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Uh, Canada…

Courtesy of Slogger Justin J., here’s the link to the Skilled Worker Self-Assessment test at the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I passed—barely—with a 67 score, qualifying me to apply for Canadian citizenship.

How’d you do?

Comments (63)

1

I got an 85, but only because I am one of the overeducated underemployed.

Posted by Gidget | September 9, 2008 10:09 AM
2

Start studying French now, peeps.

Posted by Fnarf | September 9, 2008 10:10 AM
3

87. Good to know there's an option.

Posted by Mike in Olympia | September 9, 2008 10:10 AM
4

73... but, that's with the assumption that I complete graduate school before seeking to move there, and that my boyfriend's law degree counts for something on the education front in a country with it's legal foundations in the British common law system.

Still, nice to know that may be an option someday. Thanks for the link!

Posted by James | September 9, 2008 10:11 AM
5

All I can say in French, unfortunately, is "I don't speak French." My French-speaking American ex-boyfriend taught it to me when we were still together and traveling in France. I say it *perfectly.* But it's all I can say. Maybe they'll give me another 1/10 of a point?

Posted by Dan Savage | September 9, 2008 10:12 AM
6

Got an 87 - w00t! Now to start working on my French.

Posted by tsm | September 9, 2008 10:12 AM
7

84. I still need to work on my French listening comprehension.

Posted by keshmeshi | September 9, 2008 10:14 AM
8

76, but I'm sure they'd give extra points if you promised to move to Winnipeg.

Posted by brian | September 9, 2008 10:16 AM
9

The first page makes no sense.

Posted by Greg | September 9, 2008 10:17 AM
10

77. There's also an online test for a UK visa.

Posted by Julie in Chicago | September 9, 2008 10:19 AM
11

The occupation levels/types made no sense whatsoever, so I failed and will have to live in Jesusland while the rest of you leave. Why did I decide to take Italian instead of French?

Posted by Jessica | September 9, 2008 10:20 AM
12

One of the great things about having dual citizenship is that you don't have to worry about these tests. Good luck getting across the border in November.

Posted by Moe | September 9, 2008 10:24 AM
13

74, but only if I fudged the first question. I have not completed my degree and 14 years of work. Just my degree and a few years of work.

What kind of question is that anyhow?

Posted by Sir Learnsalot | September 9, 2008 10:25 AM
14

I always get in the upper 70s or low 80s.

However, more seriously, in case anyone's actually thinking about jumping ship: if you're doing the immigration process where that matters, you're already doing it wrong. American citizenship allows you NAFTA benefits, and combining that with provincial nomination can get you in the door immediately cut your wait on permanent residency from 4 years to 6-9 months. (I should have my Canadian PR by the end of the year.)

Posted by Cow | September 9, 2008 10:25 AM
15

65. Guess I better make sure Obama wins, then.

Posted by Greg | September 9, 2008 10:26 AM
16

Wooohooo! I got an 85!! All those years of Catholic School French finally paid off!!

Posted by PDX_Paulie | September 9, 2008 10:27 AM
17

Seriously, Can we "accidently" take down the American flag and fly the Maple Leaf? Maybe move the border line south a few hundred miles....?

Maybe Canada will consider liberals in America political refugess if McCain wins? We gotta start thinking about this stuff, just in case.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger | September 9, 2008 10:35 AM
18

Again, this is fucking idiotic. Harper is looking to sweep in with a majority CONSERVATIVE government in October, and American liberals with no damn idea what they're talking about are looking to move up there on the basis of what they see while on a weekend vacation in Vancouver.

Posted by demo kid | September 9, 2008 10:36 AM
19

What's the process for New Zealand or Australia? South Africa?

Posted by Fnarf | September 9, 2008 10:41 AM
20

I gots me a 65. Guess I'm stayin' here.

Posted by mjanet | September 9, 2008 10:41 AM
21

Ummm.. Seriously why is everyone planning on learning french if they immigrate to Canada? Unless you are planning on moving to Quebec or just east of Quebec you wouldn't run into a need to EVER use it. I've lived in Canada all 27 years of my life and never had to speak it outside of grade 8 french class...

Posted by Josh | September 9, 2008 10:41 AM
22

Demo Kid: You're on crack. A Tory government will still be more liberal than a Democratic one.

I'll also point out that this shows another huge difference between Canada and the US: Canada actively encourages immigration, and Canada doesn't have this "shut the border" attitude.

Happily, dual citizenship is a good thing, so while you all stand in line while this fundamentally unserious country (Sara Palin really is the nail in the coffin) goes to hell in a hand cart.

Posted by DeanP | September 9, 2008 10:43 AM
23

To hell with this! I'm about as left as they get, but if all the good people are willing to cede our country so easily because of caustic media-literate fascists, then we should just throw in the towel right now.

I was born here, I'm as much American as John-fucking-McCain, even though I never fought for that right.

Well, I'm fighting now. The rest of you should nut up and fight with me.

Posted by MonkeyNose | September 9, 2008 10:44 AM
24

76. Not too shabby.

Posted by misch | September 9, 2008 10:45 AM
25

69 =|

Posted by Vasya | September 9, 2008 10:47 AM
26

71! In yo face!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Fly-Over Illinois | September 9, 2008 10:48 AM
27

@21,

Montreal is pretty affordable, or so I hear.

@19,

I believe New Zealand is pretty similar to Canada. They're happy to take in educated, skilled immigrants. I wouldn't want to move to Australia with their water issues that could go on for some time.

Posted by keshmeshi | September 9, 2008 10:50 AM
28

Seriously why is everyone planning on learning french if they immigrate to Canada?

Because you get extra immigration points for it, no matter what province you move to. Plus, Quebec as usual does what it likes and has a parallel provincial immigration criteria, for which french literacy is a big deal, no doubt. Even if you don't want to live in Quebec long term, a few years in Montreal won't kill ya.

Posted by Some Jerk | September 9, 2008 10:51 AM
29

52. Ouch, I guess I'm staying here.

Posted by sepiolida | September 9, 2008 10:52 AM
30

@22: Tories aren't batshit crazy (most of them anyway), but assuming that they're all like conservative Democrats is a drastic oversimplification. Many of the things that liberals like about Canada are things that the Conservatives are pretty keen on axing if they get the power in government.

Then again, the Liberals have been as inept as the Democrats as of late. I mean, who the hell would think that Stephane Dion is a good leader anyway?

Posted by demo kid | September 9, 2008 10:53 AM
31

Dear Americans,

You know where else is nice? Mexico!

Love,
Canada

Posted by ams | September 9, 2008 10:55 AM
32

I scored 75. It's nice to have options.

Posted by Greg | September 9, 2008 11:01 AM
33

LOL @ 31

Posted by Non | September 9, 2008 11:03 AM
34

@Dan - it qualifies you to apply for Permanent Residency, not citizenship. You don't qualify to apply for citizenship until you've been regularly residing in Canada for 3 out of 5 years as a permanent resident.

PR as a skilled worker currently has a waiting list of 18 months to two years.

2 - The Conservatives just made some huge errors in judgement, and they haven't been able to woo the right people in Ontario. At worst they will get another minority govt. At the best, we'll get another Liberal minority. But yeah, the CONS are about as conservative as Hillary Clinton.

3 - US lawyers are covered under NAFTA and don't require a work permit if you can find a job in Canada. Canada recognizes all same-sex relationships as common-law, so a partner could qualify to come to Canada as the partner of a qualified applicant.

4 - The easiest way to get to Canada is by marriage. Though, you can marry a boy or a girl, no matter what your orientation.

5 - Just get America's shit together, please. My husband is American, and he'd like to return to the US some day. I'm the one digging in my heels, and now that he's getting an education that costs 1/4 of what it costs in the US, he's sticking it out here in Vancouver as well.

Posted by DFL | September 9, 2008 11:04 AM
35

Fuck all you wimps who have already given up on the election and just want to run away. Even in Canada, you'll still be under the US scurity thumb, just one step removed. The US is a sicko country and its our responsibility as US citizens to vote, contribute time and money to Obama and fight to take this country back. And Canadians--you can't vote here, but Obama or moveon.org could sure use your dollars!

Posted by Gary | September 9, 2008 11:07 AM
36

Montreal is pretty anglo, but good luck to you in ever finding a job if you don't speak French. I've always been flabbergasted by the servers in Chinatown -- French, English, AND Mandarin or Cantonese. Dang.

Posted by Gloria | September 9, 2008 11:10 AM
37

I got an 87, but I'm already here, so no worries.

Personally, I'd take all the liberal Americans we can get. It's too late for the October election, but maybe next time we can knock Haper and his Conservatives out on their asses. They so have to go.

Seriously, we have our own election issues up here, as well. But I wouldn't trade for yours. I think Obama is not strong enough to win this one. It will be a shame.

Posted by Charm | September 9, 2008 11:13 AM
38

#30 In the US Republicans question a Democrat's patrotism. In Canada Liberals say the Conservatives are going to dismantle the social safety net. It is all bullshit meant to scare people and we have been hearing it for years.

Posted by Mike | September 9, 2008 11:28 AM
39

Who needs French, education, or job skills? I married a Canadian. Toot toot!

Posted by Karla | September 9, 2008 11:30 AM
40

what a bunch of motherfucking pussies who say the same goddamned thing every four years like a bunch of lemmings, if there's the tiniest chance that the Democratic nominee is in trouble or could lose...and yet, not ONE of you fuckers ever goes through with it...(alright, maybe one in ten thousand people actually move out of the country).

here's some options for ya:

1)come up with new material; the moving to Canada shit is tired.
2)quit whining and crying and go make a donation to the Dems or get on the phones or do something productive.
3)or, have the brains to realize that we're in the post Republican bounce period; it's 8 weeks to the election and we haven't had any debates yet and McCain/Palin aren't very brainy; Obama is still leading electorally by quite a bit; and the Dems are very competitive in states that haven't gone Dem in quite a long time like VA, NC, IN, NV, MT, ND. And the Jews and Catholic Cubans of Florida are NOT going to groove on the Republican ticket this year due to Palin's choice of church.
4)Chill the fuck out.

Posted by michael strangeways | September 9, 2008 11:36 AM
41

76. We have many friends who have already made the move north, not because they are fleeing in horror of Republicans, but because our insane government won't give green cards to gay spouses or partners.

Posted by kk | September 9, 2008 11:52 AM
42

93, and no Canadian relatives....and I didn't even lie about my crappy French. Some small solace if Obama looses I guess. In the meantime, send his campaign a few bucks kids. And the no on 8 crowd in California. And the DNC.

Wish the bf wasn't so cold-a-phobic....

Posted by matty | September 9, 2008 11:53 AM
43

@19: a friend of mine says that New Zealand in particular is really looking for skilled workers- they need people. So perhaps...

Posted by Abby | September 9, 2008 11:56 AM
44

New Zealand might be nice. How are they on legal protections for gay relationships? Think they could use a biochemist and nurse educator? I really would pack it up and travel, for a while at least, if the country rejects Obama for these religious fakes. I have a cousin who joined the Peace Core twice and has traveled abroad ever since Bush came into office.

Posted by Jersey | September 9, 2008 12:26 PM
45

@ 73. We used to, but habeas corpus has a slipping influence.

70. Like everyone else, proud to be better (or at least more Canadian), than Dan.

What would Sarah Palin score vs. Obama-whats the spread?

Posted by Randy Beaver | September 9, 2008 12:38 PM
46

78! Yeah baby! I am so there!

Posted by Papayas | September 9, 2008 12:45 PM
47

Jersey @ 44,


They have civil unions and a good track record on GLBT issues.

Posted by Original Andrew | September 9, 2008 12:45 PM
48

It's more than just electoral politics. I've travelled a fair amount, and there's just something seriously wrong with the American people in comparison to Canadians and Europeans. As a society we have a fundamental lack of reasoning skills, empathy and basic human decency.


Culturally, it all goes back to the way our nation was founded: Slavery and genocide.

Posted by Original Andrew | September 9, 2008 12:50 PM
49

And what nation WASN'T founded on slavery and genocide?

Europe: Romans/Celts/Mongol hordes/various barbarians all practicing slavery and genocide.

Canada: Britain/France both quite active in the slave trade and both slaughtered/subjegated the natives.

New Zealand: Britain, though by the time NZ was being seriously colonialized the Brits were winding down their slave traffic...of course there's the whole penal colony thing in Australia and the eradication of Aboriginals and Maoris.

Posted by michael strangeways | September 9, 2008 1:05 PM
50

@21: because you are more likely to be eligible for residency if you speak french.

@35 No fuck you! I'm gay, and I'm tired of being a second class citizen.

Posted by Ed | September 9, 2008 1:25 PM
51

I'm with #23. I'm not done fighting. I don't want to live in Canada. Good luck to all of you who make it up there.

Posted by Deacon Seattle | September 9, 2008 1:37 PM
52

75, though I claimed "basic proficiency" across the board on the French bit which... is quite a stretch. (I can say "I am a fat man", etc., thank you LiveMocha.) I'd learn at least up to that if I were planning to go, though.

I'd also likely try to line up a job offer ahead of time, netting another 10.

Posted by K | September 9, 2008 2:01 PM
53

To be fair, to all the people that keep bitching about liberals suck/conservatives suck harder...

Canada, despite what the trend is, isn't a two party system. More people need to remember parties like the NDP and Green, and start seriously considering, you know, voting for one of them. There are choices other than USA-South and Scandal-land!

(Also, I got a 72, mostly because I'm still a student.)

Posted by Beth | September 9, 2008 2:12 PM
54

michael strangeways @ 49,


You're right. Maybe 51% of Americans are just genetically meaner and stupider than everyone else.

Posted by Original Andrew | September 9, 2008 2:25 PM
55

I majored in French and with the midwife credential, the whole family and I are in.

Posted by amazonmidwife | September 9, 2008 2:46 PM
56

94. But I already live here. Nice to know I'm qualified though!

Posted by Kerri | September 9, 2008 5:39 PM
57

I didn't do so good, but I proposed to a canadian friend the other day and she said yes, so I should be set.


Posted by Jessie | September 9, 2008 5:52 PM
58

@49--you're on crack. Just because Britain was at some point active in the slave trade doesn't make Canada derivatively liable. Slavery was never big in Canada, and Canada was the first of the English-speaking countries to ban it.

And let's recall that it was the UK that put down the slave trade, not the US.

Posted by Dean P | September 9, 2008 6:10 PM
59

I'm working on my dual citizenship because my mom is Canadian, so I can get it with few problems.

So despite the fact I failed miserably, I say to you all- ha. ha.

Posted by Aya | September 9, 2008 7:44 PM
60

60 = fail (mostly because I'm student, and thus have no work experience)
But I'm already Canadian, so it's okay.
I like the US, and I like fighting for it, but I don't exactly feel safe here. The US has no qualms torturing its own citizens.

Posted by Canadian | September 9, 2008 8:08 PM
61

@34

Permanent residency pretty much has all the advantages of citizenship except that they'll deport you if they think you're a terrorist.

If you're a citizen it's called an extradition or an extraordinary rendition rather than a deportation. So one does earn that comfort.

Posted by John | September 9, 2008 11:36 PM
62

I'm Canadian (born and raised) and I got a 60...

Posted by Marla | September 10, 2008 8:11 AM
63

Actually, it only qualifies you to enter as a skilled worker. I have a 76 and am seriously considering it.

Posted by Sam | September 10, 2008 2:21 PM

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