Are you a US resident planning to move to Canada soon? If that’s the case, then it is good for you. People who live in or relocate to the Great White North have excellent things to say about it. Before you begin simply packing everything up and taking off, though, there are some things you should probably consider.
For instance, are you planning to sell your car before moving, or will you take the vehicle with you when you move? There are different ways to deal with the latter. For example, a person moving from Michigan to British Columbia may choose to drive their car. Then again, someone in Louisiana might not want to travel that far cooped up in the cab of a vehicle for days on end. As such, they could choose professional car shipping instead.
There are various other considerations in relocating to Canada as well. Below are some things to consider when moving to Canada.
Visa, immigration program, or permanent residency
Before scheduling anything, you should first ensure that you qualify for one of Canada’s visa or immigration programs. If you fail to meet the requirements, you’ll need to consider making some changes so that you can work and live in the country.
But don’t worry because Canada has over 100 visa and immigration programs. Hence, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to qualify for one of them without any problems. Some of the top options include:
- Student visa programs
- Family sponsorship programs
- Short-term working holiday visa programs
What about becoming a permanent resident? If that interests you, it may be time to contact the IRCC or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a department of the Canadian government that handles immigration and citizenship matters. Or you might even want to reach out to provincial governments and local communities, as they have the power to assist people in becoming permanent Canadian residents.
When to move?
Moving to Canada is a possibility any time of the year, and you just have to get up and go or hire people to do it for you. However, if you’re going the latter route, it could be in your best interest to wait until between October and April to move. These months are thought of as the off-season of the moving industry when movers aren’t busy.
Some of the top perks of relocating during these months are lower costs, minimal scheduling conflicts, and empty roadways. With fewer vehicles on the road, movers and shippers probably won’t get delayed by heavy traffic.
A major city or small town
If you don’t have a job when moving to Canada, choosing Vancouver, Toronto, or other major cities can be tempting. They’ll have the best job opportunities. However, the cost of living in these places will also be very high. Therefore, you might feel like breaking the bank each month renting a small space.
So, before choosing a major metropolis, consider some smaller cities or towns like Sherbrooke, Halifax, and Nanaimo. It could cost you a lot less to live there, but keep in mind that if you have to commute long-distance to go to work, the savings might not be worth it. You’ll be spending a ton of cash on fuel or public transportation to get back and forth.
The great butt out
If you’re a chronic smoker, you might want to rethink that lifestyle before moving to Canada. It is now illegal to smoke in indoor public spaces in the country, and you also can’t smoke in shared spaces of apartment buildings or rental complexes anymore. Instead, individuals are only permitted to smoke in their own living spaces or cars.
So if you’re adamant about moving to the Great White North, now could be as good of a time as any to stop smoking, as that may make your life easier after you arrive.
Hefty income, property, and federal taxes
Canadians have access to excellent education and healthcare systems. Programs such as these are often funded by income, property, and the federal government’s sales tax. Therefore, before moving to Canada, you should consider whether your budget can handle incurring these hefty income and property taxes.
Weathering the winters
One of the most important things about moving to Canada is that the winters are no joke. Unless you’re moving to British Columbia, expect sub-zero temperatures to be the norm for Canadian winters, and some parts of the country can even go as low as -40°F. These extremely low temperatures can mean a significant adjustment even if you hail from cold American states like Alaska, Wisconsin, or Minnesota.
One way to prepare for Canadian winters is to stock up on winter clothing. Some must-haves include thermal underwear or long johns, wool winter coats, insulated down jackets, thick jeans, and waterproof winter boots with non-skid soles. Wool gloves, caps, earmuffs, and scarves will also help keep you warm.
Some final thoughts
After considering these things, you should be ready to move to Canada. You should also be prepared for some of the things to come after relocating, such as looking for jobs and schools.
Moving can be stressful, and you owe it to yourself not to let the situation become overwhelming. So, what are you waiting for? Get started planning and ensure everything with your relocation goes smoothly.
