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Until we have any better information, this is a section from [https://medium.com/the-canadian-way/why-and-how-i-emigrated-to-canada-38107855773f here], used with permission. It was written in the time of COVID lockdown, so it is '''outdated'''.
''Canada'' is a comparatively LGBTQ+-friendly country located in North America, north of the United States, with legal protections for trans people written into the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Canadian constitution.


= Applying for Canadian Refugee Status: Primary Information =
<pre style="color: red;">
Urgent Warning!: As of February, 10 2025 there are likely no viable routes to gain Refugee/Asylum status for current U.S. Citizens.


=== Overview ===
If you attempt to make a refugee/ asylum claim at the border and you don't qualify for any of these exceptions to the satisfaction of a border official, you will lose your ability to make a claim PERMANENTLY. Please, consult an immigration lawyer before making an asylum claim, there is a high bar for documentation required to make these claims and it should not be considered a viable option in most cases.
</pre>


== Why Canada? ==


If you are an LGBTQIA2S+ individual during the current political crisis and persecution, you may be considering fleeing to Canada.  
* '''Legal gender recognition:''' Yes; gender transition and non-binary classification on official documents is [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html available and recognized].
* '''Anti-discrimination laws:''' Yes; Federal Protections for "gender identity or expression" as prohibited grounds for discrimination were added to [https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/section-3.html section 318] of the Canadian Human Rights Act in 2017. <sup>(citation needed)</sup>
* '''Public healthcare:''' Yes, public healthcare covers the cost of regular GP visits and most procedures, including emergency procedures. It doesn't cover prescriptions and ambulance rides.
* '''LGBTQ+ rights and community:''' Very Yes; The community here is strong and we are fighting HARD to bring any one of you into safety. It’s not perfect here, but our pride and advocacy communities are tight-knit and are working closely to fight against Anti LGBTQ policies that are plaguing at-risk populations globally.
* '''Immigration pathways:''' A variety of work and family visas are available, and people with a Canadian parent are automatically eligible for Canadian citizenship. Asylum claims are not a viable approach for US citizens at this time.


The community here is strong and we are fighting HARD to bring any one of you into safety. It’s not perfect here, especially in conservative led provinces and with the impending election in October (which I will expand on in a later section). But our pride and advocacy communities are tight-knit and are working closely to fight against Anti LGBTQ policies that are plaguing at-risk populations globally.
== Why ''not'' Canada ==


You might also be lost in the myriad of seemingly contradictory information about whether it's possible to immigrate to Canada as a political refugee fleeing persecution. To clear up any and all information and make it available and wide-spread in our global community, I’ve laid out the factors involved in obtaining refugee status in Canada and potential risks that you'll need to avoid. All information will be cite-able in a bibliography below.
* Provincial-level Anti-trans laws have been put into affect in many provinces including Alberta, Saskatchewan, PEI and others. Even though advocacy groups are fighting legal battles to stall and overturn these violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a pending federal election in October that may put the an ant-trans legislator as head of the federal government as Prime-Minister
* Housing crisis shortage
* The federal government has recently limited the number of potential immigration, work, and study visas available to foreign parties
* Jordan Peterson is from here (sorry)


I’ll release further information on preparing for application, processing, and post-admission resources in later posts. For now, here is a detailed explanation of applying for refugee status in Canada, why you are currently ineligible to apply for refugee status at the border, and alternative routes to obtaining refugee status into Canada.
== Political Situation for Trans People ==
Trans people enjoy federal protections as a protected class of people under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (equivalent to the United States Constitution)


Despite this, many provincial governments have attempted or begun passing anti-trans legislation aimed at excluding or eliminating trans-individuals from public life. This has been seen in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and PEI, particularly aimed at trans minors while talks occur about tabling more severe legislation.


=== '''Applying for Refugee Status at the Border''' ===
Anti-trans rhetoric does exist here. Different provinces have different levels of transphobia in their governments, though every province does still provide trans care to at least an extent, including bottom surgery and some top surgeries.


==== '''<u>The Third Safe Country Agreement (TSCA)</u>''' ====
In Alberta, the United Conservative Party (UCP) under Premier Danielle Smith have begun pushing through anti-trans legislation, primarily targeting minors. (Danielle Smith formerly ran the Wild rose Party of Alberta that fought against the criminalization of conversion therapy in 2007.)
'''Currently, as of February 8, 2025, US citizens are not eligible to apply for refugee status at the border.'''


The "Third Safe Country Agreement" is an agreement between Canada and the United States in coordinating refugees to our countries.<sub>(1)</sub>  Under this agreement, applicants are required to appeal for refugee status in the '''first''' safe country they arrive in.<sup>(1)</sup> The USA is considered "Safe" as of today’s date, Feb. 8, 2025.<sup>(1)</sup> This, in effect, removes the ability of American refugees fleeing persecution in the current political crisis from applying for refugee status anywhere along the land border including across bodies of water.<sup>(2)</sup> This was expanded to include all ports of entry including airports, docks, and places in between designated ports of entry.<sup>(7)</sup> As of the date of this post, It is the Canadian border policy, under the STCA, that applicants attempting to request refugee status at the border or ports of entry will be returned to the States''',''' this includes US citizens.<sup>(2)</sup>
Saskatchewan also has a an anti-trans government in the form of the right wing Saskatchewan Party government of Premier Scott Moe, similarly bringing anti-trans legislation into law.


'''This means all US citizens attempting to flee persecution due to the current political crisis will be returned to the states, unless the applicant falls under an exemption or exception to the agreement!'''
These policies are not popular nationwide; in New Brunswick, Blaine Higgs's right wing Progressive Conservatives lost a recent election in a landslide in part due to their efforts to push similar anti trans legislation. British Columbia's center left NDP government, supported by the Green Party, under leadership of Premier David Eby ,is generally supportive of trans rights.


==== '''<u>Current Challenges to the Safe Third Country Designation</u>''' ====
== Access to Trans Healthcare ==
An organization called the "Rainbow Railroad" is currently fighting to petition the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada)  to make an emergency exception for Transpeople from the USA.<sup>(3)</sup>
Access to gender affirming healthcare is available. In Alberta, for example, the wait time to see a gender specialist is about 6 months.


Obtaining HRT as an adult is as simple as travelling to any pharmacy with a prescription. But provincial healthcare doesn't cover the full cost of HRT and many other necessary medications. Likewise, healthcare does not cover the cost of mental health resources or visits.


=== '''Applying for Refugee Status from Within Canada''' ===
Surgeries require the signature of two (2) separate and independent psychiatrists and the wait times are two (2) years on average.
'''Important!''' An applicant can still apply for refugee status from within Canada''',''' after legally crossing the border''', but that exempts anyone who’s passport and documentation are missing or have been seized.'''


'''<u>Qualification Prerequisites</u>'''
There are only 2 clinics approved for performing gender confirmation. One (1) in British Colombia and one (1) in Ontario. Despite this, the one in British Columbia doesn't take patients from specific provinces, like Alberta.<sup>(citation needed)</sup> Trans femme people have reported that the full gender confirmation process has taken approximately 5 years.


In order to qualify for refugee status once you have legally entered Canada, the applicant:
== Immigration Policy ==


* Cannot be recognized as a convention refugee in another country you can safely return to
In general, you must have a work or study permit to reside in Canada for longer than 180 days. There are also options for self-employed individuals and those who have immediate family who are Canadian residents.
* Cannot already have protected person status in Canada
* Cannot have made a refugee claim in another country
* Cannot be inadmissible to Canada on security grounds or because of criminal activity or human rights violations
* Cannot have made a previous refugee claim in Canada that was determined to be ineligible
* Cannot have made a previous refugee claim in Canada that was rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn.
* '''Cannot have entered Canada from the U.S. along the land border''' <sup>(2)</sup>


Once they have been determined '''not''' to fall under these factors, the IRCC then forwards the application to the IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada) for a hearing to determine if the candidate is eligible for consideration as a '''Convention Refugee''' or a '''Person in Need of Protection.'''<sup>(2)</sup>
US citizens can enter and remain in Canada as a tourist visa-free for up to 180 days.


==== '''<u>Categories of Eligibility</u>''' ====
Info on [[Canadian_Border|crossing the border here]].


==== '''Convention Refugee Status''' ====
=== Refugee Status===
Applicants applying as a '''Convention Refugee''' must be able to reasonably assert that being returned to their home country or country they usually reside would result in persecution due to their :


* Race
Available under eligibility guidelines regarding ones safety in their location of origin, their criminal record, and passing a medical exam. '''Neither refugee status nor asylum claims are viable for US citizens as of the 10th of February 2025.'''<ref>https://www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/seeking-asylum-in-canada/who-can-claim-asylum-at-the-border/</ref>
* Religion
* Political Opinions
* Nationality
* Classification as part of a group, such as women or people of a particular sexual orientation.<sup>(2)</sup>
Since 2024, ''' Gender orientation and Sex classification have been included under the category of protected classes in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This would be similar to the United States having gender and sexual minorities as a protected class under an amendment in the Constitution.'''<sup>(5)</sup>


===== '''2Person in Need of Protection Status''' =====
This is due to the unprecedented nature of US citizens applying for asylum status, and because shared policy between the USA and Canada under the "Third Safe Country Agreement"
Applicants applying as a '''Person in Need of Protection''' must be able to assert a reasonable fear of:


* Persecution
The agreements written policy on refugees does not apply to US citizens directly<ref>https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/FullText.html</ref>, but still prevents access by providing legal basis and classification for the United States as a "Safe" country, burdening applicants efforts to justify why they cannot safely be returned to the States<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement/final-text.html</ref>.
* Danger of torture
* Risk of Death
* Risk of cruel treatment or punishment


If the IRB determines you to be ineligible for classification under either of these two categories, or if your claim is abandoned, or they have accepted a request to withdraw your application you will be '''referred for removal from Canada.'''<sup>(2)</sup>
Human rights advocates and organizations such as Rainbow Railroad<ref>https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/the-latest/canada-must-act-exempt-trans-non-binary-intersex-asylum-seekers-from-stca</ref> and the UNHCR have appealed the Canadian federal government to make an emergency exemption for trans US citizen to protect them from persecution. At this time, no decision has been made on the appeal.


If you abandon or withdraw your claim, you will not be able to apply for a refugee assessment in the future.<sup>(4)</sup>
=== Work Permit ===


Work permits allow foreign nationals to work in Canada, under which you would apply under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP). The nature of your work will determine your eligibility for permit types under either program.


=== '''Applying for Refugee Status from Outside of Canada''' ===
A permit under the '''Temporary Foreign Worker Program''' requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMAI) that proves that there is a need for foreign workers for that line of work and that there are no local citizen workers available for the job.


==== '''<u>Government-Assisted Refugee Program (GAR) and Third Party Referral</u>''' ====
A permit under the '''International Mobility Program''' does not require a positive LMAI but does require a submission of an employment offer in the employers portal.
Individuals applying for refugee status from outside of Canada must go through the '''Government-Assisted Refugee Program.''' (6) Through this program, the applicant is sponsored by a third party organization such as:


* '''Rainbow Railroad'''
If you are a US citizen who is considered a "skilled worker" (i.e. in IT or a manager), you may be eligible under CUSMA to obtain a permit under the International Mobility Program and thus not need an LMIA<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/cusma.html</ref>.
* '''UNHCR'''
** '''Front line defenders''', who will then refer you to the UNHCR.<sup>(6)</sup>


* '''Private Sponsorship''' (For clarity and brevity, I’ll expand on this in another post. Including who can sponsor, how to form a sponsorship group, and how it works)<sup>(8)</sup>
==== Employer Specific Work Permits ====


This is because the government relies on independent organizations to verify the need for refugee assistance when refugee status is requested from abroad. With this program, you would be eligible for subsidized assistance from the government to while you settle for up to one year or until you can support yourself, whatever comes first.<sup>(6)</sup>
----This type of work permit might be the most secure method for quick entry into Canada under a work visa if you can secure an offer of employment from a prospective employer.


==== '''<u>Human Rights Defenders Stream</u>''' ====
A number of different work permits are available, full details of which - along with their application process - may be found on the [https://immigration.ca/canada-work-visa/ work visa application information portal]. They are typically conditional on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which your prospective employer must complete to prove that they genuinely need a foreign worker for the job, as opposed to a Canadian national. Most work visas of this kind are available via the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The [https://immigration.ca/international-mobility-program/ International Mobility Program] (IMP), does not require an LMIA be carried out.
The government has created a '''Human Rights Defenders''' stream of the program to guarantee the resettling of 250 individuals and their families per year. The UNHCR '''must refer you to this program.'''<sup>(6)</sup>


Employment positions eligible for IMP status are those which "provide broad economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada, and provide reciprocal benefits for Canadian citizens and permanent residents."


=== '''Additional Cautions''' ===
Workers eligible for the IMP include those entering Canada as part of trade treaties, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), those entering Canada on an open work permit (see below), and those entering Canada as intra-company transferees.This latter category has potential for US staff of companies with a significant presence in Canada, who may have the opportunity to request a transfer overseas.
'''Caution!''' Rainbow Railroad and the UNHCR have the ability to apply for refugee status online on their websites, but reports indicate that at least the "Rainbow Railroad" is already overwhelmed with claims from everywhere else in the world and I can imagine that the UNHCR is the same. <sup>(citation needed)</sup>


==== Open Work Permit ====


Updates will be coming soon for how to prepare for application for refugee status, what alternatives there are in private sponsorship, and what to expect when applying.
Open work permits are not tied to a specific employer, but are only available to people in a [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/work-permit.html limited range of circumstances], including:
Stay safe! We’re fighting for you!


* international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
* student who can no longer able to meet the costs of their studies (destitute student)
* workers with an employer-specific work permit who are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to their job in Canada
* those who have applied for permanent residence in Canada
* dependent family members of someone who applied for permanent residence
* the spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a low- or high-skilled worker
* the spouse or common-law partner of an international student
* the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
* refugees, refugee claimants, protected persons or their family members
* personal under an unenforceable removal order
* temporary resident permit holders
* young workers participating in special programs


This type of work permit might be the most immediately appealing for quick entry into Canada, but is subject to specific eligibility requirements.


==== Start-up Visa ====


====== Third Party Sponsorship Application Resources ======
The [https://immigration.ca/start-up-visa-program Start-Up Visa] program for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, intended to boost innovation and growth in Canada. Applicants need a viable business plan, support from a designated organization, and intermediate language skills
https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/


https://www.unhcr.org/
==== Self-Employed Visa ====


====== Bibliography ======
The federal [https://immigration.ca/self-employed-programs/ Self-Employed Visa Canada] for individuals with relevant self-employment experience who wish to become permanent residents after setting up a business in Canada. Applicants must have two years of relevant experience within the past five and "must demonstrate both the intention and the ability to create their own employment, significantly contributing to Canada’s cultural, artistic, or athletic sectors."
1. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement.html


2. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/in-canada/eligibility.html
For the wealthy, the [https://immigration.ca/how-to-buy-a-business-and-move-to-canada/ Buy A Business and Move to Canada] program.


3. https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/the-latest/canada-must-act-exempt-trans-non-binary-intersex-asylum-seekers-from-stca
=== Student Visa ===


4. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/asylum/border/eligibility.html
If you are accepted into a Canadian college or university, you will be able to apply for a student visa.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html</ref> Your school should provide instructions on obtaining your visa. The fastest option is to obtain your visa as soon as you cross the border by notifying the border agent.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html</ref> You must have all of your documentation with you.


5. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/h-6/section-3.html
=== Family Reunification ===


6. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/resettle-refugee/government-assisted-refugee-program.html  
This is also known as the "Family Class" Sponsorship. Canadian citizens can sponsor relatives, spouses, and dependents for permanent residence.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html</ref> Certain types of relative sponsorships are limited to a certain number determined by a random drawing.


7. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement/final-text.html
=== Super Visa ===


8. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/guide-private-sponsorship-refugees-program/section-2.html#a2.3
Parents can immigrate to Canada with their adult children who are already residents in-country.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa/eligibility.html</ref> This visa is good for 5 years and is renewable for 2 years at a time.


= Canadian Immigration Options =
=== Citizenship ===
The most promising option was ''Express Entry'', Canada’s points-based skilled immigration system for granting permanent residency. As tech professionals with bachelor’s degrees, native English fluency, and more than a decade of experience each, you’d think that it would be a slam dunk for us. However, the number of required points in the monthly draws has fluctuated between 470–480 over the past year, and my spouse and I only had approximately 430 points (since increasing age is penalized, and only 3 years of work experience outside Canada can be counted). '''''For those who are 25-30 years old, have a master’s degree, and/or went to a Canadian University, Express Entry may be viable.''''' But with an increasing number of Americans attempting to emigrate, it seemed unlikely that my spouse or I would be able to qualify soon without also having job offers from established Canadian companies (+50 points). And the processing time once selected is a long six months.


If we were going to need job offers anyways to enter Canada, what option might allow us to move in a matter of weeks?
There are two paths to citizenship via family descent or naturalization.


Enter the free trade agreement '''USMCA''' (née NAFTA), which allows for Americans to work in Canada either as “intra-company transferees” between subsidiaries, or “professionals” holding specific job titles. Better yet, an American can apply at an air or land crossing and receive an on-the-spot work permit for them and for their spouse (regardless of their spouse’s occupation) without needing to wait for approval from a consulate in advance.
==== Family Descent ====


The paperwork is relatively straightforward: proof of nationality (passport), proof of funds to support living expenses, marriage certificate, and proof of a job offer from a Canadian company along with job description, resume, and college degree. Furthermore, NAFTA workers do not need to complete a medical exam, meaning that my disability was not an issue in the process. My spouse’s employer, which is a multinational tech company with a branch in Canada, agreed to write her a Canadian transfer job offer and provide legal assistance with immigration, so we were set there.
Due to the historic settlement of US territory by the French and cross-border migration before the establishment of border controls, many American families, especially those that have long histories in the US and are from the Midwest or elsewhere in the North can generally find at least one link to Canada in their family.


The Canadian border has been closed to non-essential travel because of COVID-19; it’s perfectly sensible for Canada to not allow the US’s mismanagement of COVID-19 to result in the epidemic growing in Canada. Thus, all skilled immigrants entering Canada must prove that their travel is essential, that their Canadian employer is still operating, and that they have plans to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in Canada. Fortunately for software professionals, our work falls under the umbrella of “critical infrastructure” and can still be done from remote worksites at home.
According to the law as written, you can receive citizenship if you can prove one of your parents (legal parent listed at birth) was a citizen before you were born, with some exceptions.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility/already-citizen.html</ref> '''This one-generation limit for passing down citizenship was struck down in December of 2023 by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice'''<ref>https://cila.co/ontario-court-makes-landmark-ruling-on-canadas-citizenship-act-to-protect-lost-canadians/</ref><ref name=":0">https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/application-first-generation.html</ref>''', and under the current interim measures resulting from this case, anyone who can prove a link to any ancestor who would have been Canadian by birth on what is now Canadian soil, or an ancestor who naturalized as a Canadian citizen, is already Canadian and can have their citizenship recognized by [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/apply.html#apply-paper applying for a Citizenship Certificate].'''<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />


= Crossing The Canadian border =
Since 2024, bills<ref name=":1">https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/05/government-of-canada-introduces-legislation-for-citizenship-by-descent.html</ref><ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/06/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025.html</ref> have been proposed to repair the law and allow the passing down of citizenship down from ancestors beyond the first generation. Because these bills have been delayed in being passed, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has instituted a set of interim measures that allow those who can prove that any direct ancestor was a citizen or would have been a citizen under the current law to apply for citizenship.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/03/canada-to-request-a-further-extension-to-maintain-first-generation-limit-to-canadian-citizenship-by-descent.html</ref> The process for this is documented in this guide in the Reddit community that has formed around this new process:
With packets from the lawyers in hand, we set out to acquire airline tickets and rental car bookings. Elly and I chose to cross separately to make the logistics of moving a pet internationally easier. We didn’t want to have the dog yowling to be let out of her crate at baggage claim while we were stuck in immigration waiting for our paperwork, followed by quarantining for two weeks in an apartment without a yard.


Elly flew into Vancouver, spent half hour at immigration waiting for an officer to input her paperwork and print her a work permit good for 3 years, then went directly to quarantine in the furnished apartment we’d rented for our first few months. There were a few hiccups, notably that “furnished” doesn’t mean that housewares are provided, but she passed her quarantine a few days ago and is sending me pictures of the neighborhood!
* [https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1keq0uz/start_here_the_can_i_get_canadian_citizenship_faq/ Application Process FAQ/Guide]
As of the 20th of June, 2025, a new bill to repair the citizenship law is still early in the legislative process. It is not expected to become law for quite some time, as Parliament recessed for the summer on the 20th of June, 2025 without having sent the bill to committee. No movement on the bill is expected until September 15th at the absolute earliest, and passage will take much longer than that.<ref>https://www.ourcommons.ca/en/sitting-calendar</ref><ref>https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/45-1/c-3</ref> In its current form, it is more permissive than the rule that was struck down, but more restrictive in some aspects than the current interim measures. Therefore, if you have a Canadian ancestor who is more than 3-5 generations back, it is highly encouraged not to delay applying.<ref>https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-3/first-reading</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1l7ut4z/qualification_for_citizenship_under_bill_c3/</ref>


After Elly’s work permit was issued, I loaded up a rental car and drove across the border with the rest of our stuff and one very silly dog. I brought with me a copy of her work permit, our marriage certificate, the dog’s rabies certificate, and an inventory of all of the goods in each shipment (''traveled with Elly, with me, and to arrive separately''). The officials at the border were initially perplexed as to why I crossed on my own, but I’m sure seeing the cute, rambunctious dog in the backseat was a useful hint in the right direction. Because the land border crossing was not busy at all owing to the border restrictions, they had me pull over for half an hour, got the paperwork processed, collected the service fee, and I was on my way with a 3-year work permit of my own.
==== Naturalization ====
 
If you are a permanent resident (not on a temporary visa) and have lived in Canada for 3 of the last 5 years, you can apply for citizenship once you pass a language test, pass a citizenship test, and swear an oath.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html</ref>
 
== Permanent Residence ==
 
Permanent residence is not automatically granted in Canada based on length of temporary residence. You must be chosen through the Federal Express Entry<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html</ref> system or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html</ref>. These programs select those from certain high-demand fields such as IT and healthcare.
 
Each system performs its own "draws" from pools of applicants. Your application is given a score based on your age, level of education, English/French proficiency, etc. If your score matches the draw's minimum value, you will get an invitation for PR. Each system provides calculators to see what your application score would be:
 
* [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score.html#calculator Express Entry (Federal)]
* [https://www.canadavisa.com/sirs.html British Columbia]
 
These systems also list their recent draws and what the minimum scores are:
 
* [https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html#latest Express Entry (Federal)]
* [https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/invitations-to-apply British Columbia]
* [https://www.ontario.ca/page/oinp-express-entry-notifications-interest#section-1 Ontario]
 
 
Once you are invited for PR, you will apply with IRCC.<ref>https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents.html</ref>
 
== Banking ==
 
The key to getting access to all of Canada's banking possibilities is getting a SIN (Social Insurance Number). You will get a SIN if you can get a work or study permit.
 
=== Without a SIN ===
 
Those who are without SIN... can at least get a checking account.<ref>https://www.internations.org/canada-expats/guide/banks-taxes</ref> All you need to do is make an appointment at a bank physically located within Canada and show up with your passport. If they ask for an address, you can give them your old US address or wherever you're staying now.
 
You WILL NOT be able to get a credit card but your bank account will have a debit card you can use. You can use this card in many card readers, but some card readers won't accept it because they only execute credit transactions.
 
=== With a SIN ===
 
You will then be able to get all banking services, including a credit card. Many banks have "newcomer" plans that give you better credit limits off the bat without having a credit history established.
 
=== Cross-Border Accounts ===
 
All of Canada's major banks offer some variation of a cross-border or "borderless" account. It's a soup of product names that boils down to 2 types of accounts:
 
* You can open a US-dollar (USD) account in your Canadian bank. You can freely transfer money between this account and your Canadian dollar (CAD) account and you get better exchange rates. This can be a good place to stash cash if you think that the USD will remain strong vs the CAD so you can hold USDs and transfer out to CAD as needed.
* Many Canadian banks have branches in the US. If you open an account at a US branch and link it to your Canadian account, these banks offer seamless transfers between your accounts without having to do expensive wire transfers.
 
=== Transferring Money from the US ===
 
Normally, you can initiate an international wire transfer from your US bank to your Canadian bank but they can be expensive (can be $50 at some banks) and can take a few days. N.B. Canadian banks do not use ABA routing numbers for wire transfers. You'll need your account's SWIFT code, branch ID, transit number, and account number.
 
The best path is to have a USD account with a US branch of BMO Harris or TD. Once you set up a Canadian bank account with the same parent company, you can call customer support to enable an international transfer option. This gives you free transfers between your US and Canadian accounts that usually only take a day or two to process. When you execute the transfer you specify your USD "cross-border" account as the target. You can then transfer from your Candian USD to the CAD account at a cheap exchange rate.
 
=== Interac e-Transfer ===
 
You will see many businesses accepting payments via Inetrac. It is very similar to Zelle in the US. You associate an email address with it and you send folks money from your banking app by specifying their email as the recipient. There are no transaction fees and it's instantaneous. If you get a checking account/debit card without a SIN, you can still use Interac.
 
== Community Resources ==
 
::Canadian Government Database for Newcomer Resources
:::https://ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp
 
=== Alberta ===
 
==== Calgary ====
 
:'''Immigrant Services Calgary Society - Center for Newcomers'''
 
::https://www.centrefornewcomers.ca/
 
:'''Immigrant Arrival Centre'''
 
::https://www.immigrantarrivalcentre.ca/
 
 
==== Edmonton ====
 
:'''Edmonton Immigrant Services Association'''
 
::https://www.eisa-edmonton.org/
 
:'''Assist Community Services Centre'''
 
::https://assistcsc.org/
 
:'''Alberta Immigrant Women & Children Centre (AIWCC)'''
 
::https://aiwcc.ca/
 
:'''Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE) Committee'''
 
::https://www.carefornewcomers.ca/
 
=== British Columbia ===
 
==== Vancouver ====
 
:'''Immigrant Services Society of BC'''
 
::https://issbc.org/
 
:'''Action Commitment Transformation (ACT)'''
 
::https://act.successbc.ca/
 
==== Greater Victoria Area ====
 
:'''Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA)'''
 
::https://www.icavictoria.org/#
 
:'''DIVERSEcity'''
 
::https://www.dcrs.ca/
 
:'''Chimo Community Services'''
 
::https://chimoservices.com/
 
:'''Options Community Services'''
 
::https://www.options.bc.ca/
 
 
==== Prince George ====
 
:'''Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS)'''
 
::https://www.imss.ca/
 
==== Kamloops ====
 
:'''Kamloops Immigrant Services'''
 
::https://immigrantservices.ca/
 
==== Kelowna ====
 
:'''Kelowna Community Resources'''
 
::https://kcr.ca/
 
=== <big>'''Saskatchewan'''</big> ===
 
==== Saskatoon ====
 
'''Global Gathering Place'''
 
https://globalgatheringplace.com/
 
'''Saskatoon Open Door Society'''
 
https://www.sods.sk.ca/
 
==== Prince Albert ====
 
'''YWCA: Prince Albert'''
 
https://www.ywcaprincealbert.ca/community-connection-centre
 
==== North & South Battleford ====
 
'''Battlefords Immigration Resource Center'''
 
https://www.battlefordsimmigration.ca/
 
===== Regina =====
 
'''Regina Open Door Society Inc.'''
 
https://rods.sk.ca/
 
''1855 Smith Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 2N5''
 
''306-352-4600''
 
==== Humbolt ====
 
'''The Humbolt Regional Newcomer Centre (HRNC)'''
 
https://www.thehrnc.com/
 
=== Manitoba ===
 
==== Winnipeg ====
 
'''Spence Neighbourhood Association'''
 
https://spenceneighbourhood.org/
 
''430 Langside Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2T5''
 
''431-444-3907''
 
=== Ontario ===
 
==== Toronto ====
 
'''YMCA of Greater Toronto - Toronto Lansing Square YMCA - Newcomer Information Centre (North York East)'''
 
https://newcomersincanada.ca/
 
''2 Lansing Square, Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4P8''
 
''416-502-2484''
 
'''Centre for Immigant and Community Services (CICS) - North York'''
 
https://www.cicscanada.com/en/
 
''1761 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 1F, North York, Ontario, M2J 0A5''
 
''416-292-7510''
 
==== Ottawa ====
 
'''Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization - Orleans Cumberland Community Resources Centre (OCCRC)'''
 
https://www.crcoc.ca/en/
 
240 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, K1E 3J4
 
613-830-4357
 
=== Quebec ===
 
==== Montreal ====
 
'''Centre D'Appui Aux Communautes Immigrantes (Immigrant and Reffugee Assistance Centre in Montreal)'''
 
https://caci-bc.org/?lang=en
 
12049, boul. Laurentien, Montréal, H4K 1M8
 
514-856-3511
 
'''Grand Montreal Gatineau - 211'''
 
https://www.211qc.ca/en/immigration-and-cultural-communities
 
'''Agence Ometz'''
 
https://www.ometz.ca/gethelp/immigrants/immigration+resources/
 
1 Cummings Square, 5151 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3W 1M6
 
514-342-0000
 
==== Quebec City ====
 
'''French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII)'''
 
https://www.ofii.fr/en/
 
=== Newfoundland & Labrador ===
 
==== Labrador City ====
 
'''Association for New Canadians'''
 
https://ancnl.ca/
 
43 Tamarack Drive, Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, A2V 0C5
 
709-944-7775
 
=== Prince Edwards Island (PEI) ===
 
==== Charlottetown ====
 
'''Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI inc.'''
 
https://www.irsapei.ca/
 
49 Water Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 1A3
 
902-628-6009
 
* [[Full Directory: Canada|Canada Directory]]
 
[[Category:Countries]]

Latest revision as of 06:33, 23 June 2025

Canada is a comparatively LGBTQ+-friendly country located in North America, north of the United States, with legal protections for trans people written into the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, part of the Canadian constitution.

Urgent Warning!: As of February, 10 2025 there are likely no viable routes to gain Refugee/Asylum status for current U.S. Citizens.

If you attempt to make a refugee/ asylum claim at the border and you don't qualify for any of these exceptions to the satisfaction of a border official, you will lose your ability to make a claim PERMANENTLY. Please, consult an immigration lawyer before making an asylum claim, there is a high bar for documentation required to make these claims and it should not be considered a viable option in most cases. 

Why Canada?

  • Legal gender recognition: Yes; gender transition and non-binary classification on official documents is available and recognized.
  • Anti-discrimination laws: Yes; Federal Protections for "gender identity or expression" as prohibited grounds for discrimination were added to section 318 of the Canadian Human Rights Act in 2017. (citation needed)
  • Public healthcare: Yes, public healthcare covers the cost of regular GP visits and most procedures, including emergency procedures. It doesn't cover prescriptions and ambulance rides.
  • LGBTQ+ rights and community: Very Yes; The community here is strong and we are fighting HARD to bring any one of you into safety. It’s not perfect here, but our pride and advocacy communities are tight-knit and are working closely to fight against Anti LGBTQ policies that are plaguing at-risk populations globally.
  • Immigration pathways: A variety of work and family visas are available, and people with a Canadian parent are automatically eligible for Canadian citizenship. Asylum claims are not a viable approach for US citizens at this time.

Why not Canada

  • Provincial-level Anti-trans laws have been put into affect in many provinces including Alberta, Saskatchewan, PEI and others. Even though advocacy groups are fighting legal battles to stall and overturn these violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a pending federal election in October that may put the an ant-trans legislator as head of the federal government as Prime-Minister
  • Housing crisis shortage
  • The federal government has recently limited the number of potential immigration, work, and study visas available to foreign parties
  • Jordan Peterson is from here (sorry)

Political Situation for Trans People

Trans people enjoy federal protections as a protected class of people under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (equivalent to the United States Constitution)

Despite this, many provincial governments have attempted or begun passing anti-trans legislation aimed at excluding or eliminating trans-individuals from public life. This has been seen in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and PEI, particularly aimed at trans minors while talks occur about tabling more severe legislation.

Anti-trans rhetoric does exist here. Different provinces have different levels of transphobia in their governments, though every province does still provide trans care to at least an extent, including bottom surgery and some top surgeries.

In Alberta, the United Conservative Party (UCP) under Premier Danielle Smith have begun pushing through anti-trans legislation, primarily targeting minors. (Danielle Smith formerly ran the Wild rose Party of Alberta that fought against the criminalization of conversion therapy in 2007.)

Saskatchewan also has a an anti-trans government in the form of the right wing Saskatchewan Party government of Premier Scott Moe, similarly bringing anti-trans legislation into law.

These policies are not popular nationwide; in New Brunswick, Blaine Higgs's right wing Progressive Conservatives lost a recent election in a landslide in part due to their efforts to push similar anti trans legislation. British Columbia's center left NDP government, supported by the Green Party, under leadership of Premier David Eby ,is generally supportive of trans rights.

Access to Trans Healthcare

Access to gender affirming healthcare is available. In Alberta, for example, the wait time to see a gender specialist is about 6 months.

Obtaining HRT as an adult is as simple as travelling to any pharmacy with a prescription. But provincial healthcare doesn't cover the full cost of HRT and many other necessary medications. Likewise, healthcare does not cover the cost of mental health resources or visits.

Surgeries require the signature of two (2) separate and independent psychiatrists and the wait times are two (2) years on average.

There are only 2 clinics approved for performing gender confirmation. One (1) in British Colombia and one (1) in Ontario. Despite this, the one in British Columbia doesn't take patients from specific provinces, like Alberta.(citation needed) Trans femme people have reported that the full gender confirmation process has taken approximately 5 years.

Immigration Policy

In general, you must have a work or study permit to reside in Canada for longer than 180 days. There are also options for self-employed individuals and those who have immediate family who are Canadian residents.

US citizens can enter and remain in Canada as a tourist visa-free for up to 180 days.

Info on crossing the border here.

Refugee Status

Available under eligibility guidelines regarding ones safety in their location of origin, their criminal record, and passing a medical exam. Neither refugee status nor asylum claims are viable for US citizens as of the 10th of February 2025.[1]

This is due to the unprecedented nature of US citizens applying for asylum status, and because shared policy between the USA and Canada under the "Third Safe Country Agreement"

The agreements written policy on refugees does not apply to US citizens directly[2], but still prevents access by providing legal basis and classification for the United States as a "Safe" country, burdening applicants efforts to justify why they cannot safely be returned to the States[3].

Human rights advocates and organizations such as Rainbow Railroad[4] and the UNHCR have appealed the Canadian federal government to make an emergency exemption for trans US citizen to protect them from persecution. At this time, no decision has been made on the appeal.

Work Permit

Work permits allow foreign nationals to work in Canada, under which you would apply under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) or the International Mobility Program (IMP). The nature of your work will determine your eligibility for permit types under either program.

A permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMAI) that proves that there is a need for foreign workers for that line of work and that there are no local citizen workers available for the job.

A permit under the International Mobility Program does not require a positive LMAI but does require a submission of an employment offer in the employers portal.

If you are a US citizen who is considered a "skilled worker" (i.e. in IT or a manager), you may be eligible under CUSMA to obtain a permit under the International Mobility Program and thus not need an LMIA[5].

Employer Specific Work Permits


This type of work permit might be the most secure method for quick entry into Canada under a work visa if you can secure an offer of employment from a prospective employer.

A number of different work permits are available, full details of which - along with their application process - may be found on the work visa application information portal. They are typically conditional on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which your prospective employer must complete to prove that they genuinely need a foreign worker for the job, as opposed to a Canadian national. Most work visas of this kind are available via the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The International Mobility Program (IMP), does not require an LMIA be carried out.

Employment positions eligible for IMP status are those which "provide broad economic, cultural or other competitive advantages for Canada, and provide reciprocal benefits for Canadian citizens and permanent residents."

Workers eligible for the IMP include those entering Canada as part of trade treaties, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA), those entering Canada on an open work permit (see below), and those entering Canada as intra-company transferees.This latter category has potential for US staff of companies with a significant presence in Canada, who may have the opportunity to request a transfer overseas.

Open Work Permit

Open work permits are not tied to a specific employer, but are only available to people in a limited range of circumstances, including:

  • international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
  • student who can no longer able to meet the costs of their studies (destitute student)
  • workers with an employer-specific work permit who are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to their job in Canada
  • those who have applied for permanent residence in Canada
  • dependent family members of someone who applied for permanent residence
  • the spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a low- or high-skilled worker
  • the spouse or common-law partner of an international student
  • the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
  • refugees, refugee claimants, protected persons or their family members
  • personal under an unenforceable removal order
  • temporary resident permit holders
  • young workers participating in special programs

This type of work permit might be the most immediately appealing for quick entry into Canada, but is subject to specific eligibility requirements.

Start-up Visa

The Start-Up Visa program for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, intended to boost innovation and growth in Canada. Applicants need a viable business plan, support from a designated organization, and intermediate language skills

Self-Employed Visa

The federal Self-Employed Visa Canada for individuals with relevant self-employment experience who wish to become permanent residents after setting up a business in Canada. Applicants must have two years of relevant experience within the past five and "must demonstrate both the intention and the ability to create their own employment, significantly contributing to Canada’s cultural, artistic, or athletic sectors."

For the wealthy, the Buy A Business and Move to Canada program.

Student Visa

If you are accepted into a Canadian college or university, you will be able to apply for a student visa.[6] Your school should provide instructions on obtaining your visa. The fastest option is to obtain your visa as soon as you cross the border by notifying the border agent.[7] You must have all of your documentation with you.

Family Reunification

This is also known as the "Family Class" Sponsorship. Canadian citizens can sponsor relatives, spouses, and dependents for permanent residence.[8] Certain types of relative sponsorships are limited to a certain number determined by a random drawing.

Super Visa

Parents can immigrate to Canada with their adult children who are already residents in-country.[9] This visa is good for 5 years and is renewable for 2 years at a time.

Citizenship

There are two paths to citizenship via family descent or naturalization.

Family Descent

Due to the historic settlement of US territory by the French and cross-border migration before the establishment of border controls, many American families, especially those that have long histories in the US and are from the Midwest or elsewhere in the North can generally find at least one link to Canada in their family.

According to the law as written, you can receive citizenship if you can prove one of your parents (legal parent listed at birth) was a citizen before you were born, with some exceptions.[10] This one-generation limit for passing down citizenship was struck down in December of 2023 by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice[11][12], and under the current interim measures resulting from this case, anyone who can prove a link to any ancestor who would have been Canadian by birth on what is now Canadian soil, or an ancestor who naturalized as a Canadian citizen, is already Canadian and can have their citizenship recognized by applying for a Citizenship Certificate.[13][12]

Since 2024, bills[13][14] have been proposed to repair the law and allow the passing down of citizenship down from ancestors beyond the first generation. Because these bills have been delayed in being passed, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has instituted a set of interim measures that allow those who can prove that any direct ancestor was a citizen or would have been a citizen under the current law to apply for citizenship.[15] The process for this is documented in this guide in the Reddit community that has formed around this new process:

As of the 20th of June, 2025, a new bill to repair the citizenship law is still early in the legislative process. It is not expected to become law for quite some time, as Parliament recessed for the summer on the 20th of June, 2025 without having sent the bill to committee. No movement on the bill is expected until September 15th at the absolute earliest, and passage will take much longer than that.[16][17] In its current form, it is more permissive than the rule that was struck down, but more restrictive in some aspects than the current interim measures. Therefore, if you have a Canadian ancestor who is more than 3-5 generations back, it is highly encouraged not to delay applying.[18][19]

Naturalization

If you are a permanent resident (not on a temporary visa) and have lived in Canada for 3 of the last 5 years, you can apply for citizenship once you pass a language test, pass a citizenship test, and swear an oath.[20]

Permanent Residence

Permanent residence is not automatically granted in Canada based on length of temporary residence. You must be chosen through the Federal Express Entry[21] system or a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)[22]. These programs select those from certain high-demand fields such as IT and healthcare.

Each system performs its own "draws" from pools of applicants. Your application is given a score based on your age, level of education, English/French proficiency, etc. If your score matches the draw's minimum value, you will get an invitation for PR. Each system provides calculators to see what your application score would be:

These systems also list their recent draws and what the minimum scores are:


Once you are invited for PR, you will apply with IRCC.[23]

Banking

The key to getting access to all of Canada's banking possibilities is getting a SIN (Social Insurance Number). You will get a SIN if you can get a work or study permit.

Without a SIN

Those who are without SIN... can at least get a checking account.[24] All you need to do is make an appointment at a bank physically located within Canada and show up with your passport. If they ask for an address, you can give them your old US address or wherever you're staying now.

You WILL NOT be able to get a credit card but your bank account will have a debit card you can use. You can use this card in many card readers, but some card readers won't accept it because they only execute credit transactions.

With a SIN

You will then be able to get all banking services, including a credit card. Many banks have "newcomer" plans that give you better credit limits off the bat without having a credit history established.

Cross-Border Accounts

All of Canada's major banks offer some variation of a cross-border or "borderless" account. It's a soup of product names that boils down to 2 types of accounts:

  • You can open a US-dollar (USD) account in your Canadian bank. You can freely transfer money between this account and your Canadian dollar (CAD) account and you get better exchange rates. This can be a good place to stash cash if you think that the USD will remain strong vs the CAD so you can hold USDs and transfer out to CAD as needed.
  • Many Canadian banks have branches in the US. If you open an account at a US branch and link it to your Canadian account, these banks offer seamless transfers between your accounts without having to do expensive wire transfers.

Transferring Money from the US

Normally, you can initiate an international wire transfer from your US bank to your Canadian bank but they can be expensive (can be $50 at some banks) and can take a few days. N.B. Canadian banks do not use ABA routing numbers for wire transfers. You'll need your account's SWIFT code, branch ID, transit number, and account number.

The best path is to have a USD account with a US branch of BMO Harris or TD. Once you set up a Canadian bank account with the same parent company, you can call customer support to enable an international transfer option. This gives you free transfers between your US and Canadian accounts that usually only take a day or two to process. When you execute the transfer you specify your USD "cross-border" account as the target. You can then transfer from your Candian USD to the CAD account at a cheap exchange rate.

Interac e-Transfer

You will see many businesses accepting payments via Inetrac. It is very similar to Zelle in the US. You associate an email address with it and you send folks money from your banking app by specifying their email as the recipient. There are no transaction fees and it's instantaneous. If you get a checking account/debit card without a SIN, you can still use Interac.

Community Resources

Canadian Government Database for Newcomer Resources
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/newcomers/services/index.asp

Alberta

Calgary

Immigrant Services Calgary Society - Center for Newcomers
https://www.centrefornewcomers.ca/
Immigrant Arrival Centre
https://www.immigrantarrivalcentre.ca/


Edmonton

Edmonton Immigrant Services Association
https://www.eisa-edmonton.org/
Assist Community Services Centre
https://assistcsc.org/
Alberta Immigrant Women & Children Centre (AIWCC)
https://aiwcc.ca/
Central Alberta Refugee Effort (CARE) Committee
https://www.carefornewcomers.ca/

British Columbia

Vancouver

Immigrant Services Society of BC
https://issbc.org/
Action Commitment Transformation (ACT)
https://act.successbc.ca/

Greater Victoria Area

Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA)
https://www.icavictoria.org/#
DIVERSEcity
https://www.dcrs.ca/
Chimo Community Services
https://chimoservices.com/
Options Community Services
https://www.options.bc.ca/


Prince George

Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS)
https://www.imss.ca/

Kamloops

Kamloops Immigrant Services
https://immigrantservices.ca/

Kelowna

Kelowna Community Resources
https://kcr.ca/

Saskatchewan

Saskatoon

Global Gathering Place

https://globalgatheringplace.com/

Saskatoon Open Door Society

https://www.sods.sk.ca/

Prince Albert

YWCA: Prince Albert

https://www.ywcaprincealbert.ca/community-connection-centre

North & South Battleford

Battlefords Immigration Resource Center

https://www.battlefordsimmigration.ca/

Regina

Regina Open Door Society Inc.

https://rods.sk.ca/

1855 Smith Street, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 2N5

306-352-4600

Humbolt

The Humbolt Regional Newcomer Centre (HRNC)

https://www.thehrnc.com/

Manitoba

Winnipeg

Spence Neighbourhood Association

https://spenceneighbourhood.org/

430 Langside Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 2T5

431-444-3907

Ontario

Toronto

YMCA of Greater Toronto - Toronto Lansing Square YMCA - Newcomer Information Centre (North York East)

https://newcomersincanada.ca/

2 Lansing Square, Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4P8

416-502-2484

Centre for Immigant and Community Services (CICS) - North York

https://www.cicscanada.com/en/

1761 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 1F, North York, Ontario, M2J 0A5

416-292-7510

Ottawa

Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization - Orleans Cumberland Community Resources Centre (OCCRC)

https://www.crcoc.ca/en/

240 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario, K1E 3J4

613-830-4357

Quebec

Montreal

Centre D'Appui Aux Communautes Immigrantes (Immigrant and Reffugee Assistance Centre in Montreal)

https://caci-bc.org/?lang=en

12049, boul. Laurentien, Montréal, H4K 1M8

514-856-3511

Grand Montreal Gatineau - 211

https://www.211qc.ca/en/immigration-and-cultural-communities

Agence Ometz

https://www.ometz.ca/gethelp/immigrants/immigration+resources/

1 Cummings Square, 5151 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3W 1M6

514-342-0000

Quebec City

French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII)

https://www.ofii.fr/en/

Newfoundland & Labrador

Labrador City

Association for New Canadians

https://ancnl.ca/

43 Tamarack Drive, Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador, A2V 0C5

709-944-7775

Prince Edwards Island (PEI)

Charlottetown

Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI inc.

https://www.irsapei.ca/

49 Water Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 1A3

902-628-6009

  1. https://www.unhcr.ca/in-canada/seeking-asylum-in-canada/who-can-claim-asylum-at-the-border/
  2. https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-2.5/FullText.html
  3. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/agreements/safe-third-country-agreement/final-text.html
  4. https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/the-latest/canada-must-act-exempt-trans-non-binary-intersex-asylum-seekers-from-stca
  5. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/international-free-trade-agreements/cusma.html
  6. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html
  7. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html
  8. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html
  9. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/parent-grandparent-super-visa/eligibility.html
  10. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility/already-citizen.html
  11. https://cila.co/ontario-court-makes-landmark-ruling-on-canadas-citizenship-act-to-protect-lost-canadians/
  12. 12.0 12.1 https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/application-first-generation.html
  13. 13.0 13.1 https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/05/government-of-canada-introduces-legislation-for-citizenship-by-descent.html
  14. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/06/bill-c-3-an-act-to-amend-the-citizenship-act-2025.html
  15. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/03/canada-to-request-a-further-extension-to-maintain-first-generation-limit-to-canadian-citizenship-by-descent.html
  16. https://www.ourcommons.ca/en/sitting-calendar
  17. https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/45-1/c-3
  18. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-3/first-reading
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1l7ut4z/qualification_for_citizenship_under_bill_c3/
  20. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen/eligibility.html
  21. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html
  22. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees.html
  23. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/permanent-residents.html
  24. https://www.internations.org/canada-expats/guide/banks-taxes