I’m looking over my options in fleeing for safety as things get worse down here. I am considering joining friends in Oregon but that might not safe enough. I’m gay, atheist, have a college degree (not in anything useful, however), and am everything the nazi’s down here hate.
I need to get out.
I know you guys are justifiably pissed at us Americans right now, but if I were to try and move to Canada (and I have no idea how I could possibly do such a thing in time) would I be welcomed there? Would I be safe? Or would I be seen as an aggressor or threat of some sort?
I need to get out of here but if it means going somewhere everyone will hate me I might not be any better off.
I don’t think Canadians are generally hostile to Americans unless they prove themselves to be asshole Americans. Lots of Canadians have American friends and would regularly travel over the border until a couple of months ago. And I think most Canadians can see what’s going on in the USA and understand that some people may need to flee.
However, immigration to Canada isn’t automatically allowed so it’s worth doing a bit of research and planning. Here are some government web pages that may help:
https://ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html
I think I might fall into the refugee category. I feel ridiculous saying that as there are others who are far worse off than I am though.
It’s not ridiculous.
Americans are not going to be able to claim refugee status in Canada, at least not until things get a lot worse there. And, if it does happen, it’s not going to be people who can “pass” as a non-threatened group.
That’s the problem. We can all see whats coming, but it’s happening so fast that it will be too late. If I put in for asylum, I’ll be dead in the oven before anyone can even process the paperwork. If I just cross the border and try to wait things out there, I’ll have no way to feed or house myself, I’ll have no access to medications. And if things go really bad and this spreads to canada, they may just send be back to the US and I’ll end up in an oven anyway.
I have a little bit of good news for you, and lots of bad. The good news is that as soon as someone becomes an asylum or refugee claimant in Canada, they can become eligible for IFHP which covers prescription drugs, see https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/refugees/help-within-canada/health-care/interim-federal-health-program/coverage-summary.html
(See also a recent example of an American citizen who got IFHP after applying for aslyum at the Candian-US border, https://www.tiktok.com/@katie_katie2113/photo/7478861387322625322 )
And now the bad:
If the refugee claim fails, it’s very tough to get into Canada afterwards. See https://vancouverimmigrationblog.com/is-it-possible-to-go-from-a-failed-refugee-claimant-to-an-economic-immigrant/ and https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/trv-for-previously-refused-refugee-claimant.123089/#post-2004890
If you did get approved for asylum or as a refugee, then you need to be careful never to return to the US or use or renew your US passport (or similar like passport card I guess), at least not until you’ve taken the oath and become a Canadian citizen.
If you do either, you risk losing it all and getting deported back to the US: https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/refugee-status-cessation-and-prs-applying-for-citizenship.333455/
Finally, I’ve been assuming that you’re a US citizen. If you are not - most folks who make a refugee or asylum claim at the US-Canada border are denied because of the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) between Canada and the US, and so will usually be summarily returned to the US. (Somehow US citizens don’t fall under this agreement.) So don’t try this if you’re not a US citizen, unless you’re able to consult with a lawyer first.
So if you have any other way to get to Canada (you qualify for PR / Express Entry directly somehow and have enough points to get in - possibly because you are fluent in both French & English and have a masters; or you know someone who can get you a job offer that qualifies for a work permit under NAFTA; or you have enough funds to apply as an international student; or you are under 35 years and can qualify for a working holiday visa) - try that first. The consequences of failure there are less severe.
I’m almost 40, only speak English, only have my bachelors. :(
Move to the bluest city & state you can get a job in. Then hunker down and either save hard or start studying something that will allow you to emigrate (medical&IT security are always on the list), or something that can be done fully remotely. You’re a lot safer from a camp in a place where there are 100s of thousands of minorities. Not safe forever but it buys you time.
If you can get a job that can be done remotely you can get out to asia or south america asap.
I’d recommend Seattle, but the police here are problematic.
Seems like the NAFTA option is still open to you if you’re a US citizen, or maybe you can get your masters in Canada if you can scrounge up the funds?