• Though Canada is just across a land border from the northern United States, it takes more than a moving van to immigrate from the Great White North to the U.S. Laws on making a permanent move from Canada depend on naturalization, familial relationships and marital status.
  
  

Naturalization

• Foreign peoples can become citizens through a process called naturalization. Traditionally, the immigrant will need to have obtained a green card and become a permanent resident for naturalization to commence. You must have been a resident of the United States for five years, have been a resident for three years and qualified for spousal eligibility, have been qualified through military service, or must be a child of a U.S. citizen that was born in and are from a foreign nation. If you meet requirements, you'll have to take a test that will include English, U.S. history, and civics.
  
  

Green Cards

• To become a permanent resident, you'll need to obtain a green card. For this, you must have a family member or immediate relative petition for you, have a job offer from a qualified U.S. company or organization, have been a refugee sent to the United States and have been living there for a year or more, or have met a host of other qualifications related to military, family or employment.
  
  

Working in the U.S.

• Canadians looking to work or in the United States can also apply to be permanent residents. Applying for work visas include the following preferences: (1) persons with extraordinary abilities in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics; (2) persons who hold advanced degrees; (3) persons who are professionals or skilled workers; (4) persons who are "special immigrants" -- certain religious workers, foreign wards of the court, etc.; and (5) persons who are high-end investors. Only preferences 2 and 3 require labor certification.