Moving from USA(H1B) to Canada(PR)

[Smrithy]

Hi there,

I am creating this topic to discuss if it's worth giving up H1B in US and moving to Canada on PR, especially either because Green Card is not filed by Employer or due to seriously backlogged EB2/EB3 Indian Priority Dates. Please share your thoughts if you are either planning to give up your H1B life in US and move to Canada to meet PR residency requirements or have already done so recently.

 

[RocketCity]

Do you already have a Canadian PR?

 

[Smrithy]

Yes I do.

 

[RocketCity]

Yes I do.

That makes the question a little tougher. I timed mine such that I would get my US green card within 3 years of receiving Canadian PR. Do you have a job lined up in Canada?

 

[Smrithy]

Not at this point. I haven't started looking out for jobs yet. Last time I tried was last year and I did get a job offer for 15% less pay and I did not accept the offer.

 

[ht7]

Did you apply from the US? Can you give more details, such as your field and how you applied for the job? I also have a Canada PR and working in US on H1B as a Business Analyst.

Only 15% lower? I would have taken that

 

[ZingyDNA]

Did you apply from the US? Can you give more details, such as your field and how you applied for the job? I also have a Canada PR and working in US on H1B as a Business Analyst.

Only 15% lower? I would have taken that

Haha, yeah high tech/IT jobs in Canada just pay so much lower (especially taking the exchange rate into account), 15% lower than US seems really good! If only the green card was not so hard to get

 

[ht7]

Haha, yeah high tech/IT jobs in Canada just pay so much lower (especially taking the exchange rate into account), 15% lower than US seems really good! If only the green card was not so hard to get

15% is worth the freedom from H1B

 

[ZingyDNA]

15% is worth the freedom from H1B

True, but it's usually like 30%-50% less

 

[ht7]

Hi there,

I am creating this topic to discuss if it's worth giving up H1B in US and moving to Canada on PR, especially either because Green Card is not filed by Employer or due to seriously backlogged EB2/EB3 Indian Priority Dates. Please share your thoughts if you are either planning to give up your H1B life in US and move to Canada to meet PR residency requirements or have already done so recently.

I am in a similar situation. My Priority Date for US Green card is early 2013 from an old employer. It used to take only 5-6 years from Priority Date, but now it looks like 8-10 years. So we are looking at 2022 or thereabouts. I just got COPR and plan to land middle of 2016, so I have until 2019 to decide about Canada.

A lot could change with the US election, but current plan is to move to Canada around 2018 (ideally, just transfer my job there), apply for citizenship in 2022 and then try to come back to the US with an H1 but this time, with my PD current.

Fortunately, age is on my side and no kids in the picture at least till 2020, so we can do all this moving around.

 

[ZingyDNA]

Are you like 26-27 or something? Man I miss my younger days. I wish I was like you to have all the time to try all the things. Good luck man!

I am in a similar situation. My Priority Date for US Green card is early 2013 from an old employer. It used to take only 5-6 years from Priority Date, but now it looks like 8-10 years. So we are looking at 2022 or thereabouts. I just got COPR and plan to land middle of 2016, so I have until 2019 to decide about Canada.

A lot could change with the US election, but current plan is to move to Canada around 2018 (ideally, just transfer my job there), apply for citizenship in 2022 and then try to come back to the US with an H1 but this time, with my PD current.

Fortunately, age is on my side and no kids in the picture at least till 2020, so we can do all this moving around.

 

[ht7]

Are you like 26-27 or something? Man I miss my younger days. I wish I was like you to have all the time to try all the things. Good luck man!

Not quite, I just turned 28, thanks! I hope you find a way to experiment as well, its never too late!

 

[jamason]

USA and Canada are different. Just because they share the border doesn't mean they have same economy. The way US job market operates is totally different from Canada.

As long as I was in US, I will be able to find my next job much quicker and easier. Mostly with telephonic interview. The hourly rating are really good. At the same time, layoff or termination of contract is at same pace.

In case of Canada, the hourly rates are lower. They take a minimum of a month to hire a person. And the layoffs are less or slower.

The next most important thing is the market for IT workers. There are enough jobs in NY/NJ, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas, Atlanta and California. I am sure I missed few other markets. In Canada, there is only one market for english speaking people, it is Toronto. That doesn't mean there is no jobs in other places. It is available in Alberta, BC and Nova Scotia. But market is very small that it is not comparable to Toronto.

If you are used with US (open) culture it will take some time to get mingled with quite conservative (immigrant) culture.

Waiting for Green Card is hell. But there is always a better green pasture after that. It depends on the person whether it is Canada or US to decide which is better.

 

[ht7]

USA and Canada are different. Just because they share the border doesn't mean they have same economy. The way US job market operates is totally different from Canada.

As long as I was in US, I will be able to find my next job much quicker and easier. Mostly with telephonic interview. The hourly rating are really good. At the same time, layoff or termination of contract is at same pace.

In case of Canada, the hourly rates are lower. They take a minimum of a month to hire a person. And the layoffs are less or slower.

The next most important thing is the market for IT workers. There are enough jobs in NY/NJ, Chicago, Minnesota, Dallas, Atlanta and California. I am sure I missed few other markets. In Canada, there is only one market for english speaking people, it is Toronto. That doesn't mean there is no jobs in other places. It is available in Alberta, BC and Nova Scotia. But market is very small that it is not comparable to Toronto.

If you are used with US (open) culture it will take some time to get mingled with quite conservative (immigrant) culture.

Waiting for Green Card is hell. But there is always a better green pasture after that. It depends on the person whether it is Canada or US to decide which is better.

for many of us, Canada is a stepping stone to TN visa or a backup in case H1B is banned or something.

 

[simpsonjos]

What did you guys do ? Did you move to Canada at all or remained in the US on H1B ? I am in a similar situation, my GC is still in process in very initial stages .. Hoped for a EB1 and the company refused and on EB2 .. I have 12 year old and 8 year old daughters and not sure what to do ? I landed in May 2014 and have time until May 2017 to decide, but that will be neck to neck.

Is it worth abandoning the US GC process for the Canadian PR. I am aware of the TN options once we get the Canadian Citizenship. With the PR I guess we can have peace of mind ... US GC is a distant dream unless you are with a good employer to stick around for several years ... Any thoughts ... Not sure what to do ... My wife has a H1B as well and is currently in a different city and commutes on weekends, which is tedious ...