can we use our tiny Canadian to become candian?

October 2, 2009 9:07 AM

story: 2 Americans living in Canada on a work permit. we wish to become permanent residents. challenge: bureaucracies have confusing websites and documentation. so we can't answer the core question. the twist: we made a baby. shes a certified canuck. question: can we use her somehow to avoid the whole "skilled worker" style process (Which has a daunting amount of historical requirements...).
posted by chasles to Travel & Transportation around Canada (13 answers total)

Your best bet is to ring Immigration Canada, and ask these questions of a program officer who can best answer them. My understanding (based on my brother in law going through the same process) is that you have to apply for landed immigrant status first, live in the country for three years, then apply for permanent residency. But seriously, check with Immigration Canada.
posted by LN at 9:26 AM on October 2, 2009

A landed immigrant is the same thing as a permanent resident.
posted by oaf at 9:42 AM on October 2, 2009

What are these "historical requirements" you speak of? Work experience, or something else?
posted by oaf at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2009

I don' t know about your kid -- it certaintly seems that should certainly make it easier for you, and yet I don't see a process for that. Perhaps because it would be open for abuse; come to Canada for a vacation, have a baby, then become citizens?

In any case have you looked at the Canadian experience immigrant class? It seems to be more appropriate for you than the skilled worker process.
posted by PercussivePaul at 10:04 AM on October 2, 2009

Your child would have to sponsor you under the family class but would need to be over 18 and able to demonstrate that she can financially support you. So, probably won't help immediately. There are lots of agencies that specifically want to help you get your PR card, it really isn't that hard, especially if you already possess a fluent command of english.
posted by saucysault at 10:17 AM on October 2, 2009

You may find this link interesting, although I have no idea how accurate the advice is.

Canada rocks. I hope you are able to stay.
posted by futureisunwritten at 10:28 AM on October 2, 2009 [1 favorite]

I don't know the answer to your particular question, but I just wanted to nth giving CIC a call (1 888 242‑2100). When my partner was going through the immigration process, they were actually remarkably helpful in answering questions. YMMV, obviously, depending on the person you speak with, but it's definitely worth a try. They were more helpful to us than the lawyer we spoke to (for free, through a connection, but still).

Good luck!
posted by sabotagerabbit at 10:40 AM on October 2, 2009

I used to work for CIC. You should really just call and ask. People like me answer the phone, or at least used to! They'll give you way better advice.
posted by acoutu at 11:13 AM on October 2, 2009

Response by poster: wow, thanks for all the advice so far. i swear i don't know how you found the # for CIC! i'll call them now. as for skilled worker i qualify just fine, the real issue, as i alluded to, is the amount of details they want from educational backgrounds and past states i've lived in. (they want sealed envelope transcripts from each of my four colleges, plus very specific stuff from all 9 states i've lived in - it took me 14 months to get Virginia and Canada to agree on paperwork so i could simply register my car in Canada so i'm a little gun shy about all of the states i've lived in - nebraska for example - providing timely and correct information)

I'll call in, check the links and come back here to update!

oh, canada!
posted by chasles at 11:30 AM on October 2, 2009

I bet you can order transcripts online nowadays. I'd ask CIC if you can just start with the most important credential first.
posted by acoutu at 11:43 AM on October 2, 2009

very specific stuff from all 9 states i've lived in

If you're talking about criminal background checks, you're going to have to get those if you want to immigrate to Canada.
posted by oaf at 11:48 AM on October 2, 2009

I can't help with kid-related immigration but honestly, even though it's a sucky job the sooner you get going on getting your paperwork together the better. Don't put it off - make some calls today! I'm from Ireland, my husband is from Bangladesh and we both immigrated through the Buffalo NY office and accumulating all our crazily disparate info wasn't too bad (the Irish police background check took the longest - far longer than transcripts etc, which I don't remember as having to be sealed, but I could be wrong).
posted by jamesonandwater at 11:56 AM on October 2, 2009

A piece of advice when you call the CIC call centre: don't necessarily take what they tell you as gospel, the agents are sometimes misinformed. And any misinformation can potentially seriously mess up the immigration process because small mistakes can have major consequences (I know people whose immigration process has been seriously screwed up by listening to CIC agents). Use what they tell you to point you in the right direction, but back it up with your own research. My approach when my wife was immigrating was to call 3 times and talk to three different agents, and take the most common answer as likely to be correct.

Any immigration process is going to involve mountains of paperwork. My wife's (who came under what I think is the among easiest classes - spousal family) application was around 75 pages long. You always need to provide all the work history, address history, criminal background checks for all states and provinces you've lived in, medical checks, etc.
posted by Emanuel at 2:42 PM on October 2, 2009