There's a point-based skills assessment for skilled workers. If you get 67 points you can immigrate to Canada and become a permanent resident. Once you're there you have complete freedom of movement - it's like a green card as opposed to being on a work visa. You may be able to qualify for a NAFTA work visa as well, but if you want actual residency as an engineer you're probably better off applying for permanent residency.
Canada isn't Utopia - it can be hard to find engineering jobs, housing is expensive in big cities and cost of living is higher than the US. There's a reason why so many Canadian engineers end up moving to the US.
I know it is not a Utopia. I have spent a lot of time there, both with her and when my mother was working in Toronto. It looks like I've only managed to score a 66...
Language:24 (English CLB:9)
Education:21 (B.Sc. M.Eng)
Experience:1 year full-time (MAYBE stretch to 2 years..)
Age:12
Arranged Employment:0
Adaptability:0 (if she was my spouse or common law this wouldn't be needed..)
It's possible I could get the points for the French language with a few months of study and if I "extend" my work experience based on past part time/freelance type employment to two years.
Does having a score of 67 "guarantee" my immigration or does it just qualify me for the pool of candidates?
Easier said than done these days as a M.E.. A great deal of M.E.'s that are born in Canada are having trouble finding a job since the oil market is down so far.
For a qualified American, I think a NAFTA visa makes a lot more sense for the potential wave of American "trumpfugees" - first requires them to get a job (and still want to accept it after doing the conversion back to USD :) and also have an easier path to the realization that Canada is actually a different country with a culture that they may not be willing to embrace.
That's really interesting. Often in the past 20 years I've considered such a move, largely in response to the trends in US politics and policy.
As a Michigander I think I have a fair sense of what it'd be like to live in the climate of the Great White North, but not as much feel for the economy or the culture. It'd be fascinating to hear from folks who have made that move, especially with a view to assimilation: Canadian citizenship.
In my view, everything you need to understand the difference, culturally and economically, between Canada and the United States, follows from two important phrases found in the respective founding documents of the countries:
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" - America
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/apply-factors...
Canada isn't Utopia - it can be hard to find engineering jobs, housing is expensive in big cities and cost of living is higher than the US. There's a reason why so many Canadian engineers end up moving to the US.