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Originally posted by d0uble h3lix im actually quite interested in this too, havnt done much research on it recently, and i kno some of the US-CDN immigration policies have changed...but im in a relationship with an american girl. we're both currently in university, i live in ottawa, she's in maryland. what are the chances of her being able to move up here to go to an ottawa-based school? (we have two universities and a couple colleges to choose from). my biggest question i guess is how much does marriage (judge away)change the situation? how does that affect the process of her immigrating here and getting citizenship/SIN card etc? please take note this is a very serious question, and we'd in no way be trying to circumvent laws, just interested if its a viable option to hasten getting her up here. thanks to any who seriously answer this.

if you marry a canadian, you can apply for Canadian citizenship.


as for those who blast Quebec

our immigration laws aren't more bitchy, its just that you're favored if you come from a francophile country or if you speak french. Its just to favor integration within the society. Its better than like in Toronto where you have hundreds of thousand of people who are not integrated at all and live in their own little ghettos (actually they're quite big).

Nonetheless if you have a good degree, you're very welcome.

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Banana boat? Fuck that, fly the banana plane!

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Originally posted by ali92 Yeah, right. LOL What's a banana boat?

Any boat for that matter. Or train container on a barge.

also, that fighter jet rocks. take that if you can.

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Originally posted by malek if you marry a canadian, you can apply for Canadian citizenship. as for those who blast Quebec our immigration laws aren't more bitchy, its just that you're favored if you come from a francophile country or if you speak french. Its just to favor integration within the society. Its better than like in Toronto where you have hundreds of thousand of people who are not integrated at all and live in their own little ghettos (actually they're quite big). Nonetheless if you have a good degree, you're very welcome.

Are you putting down the various ethnic communities that live within cities and decide to let their own background/culture shine? No sense in putting one set of groups down and then turn around when yours are spoken about negatively...

Montreal is wayyyyyyyy cheaper to live in than Vancouver, and the job market is a lot better in Montreal. Vancouver is fucking paradise, but if you're on a tight budget and don't have a job lined up, then it's pretty much the worst possible destination for you =P

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"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

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Originally posted by ali92 Lucky you! (Though I doubt you'll need the US one for long. ;-) )

actually, while everyone still hates the US, its still the most useful passport to have.

they might sneer at you while you walk through customs with a US passport, but theylll never not let you in.

ive got more stamps on my american passport than any other one.

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Fortuna Favet Fortibus.

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Originally posted by ali92 Are you putting down the various ethnic communities that live within cities and decide to let their own background/culture shine? No sense in putting one set of groups down and then turn around when yours are spoken about negatively...

oh no! not at all, I think i didn't express myself proprely. For one, i'm not a quebecois per se. I too is an immigrant.

I just think that people that don't even know how to speak the country's language isn't very cool.

I'm syrian, and if I take my nationality in exemple, it wouldn't be cool to be listen only to Syrian TV, Syrian news, talk arabic with my families and friends, and work at some place where its only syrians/arabs. I would be oblivious to the reality of my host country!

Thats why, saying that knowing French is a bonus if you want to immigrate. The provincial govt wants you to be part of the society and interact with it, not be cut off!

Anyhow, the best I can advice you is to come over and visit the city and see for yourself if it suits you. Stay for a week and see if you can find a job easily. Maybe your futur employer can help you out!

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Last edited by malek on May-16-2005 at 03:30

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Originally posted by Sean Walsh the job market is a lot better in Montreal.

oh yeah? that much better than Vancouver? those vancouverois love to put down our city

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While I can't say I know all these details with complete accuracy this is what I've gathered up from other people who went over there and how the market is.

First off at your stage if you don't have the money to move there for job purposes don't consider it BUT do consider SCHOOLING!
To go about schooling in Canada it is best to become a Resident and then apply for schooling .... it sometimes can be done at the same time I think. If you're considered resident of the country and not a foreign student you get to pay much less for schooling which is higher if you're considered a foreigner.

Secondly FRENCH; if you're moving to Quebec you can handle without it but there are a number of official positions that require you to also speak french. It's very possible that it wouldn't apply in the IT world what do I know but you have to keep in mind you may be in contact with customers and lacking that language could be a drawback to a hire. I know nurses in hospitals are somewhat required to speak french now and take classes or else no job or something to that extent, I have read articles on how some english speaking nurses feel under constant pressure.

Again I can't say I know if all these things to be fact but between the 10/15000 CAD finances you need, schooling, and language it could be a little tricky.
But hey it's not impossible.
Totally unrelated but my parents moved to France from the US after they got married and I grew up overseas for the most part.
Going to another country is always good to learn new things and find new interests and meet new people. If you can make it happen DO NOT HESITATE!

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Originally posted by ali92 I doubt this, but I like to know: I haven't worked in the last 2 years, don't have (the required) 10'000+ CAD, nor have any current job offers in Canada (perhaps due to my US resumé/CV) right now. Are my chances of moving to Canada this June now non-existant? Is it just a pipe-dream? That's what I believe it is now, as I heard that applying to immigrate there will take at least 6 months to 5 YEARS and costs at least 15'000 CAD. Those who've moved there, what was your process? How much does a single 20-year-old usually need to successfully need to 'make it' there? How easy is it to find work after arrival there now in the IT industry? I know I will most likely get flame responses or posts like 'WTF?'. I'd rather not hear it and see real responses... Peace...

Your best bet would be to apply for a student visa and take courses at a Canadian university. While at school work the job market.... if you get a job offer and have a student visa you'll likely be able to get a work visa once you're done school (note, a work visa is not required in order to work while on a student visa up to a certain income limit.... I don't know that limit). After attending school here and working here for a year or two after you'll want to apply for Landed Immigrant Status.... as a US citizen, educated and working in Canada you should have no problem getting this.

As for where to live that's a lifestyle choice. All three of the cities you mention are expensive. Toronto has the highest taxes (income and property) but lower costs for rent/property and grocery items then the other two and it has the most opportunity for a young man starting out in life. Vancouver has the lowest taxes of the three but everything else costs more. It's a pretty laid back place for a big city and probably a good choice if you're an artsy type. Montreal is by far the coolest of the three (don't tell any of the TOTAs I said that)... it's like a little piece of Europe in North America... laid back, cultured, with a great party scene.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down

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Originally posted by malek Its better than like in Toronto where you have hundreds of thousand of people who are not integrated at all and live in their own little ghettos (actually they're quite big).

Big is an understatment.... they are cities unto themselves.... Woodbridge is a good example, if you're of Italian decent and make enough money to move to the 'burbs you move to Woodbridge. Malton/Brampton is where nearly all of the immigrants from the Indian sub-contenent end up. There are lots of them.

In the city itself, you're right... there are neighbourhoods that are mainly one group of immigrants or another. I wouldn't go so far as to call them ghettos as they are not normally economically depressed areas. It's actually kind of nice to have it that way because different parts of the city have their own unique character.

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Originally posted by RickyM you're just a shit version of Moral Hazard. At least he knows what he's talking about.

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Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN lol, i love it when moral feels the need to lay the smack down