I seem to recall from a previous post of yours that you have been trying to come to Canada and have been running into roadblocks. I do have some sympathy for your situation and I wish you well. Canada's immigration system is recognized as somewhat of a mess. It has been that way for years and years, and answers seem to be elusive.
Having said that, we can't welcome "practically any American" as you put it, or practically any resident of [insert name of any country]. We certainly can't accept someone just because they have a disagreement with their own government, unless they fit certain recognized definitions of a "refugee", which these people clearly are not.
As an American with a college degree and a legitimate paper with legitimate paperwork, I was denied a work permit "just because." There doesn't have to be a reason, immigration officers have pretty much all the discretion at their own disposal. They pick and choose who they don't want half the time, or better yet they don't reject you they just slap a delay on it and make you wait another 12 months.
Maybe I'm bitter from the process, but it doesn't seem to work unless you have a corporate sponsor who is doing an intra-company transfer or an inter-company transfer to an affiliate in Canada or vice versa to the US.
Immigration has a lot of catch 22 scenarios: you are educated, willing to work, young. Seems like it would be a given that you'd get automatic acceptance, right? Perfect demographic, perfect fit. Especially from America where the native language and culture is not that big of a trade-off going from one place to another (vice versa for Canadians coming south).
But I cannot tell you how many discussions I've had with HR departments across the GTA for jobs I've applied for where it goes like this... HR reviews my application, I have even been through an interview before, and they ask me if I have a social insurance number. I admit to not being a resident even before the interview, and advise its a relatively quick process to get the HRSDC approval and work permit ready, I pay for it and can do all the main paperwork.
They graciously say "we'd love to look into hiring you, but without a social insurance number I'm afraid we can't."
I then tell HR dept. at random company that in order to get SIN it will require sponsoring my application, I do all the work, but all they have to do is an HRSDC confirmation, I give them the information.
I either a) never hear back or b) they aren't interested to persue further
But if I go to the border without the HRSDC paperwork, EVEN WITH A JOB OFFER IN HAND I cannot get approved because its not been HRSDC approved (a separate process from immigration itself).
...Nevermind that NAFTA rules state that for specific positions (including technical support and database management, my field) are totally EXEMPT from HRSDC approval processes.
They always give some excuse that I don't have "enough" education or "enough" experience to avoid that approval process.
Its all a bunch of nonsense.
I understand if someone who lacks proper language skills (knows zero english or french), shows up with no education, maybe a health problem or two, and is obviously going to be sucking from public services as much as they give back to be given a few checks, especially if they are from nations known for drug activity or terrorist activities. Say Colombia or Afghanistan. They should deserve the extra scruitiny IMO, not because we should racially profile, but because there are some serious security and public risks to evaluate.
But a college educated American, right next door, who has no health issues and loves Canada?
Come on...
Makes no sense to me. I've yet to find that corporate sponsor, but I'm working out other arrangements this summer. We'll see if the third time is a charm!
They were desperate to sign people up back in 2000 and were willing to do these "casual" meetings, I can only imagine what kinds of games you could get away with now!
