Vancouver, BC. ER option as US Citizen?

[Nemo2]

A sublime Freudian slip.

Always en garde?........("For thee....O Canada?)

 

[Gotadimple]

The US town of Blaine is actually on a peninsula where access by land is via BC.

I think you mean Point Roberts. Blaine is the border crossing.

 

[Brat]

Yes, Point Roberts. I stand corrected.

With regard to Vancouver Island there are several communities on the east side of the island that are suitable (the west side is the windward side). We were on an elder-hostel trip several years ago and observed that Comax is a popular community for retirees. As a teen (I am 70 now) I loved it when we tied up at Salt Spring Island, one of the lakes was a favorite swimming spot.

 

[itsmyparty]

A sublime Freudian slip.

Good catch....I agree!!!

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Pssssst.... Over here. Want a low cost place to live?..... Arkansas.... Don't say I told you.

True, but not my beignet. Been dere. I prefer the godless anarchy of Louisiana. Food's better, too.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Yes, Point Roberts. I stand corrected.

I wasn't going to say.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I had a former colleague who retired to Sequim with his wife. After a couple years she got bored and wanted to move. She told him if they didn't she would leave. They divorced, I understand he still lives in Sequim.

A personal aside here: I cannot imagine not accommodating DW in such matters. Where we go, WE will go. Where she goes, I will go.

 

[Brat]

It took me by surprise too, they have at least two grown children. Usually couples have come to an understanding by the time the kids are grown. OTOH it may be that his retirement caused territorial conflict and he had become accustomed to being the boss.

In a town like Sequim there aren't many activities for an older woman outside the home and as a relative newcomer she probably didn't have a network of lady friends. She subsequently married an acquaintance of mine so I get periodic updates on her life. Her former husband, on the other hand, has dropped out of the gossip circle.

 

[Nuiloa]

I can tell you everything you need to know about Vancouver and the immigration process.

I have lived in Vancouver for over 30 years and I work in a research lab,
which involves hiring people from all over the world - some of whom decide to stay on in Canada.

First and foremost: Vancouver is a gorgeous city, the climate is much like Seattle's (mild winters, warm summers - rarely any weather extremes).

For people moving to Canada - even temporarily - there is a 3-month waiting period for health care. However, once you have it, it's full-service. The CareCard (in BC) covers medical visits, hospital stays, visits to specialists and things like that. You can also buy into extended health and dental care plans which pay for prescription drugs, routine dental care, physiotherapy, eyeglasses, etc.

Many employers (especially the hospital systems) pay for these benefits.

Once you have been here for awhile (I believe it's a year) you can apply for Canadian citizenship. With your skills, you can also apply for citizenship through the Provincial Nominee Program, which fast-tracks citizenship applications.

Your current disability should not affect your application for a CareCard.

Once you become a Canadian citizen, you will also be eligible for the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security. These, unfortunately, are tied to the number of years worked so you would get a minimum pension.

The trick would be to be hired by an employer who offers a pension plan. Again, the hospital systems are great for that. For instance, after 10 years, you would get roughly 20% of the average of your highest salary over a 5-year term.

Of course, the easiest way to get in is to be a criminal or a terrorist and claim refugee status. They'll even hold your bomb for you while you reload your assault weapons.

If that doesn't appeal to you, be a stripper. They can go back and forth across the border without any problems - and I hear the money is really good.

Nui

 

[Nuiloa]

Cost of living in Vancouver: bring lots of money

Buying a home in Vancouver is expensive. My nephew just bought a tiny starter home for $499,000.

Condos start at about $200K

Rents are $900 and up

The price of gas is a killer: it was $1.30/litre this morning - about $4.50/gallon.

The cost of food is about the same as in the US - although you have more variety

Because of the mild winters, you don't need much in the way of winter clothes.

Cars are more expensive than in the US but they last longer - we don't get rust on our cars. Mine is 11 years old and still looks like it came from the showroom (except for the side panel when I took out a post...sigh!)

 

[Brat]

Sounds like Seattle to me and not a heck of a lot higher than Portland (excepting the price of starter homes).

AL it is not.

 

[nun]

My cousin who is in her 70's always likes to tell me that her medical care is 'free' ... which most Canadians also believe....but I remind her no...someone is paying for it...it just isn't you - as she stopped working in her 40's. All in all though, I'd still like to give living on Vancouver Island a try sometime...I have duel citizenship...so its definitely a possibility for us.

Healthcare always has to be paid for, Canada just does it in a very different way from the US so that Canadians aren't aware of paying for treatment when they need it.

The UK system is paid for by general taxation and is "free at the point of service" so patients never see a bill......this is a big plus in my book. I had an outpatient surgery in the US a few years ago and the level of care was good and it cost me $250 in total for various tests and deductibles. However, the volume of paperwork that I received afterwards was ridiculous.....no wonder the US system costs so much more than other 1st world systems

 

[Koolau]

Nothing against Canada. I love visiting. Loved Vancouver. I could live there except for the MONTHS of cloudy weather. BUT, if your total cost of living INCLUDING health care is the real issue (i.e., not a specific kind of weather or just that you love Canada, etc.) I suggest you start by finding out what your insurance costs in the US would actually be. Don't start with the assumption that you can't afford insurance. Who knows, difficult as it is, you could probably still find an employer who would offer retiree coverage to you. My old Megacorp STILL offers retiree subsidized health insurance. It IS out there.

Also, thinking in terms of cost of living, there are lots of places in the US which are much, MUCH more affordable than Vancouver. That would leave lots of room in the budget for relatively high health insurance costs. I'm not trying to talk you out of moving to Vancouver (or anyplace else) if that is your dream. I'm just suggesting that health insurance costs, even high health insurance costs, do not preclude you from finding an affordable (and livable) place in the US without the issues of emigration to Canada. YMMV

 

[Koogie]

As a Canadian, I won't get started on the ignorance of Americans to our system or how things vary from one province to another. BECAUSE I've met just as many Canadians who are so retardedly lefty that they blame America for everything from the price of gasoline to why diet pop tastes funny.
Did I have a point... wait... wait....
Ahh, yes... the Health system. I have a business colleague in the US who was almost bankrupted by a complicated pregnancy and his daughters ensuing health problems. On the other hand, my wife has a degenerative disease and CDN (not CN.. that's a railroad duh) doctors could care less because it is rare and therefore they are not compensated for looking into/taking care of it.
What do I tell offshore relatives/visitors ?? The Canadian health system is PERFECT for treating a broken leg (speaking from experience) but shiite for anything more serious (google OHIP cancer screening delays)
We have a saying here. (since it is a socialist healthcare system). SOCIALISM works until you run out of the other guys money.

 

[Nuiloa]

I've been saying for years that Canada is a socialist, not a democratic, country.

When over 50% of our taxes go to supporting the "free" benefits we get (not to mention people who get everything for free because they don't WANT to work), that is socialism. They just allow us to vote every two weeks because the paper industry needs support.

 

[nun]

I've been saying for years that Canada is a socialist, not a democratic, country.

I's just like to point out that socialism and democracy aren't mutually exclusive. I think Canada actually has a mixed economy as the state doesn't own the means of production, but does regulate in many areas.

 

[Meadbh]

Comax is a popular community for retirees.

I think it's Comox.....

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

I think it's Comox.....

I wasn't going to say.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Healthcare always has to be paid for, Canada just does it in a very different way from the US so that Canadians aren't aware of paying for treatment when they need it.

The UK system is paid for by general taxation and is "free at the point of service" so patients never see a bill......this is a big plus in my book. I had an outpatient surgery in the US a few years ago and the level of care was good and it cost me $250 in total for various tests and deductibles. However, the volume of paperwork that I received afterwards was ridiculous.....no wonder the US system costs so much more than other 1st world systems

So true. The Canadian system has the virtue of simplicity. Highly desirable, especially when we get older and more irritable.

Full disclosure: I am a happy customer. The Canadian health care system saved my life when my appendix disintegrated in the middle of the night.

Please do be aware that scarce resources are allocated. There is a point with older people where decisions are made as to who gets treated and who does not. Even so, because the US is close by, many have the option to get treatment south of the border. It is nice to have options like that.

The more I think about it, the more I want to go back.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Cost of living in Vancouver: bring lots of money

Buying a home in Vancouver is expensive. My nephew just bought a tiny starter home for $499,000.

Condos start at about $200K

Rents are $900 and up

The price of gas is a killer: it was $1.30/litre this morning - about $4.50/gallon.

The cost of food is about the same as in the US - although you have more variety

Because of the mild winters, you don't need much in the way of winter clothes.

Cars are more expensive than in the US but they last longer - we don't get rust on our cars. Mine is 11 years old and still looks like it came from the showroom (except for the side panel when I took out a post...sigh!)

Please be aware that the greater Vancouver area is a housing bubble waiting to pop. It is just that no-one knows when. Once residency/citizenship is established, it would be a lot cheaper to move to Washington State, just across the border. Commuting is tedious, but I did it for a year, every day. There are four border crossings (not including Point Roberts, which doesn't get you anywhere). It would be possible to live aboard a boat, too.

And you can always drive down to Bellingham Costco to buy gas. Everybody in BC does.

It snows in BC. Sometimes a lot. Right down to the border--then it stops. I have a beautiful set of mounted almost-new winter tires (*) for a 6-bolt Chevy Astro that I will part with. The Astro can go with them, too.

(*) Winter tires are NOT snow tires. They are a soft compound rubber like silicone that does not get rigid in extreme cold. Do not drive on them when the temperature is more than about 40°F. There is a big difference between them and any other tire.

 

[photoguy]

Cost of living in Vancouver: bring lots of money

Buying a home in Vancouver is expensive. My nephew just bought a tiny starter home for $499,000.

Condos start at about $200K

Rents are $900 and up

The price of gas is a killer: it was $1.30/litre this morning - about $4.50/gallon.

Sounds like a bargain compared to silicon valley

For the OP, I first worked in the US on a NAFTA permit and it was a very easy process. There is a list of approved professions (engineering is one of them) and you just have to show up at the border with a carefully worded letter of employment. I assume (but am not completely sure) that the process to come to canada from the US would be similar.