(NEXSTAR) – As election night wore on and Vice President Kamala Harris’ path to 270 electoral votes dwindled, some Americans were contemplating a move to the Great White North, Google data shows.
“Moving to Canada” along with “immigrate to Canada” saw a more than 5,000% spike in online searches. Canada wasn’t the only destination, though, with Ireland, New Zealand and The United Kingdom among the other popular destinations.
Canada-related searches started ticking up around 8 p.m. ET after polls had closed in the battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina and continued sharply upward before peaking Wednesday morning as many on the East Coast woke up to the election news.
A map of the data shows searches originating in all states, but especially in parts of the northern U.S. The states with the most interest were Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, Colorado and New Mexico.
It’s not the first time a U.S. presidential election has prompted devastated voters to contemplate leaving the country – after Trump won in 2016, Canada’s immigration website reportedly crashed after experiencing heavy traffic.
But what would it actually take to move to Canada?
While celebrities like Chelsea Handler and Lena Dunham famously had changes of heart after promising to move to Canada in 2016, how feasible would it be to actually follow through?
Those who are serious about a move will want to start the process immediately, however, as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced a 2025 target limiting new permanent residents by 21%.
If you don’t have a Canadian family member who might be able to sponsor you, one of the easiest ways would be to apply through Canada’s Express Entry system for skilled workers, according to immigration law firm Canadim.
The selection process is competitive and comes with a point system to determine eligibility based on a number of qualities including education, skills, experience and language proficiency.
Another option is to seek refugee protection, but successfully convincing immigration officials that you need asylum based on the outcome of an election may prove difficult.
Ravi Jain, an immigration lawyer, told the Toronto Star that Americans do have a theoretical “Plan B” option since a visa isn’t necessary – they can simply visit as a tourist.
“Americans are able to come pretty freely up to Canada to visit. And if an American were to do that and overstay and establish themselves over many years, form relationships, maybe have kids or whatever, then there’s something called the humanitarian and compassion (consideration),” Jain said. Doing so would mean giving up access to resources enjoyed by Canadian citizens, such as subsidized healthcare, voting rights and discounted tuition.
Perhaps the easiest – and cheapest – coping mechanism is not to go anywhere at all but to speak with a mental health professional about an excessive stress, uncertainty and anxiety.
Dr. Ashley Zucker, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente San Bernardino, told KTLA it can be helpful to keep up regular routines, get rest and limit the influx of election-related news.
“If you are noticing that your sleep is significantly impacted, that you are feeling physically unwell in ways that are not typical, or you are unable to engage in your regular activities and feel that your anxiety, mood, or emotions are interfering with your ability to function, seek our professional help,” Zucker said. “A great place to start is with your primary care physician.”