Dual Citizenship

How long did it take you to get a dual ???
I'm in the process of getting a PR to Canada
but want a dual..
My finance is Canadian and only has 4 more
years then she can retire from her job, so we've decided its more advantageous for me to move to Toronto..
But trying to get a Labor Market Opinion is taking forever for me to work there...
Might have to go with plan B and that is getting an OTR job out of Buffalo and then on my home time just shoot up to Toronto

 

Hi all.. I'm new here (1st post), and I have a question for you experienced drivers.

I am Canadian (from QC), but live in the US as a Permanent Resident. I can legally work in both countries. I suppose I could get US citizenship, but never got around to it. I'm also fully bilingual, which is a plus...

I'm seriously considering getting my CDL license, although a little late in life. In your opinion, would it be more advantageous to get a Canadian CDL and reside in Canada? Or a US CDL? Can a Canadian driver w/ a US CDL work for a Canadian company?

Before choosing a training school, it would be nice to know which country is more advantageous for drivers (if any).

BTW, my children have dual citizenship and one main advantage was college tuition. I shipped them up to Canada when it was time for university. Another advantage is health care. I broke my knee cap last April, had no health insurance (self-employed), and within 1 week, racked up a $29,000.00 bill. There ought to be a law against that.

 

In my opinion I would get a CDL in Canada, the drivers in the US are treated like crap with very little respect, unless you can find a real good company to go work for, but since you would be at the the level of no experience the good companies wont hire you right away, forcing you to work for whats called a "bottom feeder" company (companies that hire anyone) mind you this is just my opinion, I don't know how a "newbie" is treated in Canada, I'm just speaking from the US drivers point of view..

I do know one thing, you can't drive for a Canadian company with a US CDL, this is what I'm faced with, the company that wants to hire me has to go through a lot of red tape to get me hired, the government requires a Labor Market Opinion showing that my perspective employer has made all means necessary to hire a Canadian citizen before offering it to an American... If you want to work for a Canadian company then you will need a Canadian CDL and vice versa for the US... Although someone gave me some good advice regarding my situation and that was to go and work for places like Schneider or Celadon who have both American and Canadian fleets..

Good luck on getting your license, its never to late in life to drive
I've seen guys in their late 50's getting their CDL...

 

i am a canuck but have us permanent residence---the money is better in canada for drivers--but costs a wayyyyyyyyy lot more to live right now i do no border crossing in my job--but am considering buying a truck and putting it with a company such as landstar--to me that would be the only way it would help being able to haul in both countries---just be careful of who you work for---as it could lead to a lot of driver abuse when they keep you out for 6 months a time

 

Thanks all for your replies..

Southpaw: One fast way to get PR or CDN citizenship would be to marry your fiancée, No? (Not sure, just guessing)
You're faced w/ that red tape because you're trying to drive for a CDN company w/ a US CDL and as a US citizen and resident. Once you have at least PR, you shouldn't have as much red tape.

I was thinking I'd be a Canadian ciitizen w/ a US CDL. I wondered if Canada honors US CDL's or vice-versa, as long as the driver is legal to work in both countries. Probably not... It must be the same as a regular driver's license where we're only allowed to have 1 DL in the state or province where we reside.

Canuck in Da Truck: Nice ID and photo, LOL... Thanks for the advice.

I have lots of homework and research to do before I take the plunge. I am a woman, 53. Although I'm normally very active and in good physical shape, (except for that broken leg that needs time to heal up), I'm afraid that age/sex would be a factor.

I've always wanted to be a truck driver. At least once a year I get the itch to hitch, but this time I'm more serious and think I'm going to follow through. What's the worse thing that could happen??? I end up w/ a CDL and no job. Oh Well!!! Could be worse.

 

Your CDL is recognized in both the US and Canada. rucks that cross the border don't have one for each country.

 

i have been told it is easier to immigrate to canada than us--you still have the time period where you cant work tho--for me was almost 2 years but my doctor filled out the wrong forms and i had to get all my shots again cause sk in their wisdom decided people dont need records of after a certain year--and the cost----welll all in all with lawyer and forms probabely about 8 grand i think-

 

Cabotage laws do not apply to dual citizens, or people with a green card or work status in another country. If you are both a Canadian and Us citizen, you can legally work in either country, and reside where ever you wwish, even a third country. As stated, native Canadians and native Americans with a treaty or status card can also work on either side of the border. This is why natives and dual citizen drivers are so highly in demand by North American trucking companies.

 

Cabotage laws do not apply to dual citizens. A dual US-Canadian citizen can work in either country without restriction, and live anywhere they wish, even a third country.
Ditto for native US or Canadian peoples with a status or treaty card.