Question on Possible Em/Immigration to Canada...

[Penguin31]

Note: I originally asked this earlier tonight on the Canada board, but I'm moving it here where (IIRC) it's more appropriate (since it's not about Canadian issues, but rather getting there)...I also restated several things and added a bit

I've been contemplating this for awhile now, and I honestly think a move to Canada is right for me. That being said, I'd like to know what I need to do to begin the process to move to Canada.

I've been to the Canada immigration website, but I wind up just getting confused , and don't really find any information entirely relevant to my exact situation. (College Age student, from working-class background (Translate: Little Money), wanting to gain residency AND, **most definitely, finish college ASAP**).

So..help. What do I need to do?

[KnowerOfLogic]

1. I don't know, but when you find out, let me know :)

[canuckforpeace]

2. get training in a profession that's in demand here

Start doing some research on that topic. Doctors and nurses are an obvious choice, but if not your calling look into fields that interest you but are also in demand here.

[Penguin31]

3. The small flaw in that...

That means staying here to get training in a field and THEN go there...I'd much rather prefer to GET THERE first

I might need to state/restate this: I'm eighteen. I'm just wrapping up my first semster and first 17 hours of coursework towards a bachelor's here....In order to get any sort of meaningful degree in an interesting field, I'd have to *STAY* an additional three and a half YEARS.

See the problem?

[canuckforpeace]

4. Perhaps enroll in school here then

Foreign students are accepted but I have no idea what the requirements are.

[Penguin31]

5. Remember, working class background = Little Money

And, due to some slacking off during years 1-3 of High School, GPA is rather mediocre, meaning what money I DO get to pay for College as is...comes from the gub'ment.

And, as was said...The goal is not to move to Canada to study, the goal is to become a permanent resident/citizen (eventually). Idea is to retain American citizenship as little time as possible

[canuckforpeace]

6. Sorry, can't come up with any other ideas

From my re-collection of the Canada immigration site you can:1) try to get in as a refugee. U.S. college kids that are trying to avoid the draft don't qualify.
2)Entrepreneur program, requires lots and lots of cashola. Guess you don't qualify there either.
3)Skilled workers program - see my first post

There have been lots of folks looking for information on this lately. Check out the Canada Forum.

Ciao!

[iverglas]

10. no hope of immigrating at present / info about studying

You simply don't have the qualifications to immigrate.

Do read the CIC site -- www.cic.gc.ca

Contrary to what some people will tell you, however, a PhD (and/or a pot of money) isn't required in order to qualify. In fact, skilled tradespeople are in demand here, for example, and completing a community college and/or apprenticeship program will get you almost as many points as a PhD. If you have a hands-on rather than academic bent, you might find that avenue worth pursuing -- even if you don't end up emigrating.

Going to school here isn't possible if you don't have any money at all, but for people who do have some money, it might be an even better idea, economically, than doing post-secondary programs in the US. Tuition fees here are lower than at many US schools, even for international students. And having gone to school in Canada does earn points for immigrating, under the "adaptability" criterion.

Have a look at these google results for "international students" tuition in Canada, and see the list of colleges and universities here (the "colleges" they refer to are degree-granting institutions affiliated with universities; community colleges are separate institutions):
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22international+students%22+tuition&meta=cr%3DcountryCA

Association of Canadian Colleges and Universities
http://www.aucc.ca/
"We represent 92 public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges across Canada."
(There are also all sorts of private for-profit schools, for example in computer-related fields.)

List of links to all universities:
http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/index_e.html

Trent, a small university an hour north of Toronto (Toronto itself is a very expensive place to live):
http://www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/trent_e.html
http://www.trentu.ca/
International Students: http://www.trentu.ca/tip/
http://www.trentu.ca/tip/before.shtml
"Tuition, ancillary and University Health Insurance fees for the second semester of 2004/2005 academic year are approximately $6,400 CDN. In addition you will need approximately $3,500 CDN for living expenses. Payment of tuition and ancillary fees in full is due no later than December 13, 2004."

$13,000 Cdn for a year = under $11,000 US at present exchange rates. ($1 Cdn was $0.83 US last time I heard -- this is not nearly as good a bargain for USAmericans as it was a year ago when the Cdn dollar was much lower vs. the US dollar.)

Here's the Association of Canadian Community Colleges:
http://www.accc.ca/
And there's a link to "member institutions" here:
http://www.accc.ca/english/colleges/index.cfm

Here's an example:
Centennial College of Applied Arts and Technology, in Scarborough (part of Toronto)
http://www.centennialcollege.ca/
http://www.centennialcollege.ca/programs/inter/index_stud.html
Tuition is about $10,000 Cdn per year, and other expenses for the year are estimated at about $10,000.

[dreamcollector]

7. I'll keep you in mind

Neither of us has enough posts to communicate privately. I'd like to help you. You had better get here before they draft you. My daughter used to work for the American Embassy (outsourced to a Canadian company) and was laid off two months ago. She knows plenty about how to get here. She and a work mate are thinking of starting a private business working out of her home to help people come here. However she is too depressed to even brush her teeth right now. I'm trying to get her moving. I'm going to buy her a computer for Christmas to encourage her. She lives in Ajax which is about 20 minute drive from Toronto. Most jobs are in Toronto. Can you transfer to a Canadian University? Which part of Canada tempts you? British Columbia has the most agreeable climate. Southern Ontario is scorching in summer and snowy in winter. My daughter lived in Texas for five years and is very familiar with the U.S. I'd really like to help you. You would have a nice life here. It's wonderful not to have to worry about health care and don't let George Bush and the RW kid you our taxes aren't too high and we use them on things that improve the quality of life rather than weapons to bomb the rat-shit out of innocent Iraqis. Good luck.

[Penguin31]

8. I like a nice, cool, chilly climate

Anything over around 80 degrees F (I believe, and my conversion is a little rusty, that works out to around 26.6 degrees C) tends to fry me, while I made a walk sans coat, in short sleeves, in 30deg F (-1.1C) a little while ago. Cold doesn't bother me a BIT.

[Penguin31]

9. I don't like to kick my own posts...I really don't. But...

...it's important to (at least) me, so I thought I'd give it another go with the late nighters...