# Escaping the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993 "2010-06-04T23:30:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/1 "2010-06-04T23:30:31Z")
> [@A woman I know spent two hours in hospital today for a non-serious issue. The bill: $12000](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-woman-i-know-spent-two-hours-in-hospital-today-for-a-non-serious-issue-the-bill-12000/541836/23): > > I’ve said that if I ever get a horrible disease I’m moving to Canada. I might move there regardless. Just in case. > [@A woman I know spent two hours in hospital today for a non-serious issue. The bill: $12000](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-woman-i-know-spent-two-hours-in-hospital-today-for-a-non-serious-issue-the-bill-12000/541836/28): > > You might want to emigrate before you get horribly sick, because they wont take you otherwise. What steps are involved in moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen? Is there a waiting period? Is there a test of Canadian (British?) history? Can I have dual-citizenship? If I could, what would the advantages be, if any? At the moment Canada seems like the best destination as opposed to say, Britain, because it shares a border with the United States and our cultures seem to be the most similar. No, **Autolycus** , I’m not moving to Japan with you. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/2 "2010-06-04T23:41:57Z")
What’s your take on Canadian Bacon? {Note: This is a trick question.} ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/3 "2010-06-05T00:01:57Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > What’s your take on Canadian Bacon? {Note: This is a trick question.} It’s not Canadian and it’s not bacon? Do I win Canadian citizenship? Please, please, please cause that means I can live in Canadia from spring to fall and live in Florida in the winter just like everyone else from Canada and the UP. The UP is a Canadian territory right, eh? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/4 "2010-06-05T00:05:12Z")
I don’t eat bacon. But I’m assuming Canada has plenty of freedom fries. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/5 "2010-06-05T00:14:15Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > What steps are involved in moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen? Is there a waiting period? Is there a test of Canadian (British?) history? Can I have dual-citizenship? If I could, what would the advantages be, if any? At the moment Canada seems like the best destination as opposed to say, Britain, because it shares a border with the United States and our cultures seem to be the most similar. > > No, **Autolycus** , I’m not moving to Japan with you. I’m a dual citizen, I grew up in the states and now I live in Canada. Easiest thing to do is to move to Canada with a job, and become a landed immigrant. Usually you have to spend years as a landed immigrant first, then become a citizen. There is a point system, skewed toward needed professions. There is a test, but it’s pretty straightforward - capitals of provinces, figures from Canadian history, multi-culturalism. You can be a dual citizen, but the benefits are few - mostly having a bigger potential job market, and somewhere to run if the fascists take over. Let me know if you need me to pick you up at the border. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/6 "2010-06-05T00:21:25Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I’m a dual citizen, I grew up in the states and now I live in Canada. > > Easiest thing to do is to move to Canada with a job, and become a landed immigrant. Usually you have to spend years as a landed immigrant first, then become a citizen. There is a point system, skewed toward needed professions. There is a test, but it’s pretty straightforward - capitals of provinces, figures from Canadian history, multi-culturalism. You can be a dual citizen, but the benefits are few - mostly having a bigger potential job market, and somewhere to run if the fascists take over. > > Let me know if you need me to pick you up at the border. Warning: I may or may not have a horrible disease when you meet me. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/7 "2010-06-05T00:21:32Z")
Do you have a degree or job experience in anything worthwhile? Is there a Canadian willing to marry you? If not, you can pretty much forget about it. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/8 "2010-06-05T00:24:03Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > It’s not Canadian and it’s not bacon? Do I win Canadian citizenship? \ Yes, you do! This is your lucky day! If you opt to become a Western Canadian (a much better option, in my humble opinion), you’ll winter in Arizona instead of Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/9 "2010-06-05T00:24:47Z")
I have nightmares about Canadians, especially the ones that chose to be there instead of just being born there by accident. They are dangerous people. A group of them could show up at my door right now and how the hell I am supposed to know? They look and dress mostly like regular people do making them like the best spies and assassins there are. Scary. At least with Mexicans, you can see the hat popping over the top of the water a couple of minutes before they get you. I have a few catch phrases that I use to snare unsuspecting Canadians like offering them some poutine when they walk through the door. Unfortunately, a lot of regular American men’s eyes light up at the offer even though they completely misunderstood the trap so that still doesn’t work worth a damn. Don’t ever trust a place where you have to plug your car in at the grocery store and your car isn’t even electric. That is a bad sign right there. The country isn’t meant to be inhabited at all because it is too far north. Some people may point out that some places in the U.S. like Detroit are farther north than parts of Canada. I rest my case. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/10 "2010-06-05T00:29:54Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Is there a Canadian willing to marry you? If not, you can pretty much forget about it. Is gay marriage legalized in Canada? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/11 "2010-06-05T00:34:43Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Is gay marriage legalized in Canada? 😛 Yyeeeaahh…however, I’m straight and already married, but thanks anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/12 "2010-06-05T00:39:24Z")
I’m in **Attack’s** situation, only more recently (dual citizen, have been in Canada for… two weeks now. No job yet). I’m also sponsoring my (British, gay) partner for immigration. He actually qualifies for immigration on his own, but spousal applications go much faster than the “Hey, I want to go to Canada” applications. So far, the experience has been great. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/13 "2010-06-05T00:40:02Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Is gay marriage legalized in Canada? 😛 Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/14 "2010-06-05T00:46:06Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I have nightmares about Canadians, especially the ones that chose to be there instead of just being born there by accident. They are dangerous people. A group of them could show up at my door right now and how the hell I am supposed to know? They look and dress mostly like regular people do making them like the best spies and assassins there are. Scary. > > At least with Mexicans, you can see the hat popping over the top of the water a couple of minutes before they get you. I have a few catch phrases that I use to snare unsuspecting Canadians like offering them some poutine when they walk through the door. Unfortunately, a lot of regular American men’s eyes light up at the offer even though they completely misunderstood the trap so that still doesn’t work worth a damn. > > Don’t ever trust a place where you have to plug your car in at the grocery store and your car isn’t even electric. That is a bad sign right there. The country isn’t meant to be inhabited at all because it is too far north. Some people may point out that some places in the U.S. like Detroit are farther north than parts of Canada. I rest my case. Heh heh heh - we visit the US all the time, making our plans, scouting the territory - I mean, on vacations. Yeah, vacations, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/15 "2010-06-05T00:47:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Yes, you do! This is your lucky day! If you opt to become a Western Canadian (a much better option, in my humble opinion), you’ll winter in Arizona instead of Florida. w00t, I’ll be crossing the border near Waterton Lakes Park, will you meet me there with the appropriate paperwork? Need any part time thermodynamics instructors or large steam or nuclear power plant outage engineers? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/16 "2010-06-05T00:49:32Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I’m in **Attack’s** situation, only more recently (dual citizen, have been in Canada for… two weeks now. No job yet). I’m also sponsoring my (British, _ **gay** _) partner for immigration. He actually qualifies for immigration on his own, but spousal applications go much faster than the “Hey, I want to go to Canada” applications. > > So far, the experience has been great. Noooooo! **Dr. Drake** , you just broke my heart! There was a thread a while ago about which doper you thought was hot and I said you. And you even live near me! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/17 "2010-06-05T00:59:17Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > w00t, I’ll be crossing the border near Waterton Lakes Park, will you meet me there with the appropriate paperwork? Need any part time thermodynamics instructors or large steam or nuclear power plant outage engineers? Yes, I think my vacations will require such as yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/18 "2010-06-05T01:09:40Z")
Speaking from my experience as a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., get the job first! After you get the job, then blow $11,000 on moving to and spending five months in Canada. I should hope that would work better than doing it the other way around. **AClockworkMelon** , start [here](http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/19 "2010-06-05T01:20:57Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > It’s not Canadian and it’s not bacon? Do I win Canadian citizenship? Please, please, please cause that means I can live in Canadia from spring to fall and live in Florida in the winter just like everyone else from Canada and the UP. The UP is a Canadian territory right, eh? The UP is in Canada?!? _happy dance_ I’m a [Canadian](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWQf13B8epw)! ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/20 "2010-06-05T01:52:44Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > I don’t eat bacon. But I’m assuming Canada has plenty of freedom fries. That’s _pommes frites_. French is not a foreign language here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993.md?page=2)