# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/41 "2010-06-05T19:26:11Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Strange that the Canadians won’t let Americans in, but the place is flooded with Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Italian and Greek immigrants. How do they get in? There’s a high demand for taxi drivers with advanced degrees in medicine and engineering. Americans can’t drive. :d&r: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/42 "2010-06-05T20:16:17Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > That’s _pommes frites_. French is not a foreign language here. My relatives in Sask think it is a foreign language. ---
**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, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/43 "2010-06-05T20:50:01Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > There’s a high demand for taxi drivers with advanced degrees in medicine and engineering. Americans can’t drive. > > :d&r: Nice one, especially coming from someone in Montreal. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/44 "2010-06-05T22:59:34Z")
YouTube Video posted by the Gov’t of Canada to highlight the changes to the law: [Waking Up Canadian](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDeDQpIQFD0) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/45 "2010-06-05T23:06:09Z")
[Canadian Citizenship FAQ](http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/citizenship/index.asp#rules) - gives a general explanation of how citizenship rules work for those born outside Canada. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/46 "2010-06-05T23:24:21Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Strange that the Canadians won’t let Americans in, but the place is flooded with Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Italian and Greek immigrants. How do they get in? Lots and lots and lots of them don’t. I don’t know why you’d think Canada doesn’t let Americans in. Of course it does. But Americans have less reason to want to move here than Indians, Chinese, et al. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/47 "2010-06-06T00:02:28Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It is hard to get into Canada. Back in the 90s my company TWICE offered me a job in Toronto. They were going to pay for everything and Canada refused. They said, “If a job can be done by a Canadian you need to HIRE a Canadian.” > > So even with a job waiting for me, I couldn’t get in. I have no criminal record or anything. I had a job willing to pay to relocate me and the whole bit, but still Canada was very picky about who to let in. Unless your a refugee or in a profession that is sorely lacking…Well good luck. Maybe they knew Dubya would be in office soon and Americans would be trying to sneak in? I’ve gotten recruitment letters from headhunters from a lot of Canadian cities, but most places need nurses so I’m not surprised. ---
**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 6, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/48 "2010-06-06T00:14:43Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > YouTube Video posted by the Gov’t of Canada to highlight the changes to the law: > > [Waking Up Canadian](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDeDQpIQFD0) Funniest government video I’ve seen in weeks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/49 "2010-06-06T00:39:50Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > After a little thrashing about on the linked page, I found [this](http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/citizenship/cit-proof-faq01.asp): 1947 is when Canadian citizenship was created. Before that, we were all British subjects. I did go through those questions and apparently I am a Canadian citizen. :dubious: It seems very strange to me that I was born almost 50 years ago and my mother immigrated to the US almost 65 years ago. I can’t ever imagine me re-locating to Canada, but it is nice to know that I can. maybe i can get a Canadian Passport and go to Cuba and get some cigars. thanks everyone for the information. ---
**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 6, 2010, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/50 "2010-06-06T00:49:27Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I did go through those questions and apparently I am a Canadian citizen. :dubious: It seems very strange to me that I was born almost 50 years ago and my mother immigrated to the US almost 65 years ago. > > I can’t ever imagine me re-locating to Canada, but it is nice to know that I can. maybe i can get a Canadian Passport and go to Cuba and get some cigars. > > thanks everyone for the information. You never know. I applied after finding out it was possible in 1999, just for kicks and grins. Then, ten years later, I was in a situation where Canada was the best place to go and here I am! Loved the video, by the way. I checked my closet: no hockey player, and I’m very upset about not getting the maple-leaf pyjamas. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/51 "2010-06-06T02:08:59Z")
I have always wondered why _Oh, Canada_ chokes me up a little bit more than _The Star Spangled Banner_. I thought it was because it was a much better song, especially when it was sung by Roger Doucet, RIP. And when I am around Canadians, I do say “Eh” a lot. ---
**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 6, 2010, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/52 "2010-06-06T02:21:43Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > [M]aybe i can get a Canadian Passport and go to Cuba and get some cigars. Don’t be too certain of that. Apparently the US government forbids citizens _and permanent residents_ from going to Cuba without a license. Thus, I can, but my equally-Canadian friend who has a green card (and lives in California) can’t. On the other hand, if you went to Canada as a Canadian, they’d say 'Welcome home" at the border, and then how would the US know what you did? It’s a confusing situation. You wear two hats. Under hat A, you can, and under hat B, you can’t. ---
**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 6, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/53 "2010-06-06T02:22:41Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I have always wondered why _Oh, Canada_ chokes me up a little bit more than _The Star Spangled Banner_. I thought it was because it was a much better song, especially when it was sung by Roger Doucet, RIP. > > And when I am around Canadians, I do say “Eh” a lot. Do you use it properly? “That was a pretty good movie, eh?” \<—correct. “I’m going for a walk, eh.” \<—incorrect. To be a true Canadian, you have to know how to use it! ---
**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 6, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/54 "2010-06-06T02:31:04Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Do you use it properly? > > “That was a pretty good movie, eh?” \<—correct. > > “I’m going for a walk, eh.” \<—incorrect. > > To be a true Canadian, you have to know how to use it! Basically, it means, “It is true, this that I have just said, eh?” ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/55 "2010-06-06T03:04:43Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Where, at Coutts/Sweetgrass? That’s only an hour away. Let me know when you’re coming through; we’ll get a beer. That’s the place but it will have to be next year. For the first time ever we are going the east coast route because our kiddo has taken a job in DC. _Makes a note to contact Spoons next summer_ Beers are good:cool: ---
**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 6, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/56 "2010-06-06T03:09:27Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Basically, it means, “It is true, this that I have just said, eh?” You don’t add it to the end of a question - that’s the mistake that tv writers always make; “Did you see that moose there, eh?” The Canadian bacon trick question - what US Americans think of as Canadian bacon is usually called back bacon in Canada. Our regular bacon is the same as bacon in the US. So, Canadian bacon doesn’t really exist except outside Canada. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/57 "2010-06-06T03:20:28Z")
Yes, I know the use of “eh” is asking for acknowledgement. And that is how I use it. And sometimes I use it around my redneck friends and they immediately call me a Yankee. hmm, and thus far, no one has picked up on my Roger Doucet reference. That makes me a bit sad. IMNSHO, he was the absolute best at singing US and Canada’s National Anthems. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/58 "2010-06-06T03:30:50Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I can’t ever imagine me re-locating to Canada, but it is nice to know that I can. maybe i can get a Canadian Passport and go to Cuba and get some cigars. Plus, you can stand for Parliament and hope to become Prime Minister! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/59 "2010-06-06T12:54:00Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Don’t be too certain of that. Apparently the US government forbids citizens _and permanent residents_ from going to Cuba without a license. Thus, I can, but my equally-Canadian friend who has a green card (and lives in California) can’t. > > On the other hand, if you went to Canada as a Canadian, they’d say 'Welcome home" at the border, and then how would the US know what you did? > > It’s a confusing situation. You wear two hats. Under hat A, you can, and under hat B, you can’t. Apparently so. [This thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=425296) kind of petered out, but consensus was leaning towards the conclusion that a trip to Cuba by me would be illegal under U.S. law even if I did it under my Canadian passport. > [@Northern Piper](#): > > Plus, you can stand for Parliament and hope to become Prime Minister! One of the very few things that the U.S. State Department views as automatically indicating an intent to relinquish U.S. citizenship is the acceptance of a policy level position in a foreign government. I’ve got to assume that Prime Minister is policy level, at least most of the time. 🙂 ---
**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 6, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993/60 "2010-06-06T13:28:39Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I did go through those questions and apparently I am a Canadian citizen. :dubious: It seems very strange to me that I was born almost 50 years ago and my mother immigrated to the US almost 65 years ago. > > I can’t ever imagine me re-locating to Canada, but it is nice to know that I can. maybe i can get a Canadian Passport and go to Cuba and get some cigars. > > thanks everyone for the information. It’s never too late to have a second passport. Plus, you might consider retirement. If the Canadian dollar is low, and you retire on US dollars, someplace on Vancouver Island could look very attractive - to a citizen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/escaping-the-united-states/541993.md?page=4)