You don't just drive across the border, set up camp, and your in. It is difficult to be accepted to live in Canada as a âPermanent Residentâ or Citizen. First your must pass a points test - so many points for education, so many for age (25 to 44), so many for a wife/spouse/husband, etc, etc,. There is a minimum number of points to get an interview, and a limit on the number of people from each country allowed. Just âcuz youâre a âmericanâ doesnât mean Canada is dying for your wonderful presence.
If you do get accepted, like we did thirty-one years ago, then you must pass another written test and interview to become a Canadian Citizen ( after about June 1984 or 5, the USA Congress passed a bill/rule that will allow you to be both American and other Citizen - as long as you are loyal to USA, etc, etc - once you pass that test of USA requirements, and are not in danger of losing your USA Citizenship, then it is no problem being both). Canada always allowed one to be a Citizen of more than one country.
You can remain only a USA Citizen and Permanent Resident of Canada, and you can then pay for the medical insurance. For instance, if you make over about $24,000 CDN per year (I think that is for two) then we pay about $194 for two of us for two months. If you make less then you can even get the insurance for free. The doctors and care are excellent. We do not think about what will happen if we, get diabetes, heart attack, MS, a cold, old, etc., etc.. It is far superior to the USA system, that we lived with for 28 years - no complaints about the USA medical system either - we left before it started having things that need fixing. Canada is better as far as that part goes.
I will get a USA pension for SS when I get to 66, and I will get a Canadian SI pension when 65, if not working - which I will most likely work- âcuz I sort of like it sometimes - not always.
You need to pay Canadian taxes if you are a Canadian Permanent Resident or Citizen - you need to check this out - different for each situation.
Good luck.