Most people think a second passport costs a six-figure “donation” to some government, or the pricey purchase of land, or marrying your way in.
But Beau found a better, cheaper route—his job title.
It’s one of the things that first attracted me to the writer’s life, like so many of my fellow writers: location independence.
He and his wife, Kory, fell for a beautiful city while on vacation (how many of us can relate?).
But it was a pipe dream until they got home and a late-night visa search turned up something neither of them expected: copywriters were on the fast-track list for the country they’d just been in.
Beau tells the story below. Now, note that since he wrote about it, immigration rules have changed more than once. So I invite you to do your research on where and how this opportunity exists at present.
The important thing to know is that it definitely exists somewhere.
I know for me, Portugal is calling…
What about you? Where might you go?
To your writing freedom,
Mindy McHorse
Executive Editor, Barefoot Writer
Fast-Tracked Residency for Writers
By Beau Thompson
My wife Kory and I walk through Stanley Park …Arguably the most beautiful place in Vancouver.
It’s hard not to find beauty in a place with rocky ocean views and snowcapped mountains. Plus, Vancouver is by far the cleanest and friendliest big city I know. The people are happy and welcoming.
“We have to move here,” Kory says.
We always say these things on the last day of vacation. The rush of a new place. A cubicle nowhere in sight. Time is your own, if only for a few days.
But Vancouver was different.
We fell in love with the people-centric design of the city. Pedestrians and bikes have all the best views.
The seawall runs for an uninterrupted 22 kilometers, passing brand-new condo towers, parks, museums, marinas, yachts, and the Olympic village.
It is truly a city of steel and glass. The type of place I knew I’d love to call home.
Now, I got into copywriting for the freedom and flexibility. Above-average income helps. And traveling to exotic locations is nice...
But, the biggest part of my writer’s life vision was living in another country.
So, where’s the Glicken?
That night back at the condo, I made dinner while Kory researched Canadian visas. She discovered the Canadian government targets certain skill groups for immigration at certain times. These groups are highly valued. They are fast-tracked for permanent residency. In some cases, in a few months.
Guess which skill group was on that list when we did our search? Copywriting!
For neophytes, permanent residency allows the holder access to most services and privileges of a full citizen, except voting and holding public office. It is a stepping stone to a second passport.
Now, I’d been a longtime student of the market for second passports and residency. This was unheard of. Fast-tracked residency programs typically involve six-figure “donations” to the government… or seven-figure real estate purchases.
For the monetarily challenged, the path to permanent residency can take a minimum of three years, with visas and temporary residencies. During that time, if the rules change, you’re out of luck. It’s not uncommon.
But Canada, at the time, recognized the benefit of the creative field. Writers and other artists contribute significantly to the cultural and economic life of a society. A wonderful, clean, and friendly place knows this.
I joined Barefoot Writer for the freedom to work on my terms. But on that day, it became a pathway to help me achieve other visions of my writer’s life as well.
Who knows? Maybe this Glicken can be your reality, too. If not in Canada (because at the time of publishing this essay, copywriters were off the list), then somewhere else you’ve been dreaming of.