www.MarkTAW.com/blog/LeavingSoSoon.html (printable version)
Leaving So Soon?Harper's Magazine has a thorough guide to some of the obvious and esoteric ways you can leave the USA, as well as a good overview of what it takes to renounce your citizenship.
Electing to Leave
A reader’s guide to expatriating on November 3
Posted on Wednesday, November 3, 2004. Originally from Harper's Magazine, October 2004. By Bryant Urstadt.Given how much the United States as a nation professes to value freedom, your freedom to opt out of the nation itself is surprisingly limited. The State Department does not record the annual number of Americans renouncing their citizenship—“renunciants,” as they are officially termed—but the Internal Revenue Service publishes their names on a quarterly basis in the Federal Register. The IRS’s interest in the subject is, of course, purely financial; since 1996, the agency has tracked ex-Americans in the hopes of recouping tax revenue, which in some cases may be owed for up to ten years after a person leaves the country. In any event, the number of renunciants is small. In 2002, for example, the Register recorded only 403 departures, of which many (if not most) were merely longtime resident aliens returning home.
That article in Harper's paints a pretty grim picture about the difficulties of renouncing your citizenship, but perhaps, salvation is around the corner.
Start Early, the Lines are Long
Those of you looking to move permanently to Canada may take consolation from the fact that becoming a Canadian Citizen is relatively easy, and you would be welcome with open arms by the government.
Americans Flock to Canada's Immigration Web Site
Would-be immigrants to Canada can apply to become permanent resident, a process that often takes a year. The other main way to move north on a long-term basis is to find a job, which requires a work permit.
But please spare the sob stories.
Asked whether an applicant would be looked upon more sympathetically if they claimed to be a sad Democrat seeking to escape four more years of Bush, Iadinardi replied: "There would be no weight given to statements of feelings."
Canada is one of the few major nations with an large-scale immigration policy. Ottawa is seeking to attract between 220,000 and 240,000 newcomers next year.
"Let's face it, we have a population of a little over 32 million and we definitely need permanent residents to come to Canada," said Iadinardi. "If we could meet (the 2005) target and go above it, the more the merrier."
But if you're moving to French Canada, be sure to tell anyone about to kick your ass because you don't speak French that you're American. At least, that's the advice I got when I visited several years ago. It seems Quebec wants to secede and isn't very happy with the rest of Canada. But you'll have plenty of time to become acquaintanced with their political system.
Marry a Hot Canadian
Does 1 year seem too long to wait to become a citizen? Well, many Canadians have already pledged to Marry An American.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DROP YOUR BORDERS
When the provisional Ohio votes are counted and if George W. Bush is re-elected, single, sexy, American liberals - already a threatened species - will be desperate to escape.
These lonely, afraid (did we mention really hot?) progressives will need a safe haven.
You can help. Open your heart, and your home. Marry an American. Legions of Canadians have already pledged to sacrifice their singlehood to save our southern neighbours from four more years of cowboy conservatism.
Over 500 Canadians have promised to help ensure that there will be no liberals left in America in 2008.
1. It's the Economy Stupid
Before you go, though, you should know that your dollar, thanks to the re-election of George "Dubya" Bush will be weaker against the Canadian dollar, and the massive trade deficit (we buy more foreign products than we sell... well where does all that money come from?) can lead to trade practices that promise to protect US companies, while harming everyone we've been trading with up until now. An ever weakening US dollar also means foreign goods will start to look more expensive to us.
Bush's deficit puts economy at risk
As soon as Bush's victory was confirmed Wednesday morning, concerns over the $413-billion U.S. budget deficit could be heard far and wide. In Ontario, they were expressed by Premier Dalton McGuinty. Globally, they were underscored by international currency markets, which pushed the loonie up to 82.8 cents U.S. yesterday, its highest level in 12 years.
The problem for Canada, as well as every other major U.S. trading partner, starts with the fact that the massive U.S. budget deficit is soaking up huge amounts of American savings. That is forcing the U.S. to borrow hundreds of billions of dollars abroad to meet its other domestic needs.
But there is only one place those dollars can come from — the surplus trade earnings of other countries that are selling the U.S. more goods and services than they are buying in the way of imports from the U.S.
What this tells us is that big budget deficits and trade deficits typically go hand in hand. That is why economists call the huge — and growing — trade and budget deficits in U.S. the "twin deficit" problem.
...
Americans' lack of fiscal discipline, which gave an undeniable boost to our exports, Canadians would be forced to share in their pain to some extent. That is because to some degree when the U.S. trade deficit improves, our trade surplus falls.
2. Canadians are Terrorists
While being outside of the United States may protect you from a "terrorist" attack on the US, it won't protect you from the US bombing the hell out of your country, which we may do if Canada keeps laundering money for "terrorists."
Canada sees more money laundering head
OTTAWA -- The amount of dirty money that global terrorists and other criminals tried to launder in Canada during the last year is dramatically higher than in previous years, a federal agency says. Almost 200 cases involving $700 million in suspect financial transactions were turned over to police in the last fiscal year -- a sizable jump over the $460 million tracked the year before, says Fintrac, the federal agency monitoring money laundering.
...
The amount of terror financing tracked in 2003-04 jumped to about $70 million from $22 million the year before -- a serious concern and a security threat, says the Fintrac report.
Terror financing accounted for 44 cases Fintrac passed on to police. Another four cases involved both suspected money laundering and terrorist financing activity.
Another 149 cases involved money laundering alone, about 60 per cent of those likely coming out of illegal hydroponic marijuana grow operations.
Well, I guess on the upside, it's a good place to jumpstart your fledgling pot growing operation. (You are a liberal hippie, aren't you?)
4. Get that Flu Vaccine
If you want some more incentive, it will be nice to know you can finally get your Flu Vaccine.
Americans Head to Canada for Flu Vaccine
This year flu shots are hard to find in the United States, so some companies are coming up with creative ways to transport people to Canada. The vaccine is plentiful there and the exchange rates are low in case you want to pack in a day of shopping, too.
3. Marry Your Same Sex Partner in Canada
Maybe you're a disenfranchised homosexual looking for some refuge, leading me to wonder not just about the liberal population in America in 2008, but the actual population of Canada in the next generation. Unfortunately, this news article paints a somewhat more stringent picture about Canada's immigration policy.
Canada Bracing For Onslaught Of Gay Americans
World News, (Ottawa) The Canadian government is preparing for a gay migration from the US following Tuesday's election. Already Canadian consulates in Chicago and New York have been approached by dozens of same-sex couples enquiring about immigration.
Same-sex marriage is legal in five of Canada's ten provinces and in the Yukon territory. Judges in two other provinces are considering petitions to allow gay marriages.
A spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Minister Judy Sgro said that it is difficult to say how many of the gay and lesbian couples inquiring about moving to Canada will actually do it.
"We're seeing a lot of anxiety by gay Americans," Lucille Way told 365Gay.com. "But, asking about immigration and actually leaving your homeland are two different things."
Unregistered foreign nationals could be deported and Canadian immigration law has some stringent requirements. Because the country is seen as a haven for refugees there is a long line up of people trying to get in. Gays and lesbians, said Way, would have to line up like everyone else.
Perspective immigrants must apply at a visa mission outside the country, usually at a Canadian embassy or consulate.
You also would need a work permit and to get it, you would need to show you have a skill, trade, or profession that is needed in Canada.
Without a guaranteed job from a Canadian company it could take up to a year to get a permit. In order to remain in the country while you wait to work you would need to prove to the government you have enough money to survive.
And, work permits are based on a point system. You get higher points if you have special skills, such as a medical or law degree, or are fluent in French, Canada's second official language.
If you want to move up the line faster, it helps to be rich. Immigrants wanting to live and invest in Canada must have a net worth of $662,000 and be ready to put up at least $331,000. Those wishing to start a business must have a net worth of $248,000.
But, some immigration lawyers are suggesting a different approach: Applying for refugee status. It is one that has not been tested. But the government is suggesting it could be tried. The test would be dangerous for gay and lesbian couples that live in the US under laws that do not recognize them. Usually, people who come to Canada claiming refugee status are from regimes where their lives would be in jeopardy.
2. Oh, and did I mention there are JOBS in Canada?
Canada Adds 34,300 Jobs in October; Rate Unchanged
Canadian employers hired 34,300 workers in October, more than economists expected, keeping the jobless rate at its lowest in more than three years.
The unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.1 percent, and the share of the population with a job matched a record high of 62.7 percent set in December. Retailers and construction companies led the hiring.
``Demand is strong and we are hiring almost everywhere,'' Serge Godin, chief executive of CGI Group Inc., Canada's biggest computer-services company, said in an interview Oct. 28. ``We have the contracts, we just need to find the people.''
While I've always regarded Seth Godin as a bit of watered down Malcom Gladwell, I certainly wouldn't mind working for him.
If you do manage to find a job in Canada, the US Expatriate Handbook might help. It's dedicated to people who have found a job outside of the country and want to make the transition.
1. And the number 1 reason to move to Canada.... Better Health Care More Sexy French-Speaking Aboriginal Nurses
CANADA, ABORIGINAL NURSES, AND NURSES UNIONS TO BOOST NUMBER OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE IN NURSING
GATINEAU, QUEBEC (November 5, 2004) -- The Government of Canada, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada signed an agreement today to encourage the employment of Aboriginal people in the workplace, particularly in the field of nursing.
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page first created on Friday, November 05, 2004
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