Every four years, we get a surge of people interested in immigrating to Canada because of the US presidential election. Many people can be a bit naive about the processing of moving to Canada from the US but we can help!
Similar to the Bush-Gore election in 2000, the current political apocalypse fought between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic party candidate Hillary Clinton has created a sense of panic among the Hollywood elite. Typically, many “A-list” celebrities have expressed a desire to move to Canada should the U.S. decide to inaugurate President Trump. Celebs like Jon Stewart, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Samuel L. Jackson, Chelsea Handler, and Lena Dunham have all gone on record, saying they’re out, if Trump gets in. Then once again in 2020, after President-Elect Joe Biden won the Presidential election, many individuals threatened to move to Canada.
However, Canada isn’t about to grant citizenship to Americans who are disappointed with their democracy.
Visitor Visa Limits
The North American Free Trade Agreement allows citizens of the United States to visit Canada for a period of up to six months, and vice versa. Since this is a visitor visa, Americans won’t be able to work legally within Canada during this time, nor will they be able to establish permanent ties with their neighbor. At best, Americans seeking to flee a president who they do not agree with will have to settle for an extended vacation.
Escaping the U.S.A.
Most celebrities who proclaim they will leave the United States if a right-wing candidate becomes president end up staying in their country and simply learn to deal with the new political climate. For those who truly want to leave the United States for a longer period of time, Canada does offer numerous methods of earning work visas, super visas, and in some cases, the ability to become a citizen.
Work visas, such as the USMCA TN professional visa, increase the time you’re allowed to stay in Canada, also enabling you to remain gainfully employed. If you have children in Canada, you might qualify for the parent and grandparent super visa, extending your stay to as long as two years in a row. Investor and business visas are another option, letting you invest and create a business in Canada.
Not a Celebrity? Want to Move to Canada?
Certainly, having a lot of fame and money makes it easier for celebrities to go through a visa process. Nonetheless, celebrities and regular Americans alike should expect to go through similar processes, assuming they’re not bluffing when they threaten to leave the country.
Are you interested in immigrating to the U.S. or moving to Canada? Contact VisaPlace today.
All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal, an award-winning immigration firm, that adheres to the highest standards of client service.
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President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
