If I go to Canada can I retire there and draw SS from the US? Also can I go to Canada buy a cabin or house with a plot of land and not work? Unless I just needed some walking around money? - eviltoast
  • edric@lemm.ee
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    26 days ago

    Not directed at you personally, but I find it fascinating how most people from first-world countries think they can just walk into another country and live there. As someone who moved from a 3rd world country to a 1st world country, it took me 2 years just to get in, and another 4 years to get permanent residency. And that’s relatively quick. People from certain countries wait more than a decade to get permanent residency in the US. You either need to have a job or a citizen family member that is willing to sponsor you, or get in with a student visa. And not just any job or family member. The hiring company must meet certain requirements to make sure that you are filling in a position that is in a specific list of professions allowed. As for family, they need to be immediate relatives. So you can’t live there just because you have a cousin who is a citizen there.

    • bamboo@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      26 days ago

      The world’s longest undefended border is between Canada and the US, so it is relatively easy to walk into Canada and live in like a cabin or something off the grid. Doing it legally is hard part.

      • Ceedoestrees@lemmy.world
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        26 days ago

        Easier in winter if you have good survival skills. There are cabins that sit empty most of the year, especially since a lot of people got them to work remote and then had to return to apartments in the city. Not suggesting anyone should illegally cross the border to steal a cabin, but if you do, send us updates.

    • ramble81@lemm.ee
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      26 days ago

      I think the two biggest reasons behind that are 1) most EU/US passports give you near unfettered access to most the world and 2) the Schengen zone makes that a reality at least within the EU.

      • edric@lemm.ee
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        26 days ago

        Yup, and a lot of people confuse being able to visit visa-free as a tourist and actually living there. Digital nomad westerners skirt around visa/residency requirements in 3rd world countries by basically leaving and coming back every 30 days to reset the stay limits. That won’t go as well with first world countries as they will quickly notice the pattern and probably ban you.