Your Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Canada From The US

All right. Hello, everyone. Welcome to our webinar on immigrating to Canada from the US. My name is Rachel. I’m the digital content creator for Moving to Canada, and I’ll be your host today. 

Of course, I’m joined by Rebecca, our operations manager at Moving to Canada, and who is also a regulated Canadian immigration consultant. Along with Hugo, our director of partnerships, who was once a newcomer himself, who has gone through the immigration process and also brings a wealth of knowledge in helping others navigate their journey to Canada. 

So Rebecca and Hugo, welcome. Would you like to introduce yourselves to the masses? Maybe start with Rebecca. 

Yes. Hi, everyone. As Rachel said, I am the operations manager here at Move Into Canada. I’m also a regulated Canadian immigration consultant. I’ve worked in the immigration industry since 2010 when I originally moved to Canada. So going on fifteen years. I love helping people immigrate to Canada. It’s a real passion of mine. I’ve helped many U.S. citizens and foreign nationals based in the U.S. move to Canada. So I’m really happy to be here today to help some of you in your journey. 

Perfect. Thanks, Rebecca. And Hugo, over to you. 

Yeah, nice one. I’m Hugo. I moved to Canada myself, fourteen years ago from Ireland. I’m glad to see that we’re all wearing green today. But I’ve been working in the Canadian immigration industry since well over a decade now, most of the time with Moving to Canada. And like Rebecca, have worked with a lot of Americans and people from third countries who reside in the United States to make Canada their new home and pursue their dreams here. So looking forward to helping a few folks along their journey today. 

Perfect. Thank you so much. Yeah, before we dive in, and I can already see it from the comments, right? I’d love to know from our viewers, like, where are you joining us from today? And if you could also type on the chat, like, what’s attracting you to Canada right now, that would be helpful. 

We already have Laura from Florida, so it’s good to see. Yeah, comment your city in the live chat below as well. 

Yeah, but basically like over Rochester, New York. That’s practically in Canada. You can throw a stone from the border down to Rochester. Yeah. You have people from Indiana, Arizona. Wow, a lot of people. Boston, Massachusetts, Kansas even. So yeah, a lot of US viewers here. So I’m glad that you found your way to our live webinar. 

As you can see, over the past few years, there is a growing interest from U.S. residents and non-U.S. residents currently living here who are exploring options for moving north. So whether you’re considering a temporary stay or even permanent residency, we’ll be breaking down the different pathways available to you. 

But before we do that, I just want to take a quick moment to thank our sponsor, Scotiabank for making this event possible. So whether you’re planning to move or you’ve recently moved to Canada, Scotiabank is here to give you the support that you need. Through their StartRight® program, Scotiabank can help you with your finances by offering help with bank accounts, credit cards, international money transfers, and more—even before you arrive in Canada. 

So if you’re looking to set up your finances, be sure to visit the Scotiabank page on our site, or you can also scan the QR code on your screen to get started. 

All right, so here’s what to expect today. We’re going to talk about why people are moving from the U.S. to Canada, what your immigration options are, some things to consider before your move—like finances, cost of living, or even opening a bank account from the U.S.—and we’ll also have a Q&A session at the end, where you can drop in your questions in the live chat, and we’ll try to get through as many as possible. 

If you do want to skip ahead or rewatch any part of this session, you can also check the timestamps that we’ll be adding to this video after the live event. 

All right, let’s get started with the first section: Why are people moving to Canada from the U.S.? 

Yeah, good question. It’s a growing trend, right? So the number of U.S. residents moving to Canada each year is increasing. We know that more than 10,000 people each year make that move, and those are just the people who actually complete the process. There are many more who are interested in learning about their options. 

So why do people do it? One of the top reasons is lifestyle and quality of life. Canada offers strong public services, including healthcare and education, great work-life balance, and a focus on multiculturalism and inclusivity. 

Another major reason is politics. People are increasingly looking for a more stable or familiar environment—something that aligns with their personal values. And when you combine that with the fact that Canada is actively looking for immigrants, it makes the process much more accessible than it is in many other countries. 

And of course, there’s family—many people already have Canadian family members or spouses, or they have children born here. 

Yes, and we also know that for many people, the shift toward remote work has opened up possibilities. If you’re working remotely and no longer tied to a specific location in the U.S., then moving to Canada for a better quality of life makes sense. 

Exactly. And we’ve seen a lot of families consider the move to Canada for their kids’ futures—access to affordable or even free education, good healthcare, and the ability to grow up in a relatively safe and stable country. 

So let’s dive into the main immigration pathways. There are a few key routes to consider if you’re looking to move to Canada from the U.S. Some are temporary, and some lead to permanent residence. 

The main ones are Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), family sponsorship, work permits (including LMIA-based permits and intra-company transfers), and study permits. You can also come as a visitor for a while and get to know the country before making a longer-term plan. 

Let’s start with Express Entry. This is the most popular option for skilled workers and professionals. It’s a points-based system that ranks candidates based on age, education, work experience, and language skills. 

You need to first check if you’re eligible, then create an online profile. You’re placed in a pool with other candidates and may receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence. 

The key is that Express Entry is fast—processing times can be six to twelve months after submission, but getting selected from the pool can take time depending on your score and the draw criteria. 

Some people wait a few months; others may wait longer. But the process is entirely online, which makes it accessible no matter where you’re currently living. 

Exactly. And it’s worth mentioning that Express Entry has multiple programs under its umbrella. The main ones are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. 

There’s also a newer layer to it called “category-based draws,” where they invite people based on certain job categories or language abilities—like if you work in healthcare or speak French, you might have better chances. 

We’ll come back to that when we talk about jobs. But another pathway is Provincial Nominee Programs, or PNPs. These are run by individual provinces, and they have different criteria and streams. Some of them require a job offer, while others are aligned with Express Entry and don’t. 

And if you’re looking to move to a specific province, PNPs can be a great way to tailor your application. Some provinces prioritize tech workers, some focus on trades, some on healthcare, and others on rural settlement. 

It’s also worth knowing that smaller towns and rural areas sometimes offer a faster route to immigration because they’re looking for people to settle there. There are pilots like the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot or the Atlantic Immigration Program that are designed for exactly that. 

Okay, let’s touch on family sponsorship. If you’re married to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to be sponsored for permanent residence. 

Yes, and the good news is that Canadian citizens can sponsor you even if they’re living outside Canada, as long as they plan to return and live in Canada with you once you’re approved. Permanent residents must be living in Canada to sponsor. 

And sponsorships can include spouses, common-law partners, and in some cases, dependent children or parents and grandparents—though the latter is more limited. 

Great. Then there’s the temporary work route. Some people are eligible for a closed work permit tied to a specific employer. Others may be able to get an open work permit based on a partner’s study or work permit. 

And there’s a whole category called LMIA-based permits. This stands for Labour Market Impact Assessment, which is a process where an employer proves they need to hire a foreign worker. 

Right, but getting an LMIA can be tricky—there’s paperwork and costs involved for the employer, so it’s often easier if you’re highly skilled or in demand. 

Then there are intra-company transfers, especially for people working at U.S. companies with Canadian branches. If your employer has operations in Canada, they might be able to transfer you. 

That’s a great point. And finally, we should mention study permits. If you’re interested in higher education, you could come to Canada to study and then stay on a post-graduation work permit. That can eventually lead to PR. 

Exactly. So that’s a quick overview of the major pathways. We’ll go into more detail in the Q&A. 

And again, before we do that, just to say thanks to our sponsor of today’s event, Scotiabank, for making this possible. Um, they do amazing work with newcomers to Canada. And if you’re looking to open a bank account, um, for your move, they are absolutely the place to start. 

Now, let’s move into the next section of our webinar. So we’re going to talk about some of the key questions that we’ve received in advance. 

The first one we received was, how do I move to Canada permanently from the US? 

Rebecca, do you want to take this? 

Sure. So, to move to Canada permanently, you typically need to apply through one of the federal immigration programs or a provincial nominee program. You’ll usually be assessed on things like your age, education, work experience, and language skills. If you meet the criteria, you could receive permanent residency status, which is kind of like the Canadian version of a green card. 

Perfect. And, Hugo, maybe you can talk a little bit about the other side of that, which is temporary pathways? 

Yeah, definitely. So a lot of people don’t realise that moving temporarily to Canada — whether that’s on a study permit, a work permit, or even as a visitor — can be a great first step. Once you’re in Canada, there are often more options available to apply for permanent residency. So you might find that it’s actually easier to come first temporarily and then make the switch. 

Great. And we’ll talk about some examples of how that works in the Q&A shortly. 

Next question that came in — this one gets asked a lot — is: do I need a job offer to immigrate to Canada? 

No, not always. So some immigration programs do require you to have a job offer — especially for work permits — but others, like Express Entry, don’t. A job offer can help your score or eligibility, but it’s not mandatory for every program. 

That’s right. And again, if you’re using Express Entry, you may get additional points for a job offer, but you can still be invited without one. 

So you don’t necessarily need a job offer, but it can certainly help depending on the pathway that you’re pursuing. 

Next question that came in is around the cost of living. So we got a couple of questions. One person said, “I’ve heard that Canada is more expensive. Is that true?” And another person asked, “Is it cheaper to live in the US than Canada?” 

I think the honest answer is that it depends. It depends on where you live, and it depends on your lifestyle. Certainly, there are parts of Canada that are very expensive, just like there are parts of the United States that are very expensive. 

And then, similarly, there are parts that are more affordable. 

Yeah, exactly. And it also depends on things like healthcare and education. In Canada, you won’t be paying out of pocket for doctor visits or hospital stays, so that can balance out other expenses. But yes, groceries, housing — it all varies by location. 

Yeah, I think a lot of people think about cost of living just in terms of rent or housing prices. But you’ve got to think about those big ticket items like education and health care as well, which can be significantly cheaper in Canada, even if your groceries or your rent might be a bit more. 

That’s a good point. 

Let’s talk taxes. People are always curious about this one. Is it true that taxes are higher in Canada? 

Yes. Generally speaking, yes, taxes are higher in Canada than in the US. That’s just the truth. 

But again, the trade-off is what you get for those taxes. So in Canada, that includes access to universal healthcare, public education, and a range of social programs that are designed to support people at different stages of life. 

Exactly. So you might pay more, but you’re also getting more back from the system. And again, whether that’s worth it depends on your values and your priorities. 

That’s right. We also had someone ask, “Can I keep my US citizenship if I move to Canada?” 

Yes, you can. Canada allows dual citizenship, and the United States does as well. So if you become a Canadian citizen down the line, you can keep your US citizenship. 

That’s right. So you don’t have to give up one for the other. 

Perfect. We also had a question about whether moving to Canada is permanent. Like if you become a permanent resident, does that mean you can never leave? 

No, it doesn’t mean that at all. Permanent residence just means you have the right to live and work in Canada indefinitely. But you can still leave the country, travel, or even return to the US. 

Exactly. You just need to meet your residency obligations to maintain your PR status, which currently means being in Canada for at least 730 days in every five-year period. 

Great. Someone also asked if you can bring your family with you if you move to Canada. 

Yes, in most cases you can. If you’re approved for permanent residence, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can usually be included on your application. 

And if you’re moving temporarily, there are often options for spouses and kids to join you as well. For example, they might be eligible for a study permit, work permit, or visitor visa. 

Here’s one that came up: “What about bringing pets?” 

Yes, you can bring your pet with you to Canada. There are rules and requirements — like vaccines and paperwork — but it’s definitely possible. 

We actually have a full article on our website that walks you through the process of bringing a pet to Canada. It covers everything from airline tips to the required documentation. 

Right, so if that’s something you’re thinking about, check out the Planning section on the site and look for the pet article. 

Okay, let’s move on to some live questions. I think the first one we’ll take is from Terry. He says: “That is a great question for my family and myself and my retired parents. Is it feasible for a retired person to move to Canada?” 

I’ll take this one. Move permanently? Probably not. There are very limited pathways available for a retired person to gain permanent residency status in Canada. 

Visit? Yes. So long as you have funds to sustain yourself while you’re in Canada. 

Perfect. The next one would be — big question from me is: “What is the timeframe to move via Express Entry? If it’s going to take multiple years, then it might not be worth the wait.” 

Yeah. So the thing is with Express Entry, again, if you qualify, you may as well enter the Express Entry pool because you’ve got nothing to lose apart from a couple of hundred dollars. 

And there is a chance that you might be selected, whether that be via policy change or a PNP. 

The thing is, though, we can’t give you a time. We don’t know how long it’s going to take for you to be approved. You enter the Express Entry pool. You could sit there for twelve months and nothing happen. You may need to re-enter again. 

If you are selected, it is relatively fast processing. So it will take around six to twelve months to process once you submit your full application. 

So it’s generally a faster process. 

So, Rebecca, if someone was entering the pool today, got invited to the next draw, submitted on time — could they feasibly move to Canada with PR by the end of 2025? 

Yes. 

Great. 

Question from Shelly B: “How could I bring my dog with me?” 

Let’s pull up the website, Rachel, if we can, because we’ve actually got a piece on this. 

I think it’s under the planning section. 

We’ve got a piece on the website that actually covers this in terms of the resources you might need and how to do it. 

I don’t know all the details. Suffice to say, it’s possible. There’s, you know, depending on the breed, etc., that’s a factor. 

“Bring your pet to Canada.” So it’s right there on Moving2Canada.com under the planning section. 

And I encourage anyone who’s trying to move with pets — there’s just another reason why you should create a free Moving2Canada account. 

What about, um, what site do we look for sponsored work job openings? 

Moving2Canada.com. Um, under our Work section, we do have a jobs board. 

It is curated down to employers who, uh, we work with directly and recruiters we work with directly. 

These may or may not have sponsorship opportunities associated with them. 

But what we can say is that each of these employers or recruiters is actively looking for immigrants and actively happy to take newcomers into their job sites. 

Beyond that, Job Bank, Rebecca, would be sort of the federal government’s sort of bank of jobs. 

And then some of the big players that US audiences might be familiar with, like Indeed. 

Um, those also apply up here. Go ahead, Rebecca. 

I would say one tip, um, if you’re reaching out to companies and need their sponsorship, um, it is incredibly difficult. 

It’s best to be informed. So being as informed as you can about the process — because if they don’t understand the process, then you’ve got no chance. 

If you can show that you’re informed about what’s needed, you’re on top of it, you’re more likely to be successful. 

That’s right. 

Question from Michael: “Are age and having a job offer in Canada major considerations in qualifying to immigrate to Canada?” 

They are currently factors in most provincial programs, as well as most federal programs, including the Express Entry system. 

Job offer is — you currently get points for having a job offer and a validated job offer in Canada. You get the ranking points. 

The Canadian government announced towards the end of last year or earlier this year that they were going to be removing those points. So they wouldn’t — a job offer wouldn’t necessarily be of advantage for an Express Entry profile, for instance. 

But it can for sure help you with a Provincial Nominee Program or other programs. 

So other federal programs like the Atlantic Immigration Program, for instance. 

Or the temporary pathways, Rebecca, that we mentioned off the top, right? 

Like a lot of them would be job-offer-backed. 

CUSMA, Intercompany, LMIA, etc. 

So even if Express Entry is sort of weaning itself off job-offer-based points, a job offer still helps in other ways to move here. 

Not sure if we answered this already.
For family sponsorship, would a Canadian citizen spouse need to be a current Canadian resident?
My wife, a Canadian citizen, currently lives in the US. 

No, a Canadian citizen does not need to be a current resident.
A Canadian permanent resident needs to be a current resident. 

So a Canadian citizen can apply from anywhere, but they need to show an intention to live in Canada. 

We had a question similar saying, does a Canadian citizen have to have lived in Canada?
And the same goes — is that you have to show an intention to live in Canada. 

So if you’ve never lived in Canada, have no ties to Canada, that might be harder to prove. 

But obviously there are ways to do that. 

Question from Michael:
“If you go through a lawyer, is it typically quicker?” 

So there is no obligation to file an immigration application through a representative.
There are definitely some advantages.
There are also some disadvantages, like the cost associated with hiring a representative. 

It doesn’t necessarily make it quicker. 

If you use a good representative, I should say, it should make the application smoother. 

So they will be able to direct you in what you’re needing.
You should be able to submit a strong application so the Canadian government won’t keep coming back to ask for additional documents, because that’s where we see delays. 

If you submit an application and certain documents are missing, or there’s some queries that you haven’t addressed, that will delay the processing of your file. 

A good representative will review your file and make sure that everything makes sense, which should expedite the processing. 

Question from Moi:
“How many times can you reasonably bring your visitor visa or leave and return for a new visitor visa?” 

This really depends on the individual circumstances.
It depends on the processing officer that you get at the border when you try and re-enter. 

So it’s impossible to say.
You shouldn’t have a problem, obviously, staying for one, two years if you can show that you have the resources to stay in Canada and not work. 

But again, it really depends on who you see at the border. 

“Is it possible to convert a temporary pathway to permanent residence?
How difficult is it to make that happen?” — from Ryan. 

So this is referred to as two-step immigration.
So a lot of people come to Canada as a temporary resident and then transition to permanent residency status. 

And anyone that’s following Canadian immigration news, the Canadian government are prioritizing transitioning those people from temporary residence to permanent residency right now. 

So actually, yes. 

Can you give some information regarding importing your car and what crossing the border would actually look like?
What questions will be asked?
Will agents ask to look through the belongings you bring? 

Rebecca, before we go into that one—and I’ll cover it—but like on the previous one of converting temporary to permanent, like, look at this room.
People from three different countries.
I’m from Ireland, Rebecca’s from the UK, Rachel’s from the Philippines.
We moved here as temporary residents, right?
Then we became permanent, and I believe we’re all now Canadian citizens as well. 

So it just shows, for example, how that process works.
Like you go to a party, you go to a work event in Canada, you’re going to bump into people who transitioned from temporary status to stay here permanently. 

It happens all the time.
And the immigration system is set up to facilitate that—and pretty speedily as well.
Like, I think it’s three years post-PR, you can start applying for citizenship. 

And even sooner if previously you had been here as a temporary resident—
as little as two years.
So the transition to becoming Canadian can be quick if you’re qualified. 

Oh yeah, and then on this one from Grace: can you just move—importing your car and crossing the border would actually look like? 

Yeah, look, people can import their car.
I’m not an expert on that.
I don’t believe, Rebecca, you are either.
So let’s just say it’s possible.
People do it all the time.
Of course, there will be registration requirements.
I would expect that to be shared jurisdiction between provinces and federal. 

I’m not an expert on it.
So rather than giving you a bad answer, I’ll just say sorry, I would look into that. 

But Rebecca, maybe you’d know more. I’m not sure.
I know you go to the US pretty often. 

I’m just going to add something.
I’m no expert, but I believe there might be some kind of fees associated with importing your car.
You might have to—if your intention is to stay permanently in Canada, you might have to adapt your car to reach Canadian standards. 

As far as will agents ask to look through the belongings—
you can be asked at any time.
Any time you cross the border, the border services can review, look through your belongings. 

So that’s always a risk, no matter when you cross, why you’re crossing.
That would always be a scenario that can happen. 

But I also just want to tie this in somewhat to the visit visa question, because we’re getting a lot of people ask about visitor visas.
And I am going to share a story with you guys that happened around five years ago. 

I had a US citizen reach out to me, and they had been refused entry at the Canadian border.
They wanted to enter as a visitor, but they came with a massive U-Haul of all their belongings.
And the Canadian border agent said, “Your intention is not to visit Canada.
Your intention is to live permanently in Canada.” 

So if you do intend to visit Canada for an extended period of time, just be very mindful that that’s always a consideration that the government will have. 

What is your genuine intent in entering Canada right now?
And if you have all your belongings for the last 30 years that you’ve acquired, that’s going to be a problem.
We’ve got furniture stores up here too, guys. 

Yeah.
And I had someone approach me after they’d been refused entry, a US citizen. 

Perfect.
Another question from Lindsay here: Are there specific methods of entry just for French speakers, or is that the Quebec system? 

No.
The federal government have really prioritized the selection of French speakers in the federal allocation of new residents.
So if you are a French speaker, you have so many different options for you. 

So in addition to having the expository French category draws available to you,
you also have things like the French Mobility Program, which is a work permit program,
which is an LMIA-exempt closed work permit route.
There are things like the Francophone Community Pilot Program,
which exists in certain small communities across Canada.
So speaking French or having some French ability is a real advantage right now and opens many doors—not just Quebec. 

And there’s also many PNPs that prioritize French speakers as well.
So just on that one as well, like some people might think, “I don’t speak French,” as if that’s like a fact about yourself.
Like, “My name is Hugo,” therefore, you know…
Like, these things can change.
And people can actually take the step of being like, “Okay, that’s what they’re looking for. I don’t know why. I don’t get it, but that’s the system. Okay.” 

And we’ve worked with organizations that help people go from zero to passing their test in well under a year, right?
We just started working with that.
To hear about that, sign up for a Moving2Canada account. 

I know I’m beating the drum here.
And not only will you be able to sign up for Scotiabank,
but we’ll also be able to tell you about other partners that can help facilitate this journey. 

Yeah, I actually—sorry, just quickly, Hugo—
I’d also seen a question about whether we recommend any French or language testing organizations.
We do work with a company called Focus Frame French that specialize in assisting newcomers or hopeful newcomers to learn French for the purpose of immigration.
So they don’t just kind of teach you everyday conversation;
they really focus on the elements that you need to excel in the French language tests. 

We are also launching a collaboration with an English language test trainer, which will be announced soon.
So again, another reason to sign up for our newsletter, I guess. 

And one of the key reasons, though, is to hear directly from Scotiabank, the sponsors of today’s event.
They do amazing things with newcomers.
And if anyone’s got three minutes to spare today on “What can I do to help my move to Canada?”
I would say it’s to create a Moving2Canada account and complete a profile. 

Sounds good.
I guess we can wrap up with the last five questions before we conclude this event.
Let’s see what we have here. 

If you’re a teacher, which stream would be best to apply for to immigrate to Canada? Did we answer this yet? 

No. But we actually do have a lot of teachers here today, which is really nice because they do have a very viable option with the education category-based draws. So again, we don’t know much about the category-based draws focusing on education professionals. Express Entry might be a great option for you. It depends on if you qualify. It depends on how you rank. So I would definitely recommend that you look into the Express Entry education-based draws. 

Can you work remotely for an American company in Canada? 

Yes. So you can work remotely in Canada as a visitor, but there’s a few very, very serious rules attached to that. You cannot work in any way for a Canadian company. You cannot receive any income in Canadian funds. It’s a very strict policy. So if you do intend to do that, you just need to make sure that you really look into the requirements and make sure you’re not breaching your status rules. 

Next is from Jenny. It’s more of a comment. I heard that there’s a new healthcare pathway coming. Is this true? 

The Canadian government recently announced two healthcare pathway programs—pilot programs. I think due to be released the end of March. So yes, they are. They were announced in February. They will be released in March. It’s best to research about the program. We don’t know too much about it yet, as it hasn’t opened. We do have coverage on these programs, which kind of give you a bit of idea of how to prepare for them, eligibility requirements and things like that. So I would suggest that you take a look at those two new streams. 

In addition, though, there’s the category within Express Entry that came in in 2023 as well. So like, the government is definitely looking for healthcare professionals. 

Yes, absolutely. And if you’ve got a Moving2Canada account with a newsletter, we’ll tell you right about it when it opens. 

Now this one’s from Rich. Can I open my Scotiabank account while in the US and move it to Scotiabank Canada bank account when I move there? 

Yeah, great question. Thanks, Rich. And thanks for the question about the sponsor of today’s event, Scotiabank. Certain people can open an account before their move. Currently, the United States is not necessarily on that list. What I’d encourage you to do is to reach out to them directly and make that inquiry directly. Depending on your circumstances, there might be ways to start the process or at least book a meeting with an advisor or sit down remotely with them. And then when the soonest available opportunity, you could transfer your funds into your Scotiabank account, whether that’s pre- or post-arrival in Canada. Kind of depends on your specific circumstances, your nationality, etc. I’m assuming you’re American, Rich, but if you’re from another country and in the United States, there might be sort of differences there. But yeah, Scotiabank are superb at giving people sort of a landing pad into Canada. And you can at least get in touch with them before arrival if not open an account itself. 

Perfect. And I guess let’s like entertain the last two questions. One is from Richard: Are there any advantages to your immigration if you’re looking at smaller or rural communities within specific provinces? 

Yes. 

Over to you, Rebecca. 

I was going to say, do you want me to acknowledge you there? In a word, yes, there are advantages. So we do have immigration to Canada is very complex and there’s so many different programs. And there are some advantages to targeting a rural or smaller community. So to give you an idea of where to look for them, you’re looking at the Atlantic Immigration Program, for instance, offers a pathway to permanent residence for those with job offers in the Atlantic provinces. We now have two new pilot programs. So a pilot program is a temporary immigration program. We have the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and we have the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. They have this—certain towns or cities—not sure they qualify as cities—but certain places across Canada which are allowed to bring in almost any type of worker if they have a place of business in those communities. So that’s a really great way to start. A place to start is looking at any of those communities to see whether you could get a job with one of the designated employers is what they’re called. Employers are approved to hire through those programs. So that’s the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. 

There’s also many provincial programs that have these tiny programs within programs that target certain locations as well. So that is an excellent game plan as well. If you’re fed up with waiting in the Express Entry pool, you can really explore these programs. But they are competitive. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot has limited numbers. The Ontario Regional Economic Program only allows for 200 applicants per designated community. So they’re very niche and so because of that, competitive. 

Rebecca, in addition to some of the PNPs for their larger streams—let’s take BC, for example—to their skilled worker, they do give more points if you intend to move to outside the main urban centers. Like if you’re bound for Vancouver, like that’s where your job offer is, you’ll get this many points. But if you’re moving to Prince George, BC, for example—I don’t know the number in front of me, but I know it’s more points than you would if your job offer was in Vancouver. 

So there are certain advantages to pursuing places outside the main urban centers, even outside of those niche programs that you referred to within the skilled worker programs. Does that make sense? Like there’s in Quebec, for example, as well. You get, I think, no points if you’re bound for Montreal. You get more if you’re going to leave the main urban center in this province. So yeah, there’s various legs up for rural immigration. The Canadian government are trying to encourage immigrants in general to move outside of these big cities, because we need to populate all of Canada, not just five major cities. 

Perfect. Well, seems like there’s so many great questions in the chat. And like, again, once again, everyone, thank you for engaging. You know, we wish we could get to every single one. But as you can imagine, there’s only so much time, right? 

That said, I really appreciate all of you for joining and dropping your thoughts. And if we didn’t get to answer some of the questions today, you can leave them as a comment in this live stream and we’ll get back to you on that. And of course, we’ll be covering more videos and live streams in the future, so you can tune in as well. 

But before we wrap up, I just wanted to bring up this quick disclaimer, which I’ll give you guys a moment to read. This is just to say that the presentation is provided for information purposes and should not be relied upon as financial, tax or investment advice, yada yada. I’ll give you guys time to read over that. 

And of course, if you’re looking for more resources that will help you in your journey to Canada, we also have these helpful resources on the topics that we’ve touched on today—on immigration, working in Canada, and as well as if you’re interested in opening a bank account with Scotiabank. So just make sure to scan the QR code, or you could take a screenshot of this and scan them to get started. 

And yeah, pretty much like, thank you. Thank you everyone for joining us today. Thank you, Hugo and Rebecca. Thank you for all the insights and even for importing your experiences on some of the questions that people had about moving to Canada. 

And any last words from both before we conclude? 

I’m going to give my last word to Carol Stockmeyer in the comments, who says, “Hope you feel better soon, Rebecca.” I don’t know if anyone’s noticed, but Rebecca has been a Trojan here today getting through all these questions. So thank you so much, Rebecca, for informing the community. And Carol, thanks for acknowledging the effort that Rebecca’s made today. Also Rachel, but in particular Rebecca, who’s got the sniffles. I don’t know if anyone could tell. And luckily, luckily, luckily, she’s got health care. So that’s a nice comment just to sort of showcase what Canada offers, you know, in terms of the full picture of life here. Health care is one of the main pull factors for people moving here. 

So yeah. 

I just want to say thank you. It’s been a great session, some great questions, and I hope everyone who wants to immigrate to Canada can immigrate to Canada. 

And Rebecca, if people have three minutes left in their day, what’s the thing they should do? 

I’ve said it five times, six times. 

I feel like you’re going to say create a Move to Canada account. 

That’s right. That’s right. Where they can also sign up to hear from… 

Scotiabank. 

Yeah. Like I said, if you don’t have a Moving2Canada account, get on it. Go to the homepage. There’s a “Create Your Free Account” button at the top. And it’ll take you two or three minutes to sign up. You should also sign up to hear from our partner, Scotiabank, who will be able to communicate with you directly on financial planning for your move. 

So that’s my last comment. 

Perfect. 

Right. With that, thank you all again for joining us, and we wish you all the best on your move to Canada. 

Bye, everyone. 

Thank you.