Hi

I have a question, i'm sure someone knows. Let's say i'm american, and ive been living there all my life. When I turn 20, I decide that i want to move to canada, and live there perm. I plan on getting a regular job, so in order to get a job I'm guessing i would have to be a canadian citizen. Would it be hard for me to become a canadian citizen? What would I have to do? Is it as easy as just applying? I don't think you have to marry someone canadian, do you?

Just wondering.

In most (probably all) countries, you can get a job without being a citizen...you just need the proper work authorization -- i.e., a work visa. There are several types of visas that would allow US citizens to work in Canada. For more details, try http://www.canadavisa.com/ , http://www.immigration.ca/ , and http://www.cic.gc.ca/

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigr/index2.html

Information under "visitors" (and then "Working Temporarily in Canada") will explain details of getting a temporary work visa in Canada, and "immigrants" will explain details of gaining permanent residency and citizenship.

Canada's kind of selective. There's a scoring system under the immigrants section that will give you some idea whether you'd be likely to be accepted as an immigrant.

Hmm... I scored pretty well. And even without bonus points for the mayor of Montreal-Nord once calling me an "honorary citizen."