Thinking of moving to Toronto...Advice?

August 31, 2008 8:11 PM

I have some questions about making the big move to Toronto...I feel it's right for me, but need additional information.

I'm 21, got my bachelor's degree in Marketing, and currently work as an Advertising Executive for Village Voice Media in New York City (it's the most successful alternative weekly paper in America). I was able to get the job because I have much work experience and self-started my own graphics company. However, I have been yearning to live in Toronto for a few years, and want to move within the next year. Due to my age and lack of any responsibilities holding me back, I feel that moving soon is right for me. Of course, I have a few questions:

1. I plan on having my passport by November of this year, and would like to move in the Fall of 2009. Is this time frame possible?

2. Is being a young professional a positive or negative trait in Toronto? Will my age be a factor in being able to get professional positions? (I'll be 22-23 by then...My Bday is late Sept.)

3. Is the job market going well for those with my degree? I've been reading and getting mixed reviews of the Toronto job scene...some indicate that more positions (and better opportunities) are available in Alberta.

4. How is the salary VS. the standard of living up there? I currently make around $60,000 in NYC right now, and am lucky to not have to pay rent (my family still own property here). If I did, however, my salary would barely cover living expenses (a one bedroom apt. here is around $2,000 per month...then add travel, food, utilities...you get the point). Is this true for you all in Toronto?

5. Is it recommended to have a car? I used to live in Tennessee (my dad's from there and refused to raise me in the city), but sold my car because I knew the transportation system in NYC was more than adequate.

6. Will my past job experience even matter in Toronto? I hear that it may not...and that's not a good thing. I'd basically have to start all over again with no previous work identity.

7. I plan on visiting the city in April, 2009...what are the specific institutions I should be in contact with while I'm there? Any particular websites? Any decent people on here who would befriend me and show me around?

All answers are appreciated...especially if you're around my age or job level.

Thanks Guys! I just feel that Toronto is right for me, and I tend to follow my heart on decisions like these...that's why I came back to NYC in the first place.

posted by Alex930 to work & money (45 comments total)

I cannot answer all your questions, but I'll do what I can (which, curiously, is the odd-numbered questions):

1. I don't see why not. I think this has more to do with any entanglements at the NYC end than anything to do with Toronto.

3. If you enjoy Manhattan, Toronto would likely be a better fit than Alberta. I find Toronto actually feels like Chicago more than any other American city, if that helps. Calgary is like Austin, maybe.

5. If you are living downtown, a car is a needless expense. If you're living in a far-flung suburb like Scarborough or Mississauga, it is a necessity. I spent a decade in downtown Toronto quite happily without ever getting behind the wheel once. The city has a decent transit system (with a legendarily bad website) and is quite walkable and bikeable.

7. Although I don't live there right now, I am frequently in town. Drop me a line in 2009 if you're still looking for a tour guide.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:25 PM on August 31, 2008

I plan on having my passport by November of this year, and would like to move in the Fall of 2009. Is this time frame possible?

You'll need to have more than a passport in order to move *and* legally work. Check out Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website for more info.
posted by aclevername at 8:26 PM on August 31, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

*lives in Mississauga, has no car*

Ahem.
posted by Hildegarde at 8:28 PM on August 31, 2008

I apologize if I'm stating the obvious but I can't tell from your question -- are you American? If so you can't just move to Toronto -- you have to immigrate. The process can take a long time and success is not guaranteed. I would guess Fall 2009 is a really aggressive time line unless you already have work lined up in Toronto before you even apply. Go here and read 'how to move to Canada' in the sidebar for a start.
posted by PercussivePaul at 8:28 PM on August 31, 2008

You don't "move," you "emigrate," which is far, far more complicated than moving. It's currently taking about 18 months for US applicants to secure landing visas (what you'd call a "green card") so no, you won't be able to land by fall of 2009 even if you started the application process tomorrow.

And look, the mere fact that you even ask #5 tells me that you are not remotely mature enough to undertake the immigration process. You live only hours from Toronto but have never visited? You haven't even bothered to look up "Toronto public transit" on the web? I emigrated from the US to Canada in '97 when wait times were less than a third of what they are today, did move, at first, to Toronto (before work took me, like so many Canadians, to Calgary, where there is REAL opportunity), and this is a life-changing act that requires a huge amount of planning and commitment. You're not just talking about "moving" but about becoming Canadian. What does your heart tell you about that?
posted by ethnomethodologist at 8:32 PM on August 31, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It's illegal for anyone to ask you your age in relation to getting a job. I can't see how youth could possibly work against you, however.

Get in touch via websites and publications in your field and see what jobs are being advertised there. You may find more jobs in Alberta, but keep in mind that Alberta doesn't have enough housing to sustain the numbers of people they employ. Living expenses are outrageously high there right now. And Calgary is nothing whatsoever like Austin.

Depending what you're prepared to live with, your living expenses would be roughly half what they would be in NYC. 60K is a very reasonable salary here; the average Canadian salary is somewhere around 34K a year (in general, not in your field.) Again, check the trade publications and websites to determine standard salaries for your field in Toronto.

Cars are not required in Toronto, but again, it depends on how you want to live. If you want the ultimate control and gridlock of commuting into the city daily (on the busiest highway in North America), a car might be required. There are many ways to get around the city without one, if you opt to make that a priority. (I live in Mississauga and bought a condo across the street from all amenities so I can do all my grocery shopping on foot, I'm a 10 minute bus ride to work and a 20 minute train ride from downtown Toronto.) You can always get into the zip car trend if you think you might need a car from time to time.

I can't imagine why your past work experience wouldn't matter...you're coming from New York, not Bangalore. Canadians don't have a great track record of accepting "foreign experience", but understand that "foreign" there means "not Canadian, American, or European". I'm sure you won't have a problem. Canadians admire American experience, as long as you show respect for Canadian methods and experience.

I'd be happy to tour you around, though my experience is more in academia and librarianship than marketing.

When you say "planning on having your passport", do you mean an american passport? As detailed above, you can't live in Canada with an American passport.
posted by Hildegarde at 8:41 PM on August 31, 2008

I moved to Toronto from small town Ontario in 1982.I loved it and I never left because the best thing about Toronto is that you can be anonymous and won't usually find trouble unless you're looking for it. Also, you don't have to be rich to enjoy the city. Make friends and cherish any good times you have. There aren't really any answers to your questions because time moves too fast.. you'll have shit times. It's probably no better than any place else. Good luck!
posted by bonobothegreat at 8:45 PM on August 31, 2008

you can't live in Canada with an American passport.

That is, you can't stay in Canada with an American passport as long as you want without getting the appropriate Canadian visa.
posted by lukemeister at 9:15 PM on August 31, 2008

I think you misinterpreted question #5 then, Ethno. As stated, I lived in TN where a car was a necessity and knew that this wasn't the case in NYC. I have looked into Toronto Public Transit (online), but had a feeling that I might need a car after looking at the maps...which I why I asked that question. I am new to the emigration process, and am glad to hear from someone who has done this before and knows how long it takes to complete such a task...which is why I prefer to ask people first instead of relying on websites. In my head, I assumed the process would take 9-12 months, and now I know I am mistaken. I am quite mature to handle the immigration process; I am also mature enough to accept criticism and advice after throwing myself out here on the web. This is not something I'm doing "for fun". I've had this thought in the back of my mind for quite a while, but decided to be mature and get my professional and financial career off on the right track...and now that I have achieved what I've wanted at my age with no regrets and no debt, I can now focus on becoming a Canadian citizen. I would have liked to have visited Toronto earlier, but I had scholarships to keep, a part-time job to work, and a company to run; I didn't think about a vacation for four years until I recently graduated from college in May. It took discipline and maturity to get that chapter of my life done, and I will apply the same to this venture.
posted by Alex930 at 9:21 PM on August 31, 2008

And yes, Hildegarde, I do mean having my American passport so I can visit in April. I plan on studying and viewing any additional websites I find (or that you all recommend) to have a detailed plan of exactly where I need to go, how much money to bring for any form processing and so forth. I want to make sure that after the trip, I have a more concrete time-line for getting this done.
posted by Alex930 at 9:40 PM on August 31, 2008

To be fair, Alex, it sounded from your question as if you thought you could walk across the border with an American passport and set up shop in Toronto. I think many of us had that impression. Ethno is not out of line questioning your ability to deal with the process given that impression. Consider that a criticism of how you wrote your question, not of you. Your use of the word "move" rather than "immigrate" was rather alarming.
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:40 PM on August 31, 2008

This isn't an answer to your question and I apologize for that, but I have to ask - how on earth do you have "much work experience" at the age of 21?
posted by davebush at 9:42 PM on August 31, 2008

Do you at all qualify for a
NAFTA work permit? It's how I moved from the US to Canada, and although it's temporary (but renewable), it's much easier than the standard immigration process. Faster too; a couple of months for me instead of 1+ years.
posted by the dief at 9:50 PM on August 31, 2008

1. Yes. However, visit here; a work permit is necessary, and it is a lengthy process. Immigration Canada is notoriously Byzantine.

2. Your age cannot legally be a factor in employment, due to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (it's like your Bill of Rights, but more so). In real terms? No, probably not. Most employers are thrilled to get Level 10 qualifications for Level 5 (based on age) money.

3. No clue.

4.A 1BR in Toronto goes for $800+ (to ridiculously high amounts), depending on where and what you want. For comparison, my roommate and I have a lovely apartment in the wealthiest part of town for $1200 total.

5. You categorically do not need a car in Toronto. Take public transit (a pass runs $110/mo), and use Zipcar (fractional rental service) when required.

6. Yes, experience matters.

7. This is too long a list; other posters have covered it.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:14 PM on August 31, 2008

Oh.. and it's the Toronto Transit Commission, not 'Toronto Public Transit', and the website has just undergone an incredibly useful makeover.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:15 PM on August 31, 2008

I was able to get my passport in a couple of weeks. Officially, the passport officials say you should give 4-6 weeks for a passport, I think. If you're getting a new one, not just renewing, then you should give yourself more time, since you may need to get your hands on official documents that you don't currently have (until I applied for my passport, I didn't have an official copy of my birth certificate, for example...getting that sent to you can take a couple of weeks as well). There is now the option of getting the passport card as well, but this only works if you are planning on getting into Canada overland, I think, so you may as well get the full passport (the one advantage of the passport card is it fits in your wallet, which makes it convenient if you plan on doing a lot of cross-border runs).

Maybe New York really does have prohibitively expensive rent, but....60k is a nice amount per year. If you feel squeezed on 60k you probably will have to make some adjustments unless you can find a similarly paying job elsewhere. I mean, call me a bit cynical but "advertising" isn't exactly a skill that they have in short supply in Toronto, I'm guessing, so it would probably be difficult for you to easily snag a high-paying job up there...you might have to settle for something with lower pay. If you can, save the money you're making now...since you're not paying rent (an enviable position in NYC) save as much money as you can, which honestly should be a lot...most people spend around 30% of their salary on rent, so it's really reasonable for you to be saving that much...even after taxes that probably comes out to around 12k for the year, which should be a help for you in Toronto.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:16 PM on August 31, 2008

Getting back to Toronto ... I lived there for 3 years (1989-1992) and loved it. If you can make the time, I recommend visiting in the dead of winter, just to make sure you can deal with it. It's not Greenland, but definitely harsher than NYC.
posted by lukemeister at 10:37 PM on August 31, 2008

-Davebush,

I began working in media at 15 years old through writing and learning graphic design in high school. I lucked into a paid summer internship and learned the ropes of the paper business. My superiors saw my ethic (after a couple of years) and I became a part-time Assistant Circulation Manager of my local newspaper at 18. This was also around the time when my graphics company started to grow, as working with the paper opened me up to a host of new contacts who could use my design services. I then became the Advertising Manager for a branch (media and recruitment) of my University at 19. Graduated, and now reside at my current job in NYC. I'm the youngest in my area of work, as with both of my previous positions. Most of my co-workers are old enough to be my parents, haha. I beat out over 100 other applicants for the position, I'm told, and the reason my current boss said she hired me was due to my work background. Where I grew up, you either slacked around and hung out, or worked to leave town...so I just worked ;-). My parents were very adamant about me working hard (they came from really poor backgrounds and built up a nice life for themselves). That's really it, I guess. Well, also a little luck and having faith sure helped me.

-The dief,

I will read the NAFTA info and see if I qualify.
posted by Alex930 at 10:51 PM on August 31, 2008

I currently make around $60,000 in NYC right now, and am lucky to not have to pay rent (my family still own property here).


Your NYC setup sounds like a much higher net income/standard of living than what you would be looking at living in Toronto (making half as much, but paying at least 3/4 of what your rent/expenses would be in NYC if you were paying rent). What it is about Toronto, in particular, that attracts you? It's difficult and time-consuming (and by no means guaranteed) to get a work visa (I speak from experience). And you have a great job and living arrangement in NYC!
posted by parkerama at 11:21 PM on August 31, 2008

Yes, you can get by in Toronto without a car.

But the TTA subways are rather dramatically limited compared to NYC. Not having a car will limit where in the GTA you can reasonably live, and it will limit where in the GTA you can work with a remotely reasonable commute. I haven't ever tried to get up in the morning, take the TTA from say Yonge and Lawrence down to Union Station to get the GO to Markham to go to work and repeat in reverse in the evening, but I can't imagine that's much fun.

If you get a car, wait to do it in Canada.

Frankly, given that you're American I would just check out Chicago. The money there isn't funny colors and the ethnic mix is different, but you don't need any government's permission to move there and the cities are broadly equivalent.

And if you end up seriously looking at emigrating to Canada, check out Ottawa as well. My Torontonian bride has remarked more than once that Ottawa now has the good feeling for her that Toronto used to, while Toronto has gotten just too crowded and sprawly.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:31 PM on August 31, 2008

Why don't you try a working holiday visa in Canada first?

Get a feel for Toronto, try out some temp work, and make some connections. That way, it'll be easier for you if and when you do decide to emigrate.

People are giving you a hard time in this thread. If you really want it, I say go for it. Don't pay any attention to people who tell you you can't do something you want.
posted by Flying Squirrel at 1:21 AM on September 1, 2008

I think you'd prefer to live in downtown Toronto anyways, rather than on the outskirts where you'd need a car.

The TTC is great, metropasses are somewhere around $100/month (or they were two years ago) and you can get wherever you want to go. I think having a car would be more of an inconvenience unless you need to drive out of town on a regular basis.
posted by Flying Squirrel at 1:24 AM on September 1, 2008

Just a word of advice for when you visit. Do not tell Canada Customs you're here to find a job. Just say you're visiting Toronto and show them a round trip ticket so they know you're planning on leaving.

You will not want a car in TO until you're settled and making money, and even then, you might not want one. The TTC has weaknesses, but most of us get by without cars by choice.

Immigrating is not difficult, just very very time consuming.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 6:45 AM on September 1, 2008

> I haven't ever tried to get up in the morning, take the TTC from say Yonge and Lawrence down to Union Station to get the GO to Markham to go to work and repeat in reverse in the evening

Well, just as well you haven't, 'cos you can't. Most of the GO trains (except the lakeshore) run into Toronto in the morning, and out in the evening. So no naughty living in Toronto and working in Markham unless you support Ontario's glorious auto industry!

You can get by pretty well without a car if you live near a subway station, even out in what downtown snobs consider the unredeemable 'burbs. We lived happily car-free at Kennedy for four years.

A lot of the print ad work has moved out of the city to Markham and Vaughan. There are all the usual agencies downtown, though.
posted by scruss at 7:04 AM on September 1, 2008

Scruss: you can take a Go bus to Markham first thing in the morning, FYI. Many of the trains don't run the opposite way, but the buses still do. It's something!

(I live on the Lakeshore west line. Yay!)
posted by Hildegarde at 7:49 AM on September 1, 2008

I moved from NYC to Toronto, about three years ago. I'm sure I've posted about this before in similar questions but here's some thoughts that might help:

Transit is nowhere near as good or reliable as that in New York. But unless you have a job that requires you to travel from site to site, or live way out in the suburbs you won't need a car, no. Having said that vastly more people own cars here than in NY, and it is often assumed by employers and friends you will have access to one to get to events, Ikea, parties at "the cottage", whatever. There's always zipcar though.

Rent is cheaper than NYC. Eating out and boozing are more expensive. Flights, banking are more expensive. Baseball tickets are cheaper. Ordering anything online is more expensive. Parking is cheaper. But don't forget you won't have health insurance costs (well, depending on your visa type I guess). I actually negotiated a decent raise based on the exchange rate at the time. Depends on your lifestyle, I suppose. Spend less than you earn is good practice no matter what your salary.

The working visa suggestion is a good one. I just hired four Irish people who are coming out on various forms of work permit, under-35 visas, etc and it didn't take that long for them to come through.

My NY work experience was considered equivalent. But I assume there are jobs where local contacts are essential, can't speak to that.

Re websites check out torontoist.com, spacing.ca, blogto.com which are all good but often have something of a young, cynical, new-from-the-suburbs feel to them. The Toronto Star is at thestar.com

The biggest issue for me in moving here was the "smaller city" feel. Toronto is a big city but nothing like New York, which I missed dreadfully for a long time.

I guess my question for you would be why Toronto? I know some Americans who are a bit starry-eyed about Canada the liberal paradise, so would caution you a bit if that's the reason it's attractive. In many ways I find Toronto to be more conservative than NYC.
posted by jamesonandwater at 8:14 AM on September 1, 2008

I think you'd prefer to live in downtown Toronto anyways, rather than on the outskirts where you'd need a car.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean he won't be hired in one those shiny new towers right near 404 or 400.

He might well not need a car, and he certainly shouldn't pick one up until he's there (and needs one) to avoid the importation hassle.

Note: getting (a decent) one there could be tricky, since once you're there you will have no credit. OTOH, Immigration will have made you show them substantial savings to live off of while you hunt for work.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 8:23 AM on September 1, 2008

Before you spend more time planning to immigrate, get your passport and just visit for a weekend. The flight is an hour and a half, and there is a great little airline called Porter that flies from Newark right into Toronto Island.

About your standard of living question - one huge factor that is often missed is that residents don't have to pay extra for health insurance. (However you do have to pay for dental, glass and prescription drugs unless you have a plan through your work.) You also don't need a car if you live downtown (biking and TTC are a good combo) which saves you another few thousand a year. You can live quite comfortably for $50,000.

You'll definitely notice that many things will be a lot more expensive than in the US. For example, internet access, cell phones, electronics, cars, cameras, milk, beer, wine, cheese, etc. Lots of historical reasons (e.g. government-granted monopolies), but generally, Canadians are simply used to paying more. But hey, free health care!
posted by kamelhoecker at 8:29 AM on September 1, 2008

Why don't you try a working holiday visa in Canada first?

Oh wow, I totally didn't know that a working holiday visa was open to Americans in Canada. Yes, totally go for this. At your age, taking a short break from your current career to travel and gain "new experiences" is a great idea, and choosing to make this a "working holiday" will be a whole lot easier on you. You probably won't earn nearly as much, but that's why you're saving, right?
posted by Deathalicious at 8:47 AM on September 1, 2008

Americans cannot get working holiday visas. No such thing. Commonwealth residents only.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:18 AM on September 1, 2008

Americans cannot get working holiday visas. No such thing. Commonwealth residents only.

Yikes, I am an idiot. Sorry. This is a superb suggestion and I'm happy to see that Americans are allowed in this program.

Hiidegarde- there is actually a glut of housing in Calgary and Edmonton right now- OP is not going to end up in Fort Mac. Salaries are higher and rent is cheaper than in Toronto. The mere fact that somebody can walk up to any business in the city and walk out with a job bears mention for anybody seeking work. The fact that Calgary has, now, more new immigrants per capita than any US city (yes, that includes NYC, Miami and LA) and fewer than only Vancouver and Toronto in all of North America means we have something to offer- and believe it or not, it's not just work.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:25 AM on September 1, 2008

To me, Toronto is a nice blend of my southern and northern roots. A few of my friends from TN visit the city often, and when I told them I was interested in immigrating there, they all asked if they could join me! I feel I would enjoy the culture and atmosphere of Toronto more than NYC; I've been coming (now living) in this city for most of my life and I've never felt wholly comfortable. People don't say hello. Making eye contact could get you beat up. Now, I know that I won't be in a perfect situation (no one ever is), but my friends (of all races, backgrounds and orientations) said they've felt more comfortable "just simply existing" during a few weeks of visiting Toronto than they've ever felt in their young adult lives in America. That's a pretty big statement. For me, as a gay multi-racial American, eyes are constantly on me the second I walk out my apartment door for one reason or another (whether I'm in NYC or TN).

I rarely drink, don't smoke, don't club...I'm a family man, and having a husband and children is something that is very, very important to me (my parent's keep asking when they will be grandparents, lol). One of my friends who visits the city regularly (he's an engineer with dual citizenship and can afford to do so) has a long-term boyfriend in the GTA, and they recently started to have talks about marriage. Although I'm much more focused on working and building for my future right now, the fact that they can have a conversation like this is wonderful. The "liberal haven" association with Canada does not phase me; I am more of a moderate, myself. I just feel that Toronto would offer more smiling faces, more open dialogue, and a better respect for cultural differences.

In short, I'd feel more comfortable. Isn't that reason enough to give it a shot?
posted by Alex930 at 10:55 AM on September 1, 2008

Alex, ping me when you're in town. I'll show you around. :)
posted by Hildegarde at 11:12 AM on September 1, 2008

Rent is cheaper? Really? It doesn't look any cheaper to buy a house in Calgary than it does in Toronto...on the cheap page on mls I found a 2 bed, 1 bath bungalow in Calgary for 400K. (Or, I could get a nice 1 bed 2.5 bath house for 765K!) I live in the GTA and got a 2 bed 2 bath place for 138K. I didn't check rent, but...property values tend to dictate rent, don't they?
posted by Hildegarde at 11:17 AM on September 1, 2008

Thanks Hildegarde...I will definitely let you know!
posted by Alex930 at 5:58 PM on September 1, 2008

Now is the alternative weekly in Toronto. It's worth a look. Listings here.
posted by lukemeister at 9:19 PM on September 1, 2008

Now is the alternative weekly in Toronto. It's worth a look. Listings here.


Wow...the website format and classifieds is just like the Village Voice! I looked to see if they were owned by our company, but they were not. Probably just share the same web design company.
posted by Alex930 at 6:35 PM on September 2, 2008

Well, every major city has an alt-weekly or two that are just like the Village Voice (or wish they were). See also Eye Weekly. It looks like Now and Village Voice both use backpage.com to host classifieds which explains the similarities there.
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:32 PM on September 2, 2008

Not having a car will limit where in the GTA you can reasonably live, and it will limit where in the GTA you can work with a remotely reasonable commute.

This is true, especially if you live in one transit agency's territory and work in another's (York Region to Toronto, for example).

Just a word of advice for when you visit. Do not tell Canada Customs you're here to find a job.

This is important—if you're planning to violate immigration (or any) law, don't help the government catch you.

Transit is nowhere near as good or reliable as that in New York.

This is very true. It also costs more. Both of these are because the provincial and federal government won't pay for as much of it as they ought to.
posted by oaf at 12:48 PM on September 4, 2008

Okay...now I'm a little confused.

Some advice lead me to think that it was proper to notify the Canadian government about my plans to immigrate and work here. Others recommended a work visa, which requires me to speak to the government, as well.

Or maybe I'm a fool and misinterpreted the entire thing, ha. So if i plan on visiting in March, what is the general concensus of the steps I should take to start applying for employment up there?

I'm sitting here with a pile of papers I've been studying and filling out, and I'm quite excited to get all the details ironed out.

Also, thanks about the car info. I posted this message in another forum and got an overwhelming response to have a car, if even strictly for emergencies and the occasional long-distance trip.
posted by Alex930 at 9:04 PM on September 4, 2008

I am a fool. I answered my own question.

Canadian CUSTOMS, as in, the ones who speak with you when you arrive and leave. Of course I wouldn't tell them I was looking for work.
posted by Alex930 at 9:13 PM on September 4, 2008

Some advice lead me to think that it was proper to notify the Canadian government about my plans to immigrate and work here. Others recommended a work visa, which requires me to speak to the government, as well.

These are one and the same. If you want to work in Canada, you must get a visa first. You cannot enter Canada intending to look for a job or do any work.

if i plan on visiting in March, what is the general concensus of the steps I should take to start applying for employment up there?

Find an employer willing to hire you, and who's willing to prove to the government that they can't find a Canadian to hire instead of you, and wait some months to get approved. That process probably won't be complete by March.

The other way is to go under a NAFTA visa. That process may or may not be complete by March.

The other other way is to score above 67 points on the skilled-worker test, file an application for permanent residence as a skilled worker, and wait two years or so. That process definitely won't be complete by March.

Bottom line: if you're moving to Toronto or getting a job there, it won't be in March 2009.

You cannot just move to Canada.
posted by oaf at 8:04 AM on September 8, 2008

Visiting and taking steps to figure out employment in Canada during March is different than wanting to work in Canada by March. I don't plan on working in Canada by March, and actually may expedite my visit to occur during November of this year.
posted by Alex930 at 12:10 PM on September 8, 2008

Going to Canada to look for work without a status that lets you do that is still something that can get you into trouble.
posted by oaf at 5:11 PM on September 9, 2008

Okay! A friend and I plan on visiting sometime in November (probably the 26-30). I'm thinking of hosting a meet-up or joining one if one pops up around that time. Who would be so kind as to show me some interesting places and hot spots to visit? Thank you all for your help in this matter ;-).
posted by Alex930 at 1:00 PM on September 20, 2008