Posted on: 22-01-05 16:49:39
Hi,
I want to direct my questions below to a very specific group of CD's. The reson I want to focus a narrow group is because I feel this group has specific experiences that would help immigrants from US most.
Please answer the questions below if you meet this criteria
1) Worked in The US for at least 4 yrs (2-3 yrs if you studied in a US university).
2) Was on H1B or L1 etc or already have USGC
3) Earned at least $ 40 K annually while in the US.
4) Currently live and work in Canada (not just landed and coming back).
Can you please share your experience on the following.
1) Things you miss most about USA
2) Things you hated most in USA as compared to Canada
3) Things you love about Canada
4) Things you hate about Canada
5) Do you regret leaving USA and moving to Canada
6) Did you move out of choice or necessity (ie you couldnt get US GC etc)
7) Would you move back without any hesitationif you had an option to move back to US on a work visa ?
8)Do you feel you are in a different country than USA
9) How does your spouse/children if applicable like it in Canada as compared to US ?
10) Do you feel your life has more stability as Canadian Citizen/PR than on H1 B.
11) If you were put in a very cold state of USA (Minnesota /Michigan etc) as oppossed to Texas/Florida/California would you still prefer USA.
I know these are a lot of questions but it would really help in gauging the opinion of migrants from USA.
Thanks
Since I qualify, I'll reply.
1) Things you miss most about USA
The warmer weather and shopping. I find that shopping (garments, electronics, furniture etc etc.) sucks in Canada compared to the states. The choices are comparatively limited and you hardly ever get those super specials that you see there.
2) Things you hated most in USA as compared to Canada
a) I guess the most important thing would be the lack of a sense of belonging. I felt that the setup there, both the people and the administration, made me feel like an alien. Although technically I had all the rights, the feeling of being truly part of the country was absent.
Racism was partially responsible for this.
Canada does not make me feel out of place at all. And I value this much more than money.
3) Things you love about Canada
See above
4) Things you hate about Canada
See above
5) Do you regret leaving USA and moving to Canada
Not once. Ever. In fact when I hear the kind of stuff some of my friends went through after 2001, I consider myself lucky having moved before that time.
6) Did you move out of choice or necessity (ie you couldnt get US GC etc)
Moved out of necessity but stayed back out of choice. The original plan was to go back after a while (which I very well could've). But ever since I moved, I've never thought about moving back once.
7) Would you move back without any hesitationif you had an option to move back to US on a work visa ?
See No. 6.
8)Do you feel you are in a different country than USA
Yeah. And loving it. 
. Seriously though, once you settle into your job and stuff, you don't really feel much of a difference in the systems here. Although there are some subtle and critical differences, there is still a lot of similarity.
9) How does your spouse/children if applicable like it in Canada as compared to US ?
N/A
10) Do you feel your life has more stability as Canadian Citizen/PR than on H1 B.
Without question.
11) If you were put in a very cold state of USA (Minnesota /Michigan etc) as oppossed to Texas/Florida/California would you still prefer USA.
N/A
Hope that helps. I'd caution though that there are only my opinions and they're based on the great experiences I've had here and the good friends I've made. Someone else may feel entirely different.
Anyways, these are good comprehensive questions and should help those waiting in the wings. Let's wait for more responses.
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Btw,
If enough people reply, I'm going to make this thread a sticky in the U.S. section so that people moving from the states can refer easily.
Also, I would like this thread to be a source of real information, not Canada or U.S. bashing. I will delete any junk responses that do not relate to the questions asked.
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BL,
You seems to have experience on both sides of border. There are times when I feel that moving to USA will not be a better idea too after staying in Canada for 4 years (to acquire citizenship) BUT I would like to have your opinion, How easy it is to settle in USA, work related compare to Canada. Is it worth uprooting family once again and take them to USA because more family members are staying and more help is available in USA.
I read couple of mails from people in USA wish to move to Canada but they appear to be well settle in USA at money/ job front, only part missing is status which allows them to stay in US without fear of moving back to home country.
Thanks
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Try overtaking child's imagination
Based on the criteria I do qualify to answer these questions. Here are the responses:
1) Things you miss most about USA
The warm weather. The better pay scales even though the quality of life is more or less the same. Better Desi restaurants. Believe it or not, I have had better desi food in the US than in Toronto. By the way I live in Ottawa.
2) Things you hated most in USA as compared to Canada
I guess the entire immigration process in terms of long waiting periods and the sword of H1B hanging on your head all the time. Being the only child of my parents it is very important for me to get my parents here and have them live with me permanently. That would not have been possible in the US.
3) Things you love about Canada
Peace of mind. Easy going life style. Overall, Canadians are nice and friendly people. Some one once told me that cold weather develops character. I am beginning to see the truth in this now.
4) Things you hate about Canada
The cold weather. Period.
5) Do you regret leaving USA and moving to Canada
Never. Eventhough friends and relatives say I made a big mistake. Especially since I was in the last stages of my green card processing.
6) Did you move out of choice or necessity (ie you couldnt get US GC etc)
Out of choice. Getting my parents here is my # 1 priority.
7) Would you move back without any hesitationif you had an option to move back to US on a work visa ?
I doubt it. I am very happy with my current job. Government jobs have some benefits in terms of retirement, leaves etc. which I wouldn't want to trade with any other job unless I have no choice.
8)Do you feel you are in a different country than USA
Yes.
9) How does your spouse/children if applicable like it in Canada as compared to US ?
The wife does not like the weather which is why she has gone on a 6 month vacation right now. However, she agrees with me that we made the right decision and our child is too young to complain right now.
10) Do you feel your life has more stability as Canadian Citizen/PR than on H1 B.
A resounding yes. I can travel into and out of Canada whereas in US I would have been too concerned to even leave the country until the green card came through.
11) If you were put in a very cold state of USA (Minnesota /Michigan etc) as oppossed to Texas/Florida/California would you still prefer USA.
Another yes. Throughout my 6 years in the US, I was in California. I would have to have a very very good offer to take up a job in the US.
Quote:
Orginally posted by axapta
7) Would you move back without any hesitationif you had an option to move back to US on a work visa ?
I doubt it. I am very happy with my current job. Government jobs have some benefits in terms of retirement, leaves etc. which I wouldn't want to trade with any other job unless I have no choice.
If by some reason you loose present job. What will be your option:
Stay in Canada and search for a job, no matter how long it takes for you to get a job OR move to USA because you know that getting job there is easier.
BTW, could you get your parents to Canada because that was your primary reason for coming to Canada. How long does a GC sponsored parents take to reach US? OR GC cannot sponsor parents?
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Try overtaking child's imagination
Quote:
Orginally posted by jago_desi
You seems to have experience on both sides of border. There are times when I feel that moving to USA will not be a better idea too after staying in Canada for 4 years (to acquire citizenship) BUT I would like to have your opinion, How easy it is to settle in USA, work related compare to Canada. Is it worth uprooting family once again and take them to USA because more family members are staying and more help is available in USA.
It is really difficult to advise on this because the experiences that you would have there may be entirely different from mine.
One thing for sure though, the job situation there is better than in Canada. If you are frustrated with the job situation here and have the option, then it may work out well for you. I've described the main PROS and CONS above, the other stuff is mostly minor.
Again, if you're not settled here and frustrated by the job situation, then the uprooting of family is a moot point, right? It is definately worth a shot, since you can always come back if you don't like it there. Besides, once you have all your visas and stuff clear, I don't think its such a big deal to settle there physically. Most of the systems are very similar and the desi community is big enough there too if you move to something like the tri-state (NJ, NY, PA) area or Texas or California.
So IMHO, the uprooting of family should not be a big isse issue if you decide to move.
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