.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-factors... Canada isn't Utopia - it can be hard to find engineering jobs, housing is expensive in big cities and cost of living is higher than the US. There's a reason why so many Canadian engineers end up moving to the US.
- randcraw 11y ago
  That's really interesting. Often in the past 20 years I've considered such a move, largely in response to the trends in US politics and policy. As a Michigander I think I have a fair sense of what it'd be like to live in the climate of the Great White North, but not as much feel for the economy or the culture. It'd be fascinating to hear from folks who have made that move, especially with a view to assimilation: Canadian citizenship.
  - atomic77 11y ago
    In my view, everything you need to understand the difference, culturally and economically, between Canada and the United States, follows from two important phrases found in the respective founding documents of the countries: "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" - America "Peace, Order and Good Government" - Canada
- atomic77 11y ago
  For a qualified American, I think a NAFTA visa makes a lot more sense for the potential wave of American "trumpfugees" - first requires them to get a job (and still want to accept it after doing the conversion back to USD :) and also have an easier path to the realization that Canada is actually a different country with a culture that they may not be willing to embrace.
  - guyzero 11y ago
    Digging around a bit it seems like the Canadian equivalent of the TN status page is here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/international/nafta.asp http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/work/inter... Basically get a job offer, have the correct qualifications and be on the NAFTA approved professions list, apply at your point of entry.
- rwmurrayVT 11y ago
  I know it is not a Utopia. I have spent a lot of time there, both with her and when my mother was working in Toronto. It looks like I've only managed to score a 66... Language:24 (English CLB:9) Education:21 (B.Sc. M.Eng) Experience:1 year full-time (MAYBE stretch to 2 years..) Age:12 Arranged Employment:0 Adaptability:0 (if she was my spouse or common law this wouldn't be needed..) It's possible I could get the points for the French language with a few months of study and if I "extend" my work experience based on past part time/freelance type employment to two years. Does having a score of 67 "guarantee" my immigration or does it just qualify me for the pool of candidates?
  - redblacktree 11y ago
    It looks like arranging employment would do it.
    - rwmurrayVT 11y ago
      Easier said than done these days as a M.E.. A great deal of M.E.'s that are born in Canada are having trouble finding a job since the oil market is down so far.
atomic77 11y ago
Canada and the US have, as part of NAFTA, an agreement to grant work visas right at the border for 'professionals', including engineers. It's a straightforward process. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp#nafta http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp#nafta http://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/amresource/8cfr2146.htm http://www.nafsa.org/_/file/_/amresource/8cfr2146.htm
epimetheus 11y ago
I haven't dug into any specifics yet so it's probably harder than I imagine. It's actually been a dream of mine for some time anyway; not to get away from the US, just that I love Victoria and Vancouver and Vancouver Island. I have some family friends that did it, and live in Vancouver (moved there 15+ years ago), and we'd probably plan on talking to them about the pain points too. Work might be harder for me, as mentioned in other comments, but my wife might not have as much issue being a Physical Therapist (just a guess to be honest). I'd love to move to other Countries as an alternative though; New Zealand and parts of Sweden or Norway sound pretty good (the milder climate areas). I have that digital nomad itch, but married with a kid so that keeps me more tied down, and don't actually like the heat, so the typical places don't interest me much.