In the run-up to Donald Trump鈥檚 presidential election win, many Americans declared (jokingly or not) that they would move to Canada to escape his rule. On the night of the election, Canada鈥檚 even crashed as a high volume of users with American IP addresses attempted to access the site.
But actually emigrating is not as simple as visiting a website before packing up the car for a quick jaunt to the Great White North.
John McCool of North Carolina moved to his husband鈥檚 native Montreal in 2014. In the 27 months since then, he鈥檚 been unable to work, study, or access Canada鈥檚 universal health care system as he awaits the immigration status paperwork.
鈥淚 was excited to come to Canada to start a new life with my husband in his homeland,鈥� McCool told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Wednesday.
McCool said he knew the visa process might take a while, but he had no idea it would be so time-consuming. McCool thought it might take only a year or so because he is married to a Canadian citizen. He said the processing time for visas has now increased from 12 to 14 months to 26 months according to Canada鈥檚 immigration website.
鈥淒ealing with the Canadian immigration authorities has been frustrating to say the least,鈥� McCool said. 鈥淭he system is just overburdened and under-resourced.鈥�
According to McCool, system errors have led to multiple delays in processing his application. He said he has had to provide FBI clearance paperwork to Canadian immigration officials several times because, by the time they looked at it, the documents have already expired. He said he鈥檚 heard similar stories from other immigrants frustrated by Canada鈥檚 system.
He said not being able to work, access health care or even obtain a library card has taken a toll on his life in Montreal.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 start my life and I can鈥檛 plan for the future with my husband,鈥� McCool said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 these day-to-day reminders that you鈥檙e just not part of a society that live in and that you want to be an active member of.鈥�
When he heard about other Americans plotting to jump ship and move to Canada during the U.S. election, McCool said he was annoyed because he didn鈥檛 think they realized how difficult moving to another country can be, even one next door. McCool said that Americans seriously interested in living in Canada will have to be patient.
鈥淕et in line. I鈥檝e been waiting a long time,鈥� McCool said with a laugh. 鈥�(They) should have applied to Canada years ago, like I did, if they really wished to emigrate.鈥�
