After reading some of the articles on this website , I was rather disappointed to see some of our desi's frustrated with their life in canada .....

It seems a few desi's here seem to expect Canada to provide them the same opportunities as in USA.......Well , canada has a population of just 30 million compared to 280 million odd people in USA....
They think USA is a heaven and that the shortcomings of their canadian life will be all gone once they make it US which is hardly logical...
True that desis have made it big in US , but do all these frustrated landed immigrants ever realise that all the successful desi's out there are the whizkids from IIT n IIM's ....if these whizkids come to canada , I am sure they would be as successful in canada as in USA.....

Most of immigrants who are frusted might be passing through their early stage. After 5 years I don't think there should be any desi complaining...

As a newly landed immigrant, I feel that the problems do not exist outside, but in our mind. Most of the Desi's have high qualifications and experience and secure career in India. They have seen their parents have secure jobs and retiring with PF, Gratuity and other pension/saving schemes. There was also a family set up around them which gave them a mental security, which means that if some thing goes wrong I could rely upon or fall back onto some body for help. This does not exist in Canada. I felt really ashamed, when I saw tons of Chinese immigrants who could not speak a single word in English, coming in confidently in Toronto; while several of my fellow Indians with such good communication skills being apprehensive in what is in store for them. But through a fellow chinese passenger lady who was quite good in Chinese language , that several of immigrants who were in similar situation while she landed a few years ago were millionares now, buying million CHINESE RM homes in mainland China.

You cannot learn to swim on the floor; you need to jump into the water. There is a small chance that you would sink, if you donot take adequate precautions.

The way out is to network, have confidence and leave the excess baggage of job security back home. You need to start from scratch and prove yourself. The wonderful option of setting up your business exists here, why not give it a chance.

OUR WEBSITE CANADIANDESI.COM WOULD HELP US TO UNITE/NETWORK - learn & share our actual experiences for success of all..

Good LUCK........

Plastic Man

Well said Dr. Jani. Any decision in life has its consequence and if one is well prepared, one can handle the changes better. In this age of internet and instant communication, there is no excuse for a new immigrant to be totally unprepared for the shock. And this forum can make a difference. I hope people will come forward and share not only their bad experiences but some success stories as well.

I believe that if one is prepared to look well ahead in future, immigrating to Canada would not be a bad idea. Canada needs new people- it is how well one adapts to the situation that determines the individual's future. Remember Canada is a capitalistic country and one needs to have a capitalistic frame of mind to be successful.

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Shibu

mumbaiteguy

I dont think you have understood the reason why desis are frustrated.
they are not bemoaning less oportunities...they are complaining about the utter nonsense that they have to face.
When you are seelcted for immigration by Canada, it evaluates your credentials and aptitude against thousands and thousands of others before acepting you. But once you arrive all you find is jobs in factories and warehouses. Everywhere you go you are asked for canadian experience which withoput job is not possible to obtain of course.
This is what is diferent in USA.
Once you are in USA, when you go to find jobs, employers openly state that they are willing to train. So anyone gets a chance to get the foot in the door. In canada doctors make pizzas, engineers work as security guards and MBAs drive taxis.
that is what frustrates them.
And yes they all find jobs within 5 years

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DIE HARD !

Unfortunately that is the reality. Firstly, all prospective immigrants need to know this reality and be prepared for it.

Canadians in general know very little about India, its educational system, technological advances etc. They still think that India as a land of snake charmers, elephants, bullock carts, beggars and few Sardarjis. We should try to change their perspective about India.

In USA, Indians have made a name for themselves. So for someone to hire an Indian would not be too much of a risk. But in Canada, the situation is different. One reason could be that the earlier immigrants from India were not that well educated. It is easy for someone in Canada to associate Italians with real estate, Jews with health care etc. but what about the Indians?

If we have UNITY among ourselves, we can make a difference. Instead of thinking ourselves as Gujaratis, Punjabis, Telugus or whatever, we need to think ourselves as Indians first and form pressure groups with a common agenda. For example, we have hundreds of Indian Engineers in Canada. We can have an Indian Engineers Forum, with clear and definite goals. One aim could be to make the process of professional certification easier and faster.

We can invite the MPs and politicians to our meetings and educate them on the problems we face, and demand favourable action. We can impress upon them the great loss to ourselves and to Canada by ignoring our qualifications and experience. Since a few hundreds is a big number in Canada, it is not easy for any politician to ignore any group which stands united. Nothing may happen in one day and it would need time and effort to make a change but success will ultimately come.

There is no point in whining and to feel self-pity and helplessness about the situation. The question is can we do something to make a difference.

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Shibu

well, the conclusion is that any desi who wants to venture step on canadian soil should clearly understand that the heap of indian degrees and indian experience (counted by his gray hair), can fetch him a canadian perm visa but NOT a job or a comfortable life.
These 2 things have to be earned wading through rough waters.
If the desi has concluded in his mind-"Come what may, I want to settle down in Canada"-...........then this is the right step.
Otherwise, desis end up frustrated and demoralized.
Bottom line, any desi soul who is not willing to undergo any hardships should not think of immigration to a foreign land.