Canada registers sixfold increase in US citizens seeking asylum in 2017 Article title

[Julian Englis]

Source: The Guardian

Tiroude and Gislyne are Haitians by birth and migrants by necessity.

The couple’s 18-month-old daughter, however, was born in Fort Lauderdale, and – as an American by birth – she is part of a growing number of US citizens seeking refuge in Canada.

In 2017, some 2,550 US citizens applied for asylum in Canada – an increase of more than sixfold from 2016 and the largest such number since at least 1994, according to data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Americans were the third largest contingent of asylum seekers in 2017, after Haitians and Nigerians. The vast majority are children born to Haitian parents, according to experts.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/14/us-citizens-seeking-asylum-canada-increases-immigration-refugees

[George II]

1. If I were 20 years younger I'd be up there right now, and I wouldn't need asylum.

[blueinredohio]

2. I thought about it in 2016. I haven't counted it out.

[iluvtennis]

6. Same here

[Equinox Moon]

8. It is too cold for me, or I would go.

[George II]

16. Toronto has a relatively moderate climate.....

....right now it's 25 degrees in Boston, 33 degrees in New York, and 27 degrees in Toronto.

Toronto gets an average of 47 inches of snow annually, NYC from 36-48 inches, Boston 43 inches. On the other hand, Buffalo (about 90 driving miles/50 as the crow flies miles away) gets an average of about 100 inches of snow.

But ALL of these temperatures may be too cold for you (not where you are)!

[OnlinePoker]

17. 15 celsius (60F) here in Victoria today.

Average is 9 so we'll take it.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

3. I've read that they don't want retirees

But what if you have a verifiable long-term income ?

Anyone know ? (Cuz I'm asking for a friend. )

[luvtheGWN]

7. Not sure, but I think that would be in your (friend's) favour!

Also, look into your (friend's) family history. There might be some Canucks lurking there somewhere

[Haggis for Breakfast]

10. If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not),

my "friend" does indeed have some Canucks in Nova Scotia.

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. C'mon up the water's fine!

Moved to BC in 2012, became citizens this year, and haven't regretted a single day

[SunSeeker]

20. I used to live in Vancouver, BC. Lovely place. Too cold for me though.

[Fiendish Thingy]

21. Too cold? That's funny- I'm from California

And I find the BC Summer's too hot, compared to the Monterey Bay.

[SunSeeker]

26. LOL Monterey is too cold for me too.

I live in So. Cal.

[Jedi Guy]

5. Very, very glad I'm here and not back home.

I came to Canada in 2012, and have only regretted it a few times (the depths of winter, for instance). Given the insanity going on in the States, I think I made the right call.

Gonna go for citizenship this spring, most likely.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. I've thought about it.

Looking on line, I think I might qualify for permanent resident status, although probably not for citizenship. I should probably have a pleasant conversation with the nearest Canadian embassy.

I also wonder if I were to simply move north and rent an apartment, and never return to the United States, how likely am I to be caught? I wouldn't be seeking employment. The other issue would be health insurance, and I don't know exactly how Canada does this. In this country I'm on Medicare, with an Advantage plan, which is probably useless in Canada. In terms of paying rent and my daily expenses, I'm more than capable. I am extremely healthy, but of course that could change or I could fall in the driveway and break an arm (that happened to me about nine years ago) and how would I pay for that?

Yeah, I should look into this more seriously.

I think I could pass a basic French language test, if that would help.

Otherwise, I think there might be an excellent market opportunity for older Canadian men to temporarily marry older American women like me, to make us legal.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

11. Oh, my "friend" and I hadn't thought about that.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. It might be fairly simple.

If you can't get your Social Security or other income sources deposited to a bank in Canada, you get them deposited to a bank in the states. Then you simply write a check to yourself every month off the U.S. bank deposit to the Canadian one. Honestly, the only issue would be if you get sick.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

13. You've given this a LOT of thought, haven't you ??

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

24. Yes, I have.

I'm afraid to ask too many questions of those who can answer them for fear of drawing too much attention to myself.

[moonscape]

23. That getting sick issue is a big one though! n/t

[EllieBC]

19. As someone who does have PR,

you wouldn’t be able to find work or get health care. Contrary to rumours, they won’t just treat you and not bill you if you aren’t a citizen or resident.

I live in a small town outside of Vancouver and just last week RCMP picked up someone and brought them to Canadian border services for overstaying a visa. You don’t want that. They won’t let you in again. Do it properly. Canadians are friendly but they like it when people follow the rules.

[Fiendish Thingy]

22. If you qualify for PR status, you could earn citizenship

They just relaxed the rules- you have to be in the country a total of 3 years, pay taxes, no crimes, and, depending on your age, pass the exam.

Contact a reputable immigration lawyer to get an informed opinion.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

25. I probably should do that.

I'm currently on hold while my son completes his PhD in astronomy. While I genuinely love living in Santa Fe, in the long run I don't want to be too far from him. He is currently on the east coast. A lot depends on where he winds up after grad school.

[Marie Marie]

14. I vote for Canada to invade us.

[Doreen]

15. I would never be allowed to become a citizen of another country any country.

I am disabled and receive benefits. I would love to live in Canada, I would love to move back to Germany also but that will never happen.

[SunSeeker]

18. I can certainly see the attraction...

[a la izquierda]

27. Canada would be fine, but I'd prefer the Netherlands, Germany, or Ireland.

France too, if I could find a cheap place to fix up in Normandy.