When we were researching our move to Canada, we found lots of blogs and immigration forums that had popular threads asking how long various steps in the process took, or how people’s experiences differed…so here is a brief timeline of key moments along our journey.
2000, spring a business trip to Ottawa, initial impressions of Canada
2008, summer the first of many moves throughout the USA
2010 – 2011 occasional visits to the greater Toronto area, while living in the midwest
2012, summer one of us does some initial health care industry networking north of the border, the other starts this blog…but all our research indicates it’s not the right time (yet)
2012 – 2016 lots more moving around for our family, all over the USA
2016, summer we have discussions leading up to our final decision, so I start researching immigration again, and gathering the documentation we’ll need
2017, February (decision +8 months) after gathering together all necessary initial documentation, we choose an immigration law firm to work with and make initial contact
2017, April (decision +10 months) we schedule and take our IELTS tests to validate our English language proficiency, and start the ECA process to validate our levels of education
2017, May (decision +11 months) we receive back our IELTS test results, and apply for NEXUS cards to facilitate cross-border travel
2017, June (decision +12 months) our ECA processes are completed, we sign the lease for our condo, and open our initial chequing and savings accounts in Canada
2017, July (decision +13 months) we submit our profile to IRCC for Express Entry into the Federal Skilled Worker program, receive an invitation to apply for Permanent Resident status, get our FBI background checks completed, exchange our driver’s licenses, and on Canada Day we tell all our friends and family about our plans
2017, August (decision +14 months) we make sure all our vaccinations are up to date, and visit a Panel Physician to get our medical exams for immigration
2017, September (decision +15 months) we move completely out of our house and fly to Ontario to start living in our condo full time
2017, October (decision +16 months, move +1 month) we officially apply for Permanent Resident status, send our passports and landing documents to IRCC, and open our first credit card account
2017, November (decision +17 months, move +2 months) we officially “land” with Permanent Resident status at the border crossing between Buffalo and Fort Erie, get our temporary documentation stamped, and immediately apply for OHIP
2018, January (decision +19 months, move +4 months) all members of the family receive our Permanent Resident cards in the mail from IRCC
2018, February (decision +20 months, move +5 months) all members of the family receive health care cards in the mail from OHIP, and we cancel our American health insurance
2021, May (move +44 months and a pandemic) we are almost prepared to apply for Canadian citizenship. How long the this will actually take during COVID-19 is a bit uncertain.
2022, April (move +55 months and a pandemic) after several COVID-19 related delays, we have now officially submitted our applications for citizenship to the Canadian government. There is a well-known processing backlog, but I’m already studying for my exam.
2022, December (move +62 months) we have scheduled, taken, and passed our online citizenship tests! We were given the unofficial results immediately, next we eagerly await our official results and then an invitation to schedule the date and time of an oath of citizenship ceremony.
2023, March (move +65 months) we have scheduled and attended our ceremonies, affirmed our oaths of citizenship, and are now dual citizens of Canada and the USA! This feels like such a major accomplishment, I’m almost not sure what we’ll list here next…perhaps obtaining our first Canadian passports, or our first time voting in an election?
This Ontarian Life 