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Is it really worth it?

aashay12

Star Member
Jun 12, 2012
197
7
Category........
Visa Office......
buffalo transferred to ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
july 2011
Med's Request
25th october 2013
Med's Done....
yes
Interview........
no
Passport Req..
first week of january
VISA ISSUED...
24/1/14
LANDED..........
13 nov, a day before the visa expires
Is it worth it, leaving the life of 14 years in US and moving to Canada
Not sure when GC will come, but definitely don't want to move to India.
Also if the wife is pregnant, would she get any benefits right away or have to wait for few months.
I forgot to mention we have Canadian PR.
When we landed we did not fill out goods to follow form, we actually did but did not include any details
Like what we were going to bring to Canada when we come back the next time.
So we got a car after we did the landing, do you think they will ask us to pay any tax while importing to canada and a lot of other taxes, for which we did not report. (Tv, laptops, furniture)...
Canada has lot of bloody and unnecessary taxes, so just wanna make sure, before I take the step...
It really hurts to leave something u dreamt of since u were a kid.
Is it really worth it?...
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,881
22,134
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Not sure anyone can really answer the "is it worth it question". I think that's individual and really depends on your personal circumstances.

Depending on where you landed and where you plan to return when you come back to Canada (i.e. which province), there may be a three month waiting period before your wife will qualify for any health care coverage.
 
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aashay12

Star Member
Jun 12, 2012
197
7
Category........
Visa Office......
buffalo transferred to ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
july 2011
Med's Request
25th october 2013
Med's Done....
yes
Interview........
no
Passport Req..
first week of january
VISA ISSUED...
24/1/14
LANDED..........
13 nov, a day before the visa expires
Is it really worth leaving the job and moving there...
As far the pregnancy is concerned, Alberta is the only province
Where I can go....without having to pay up.
It's going to be uncertanity in US... For sure. (Trump)
My only things is not having a job...there in Calgary
And people getting stuck without any job...and paying
Out of pocket.. It's gonna be ridiculous....
I don't know what to tell u my friend....
It's of the hardest decisions to make,
When u don't have much time left on hand...
 

justinline

Hero Member
May 19, 2009
365
107
If you are going to Alberta you should get the provincial medical coverage immediately. At least that is how it was when I moved there over two years back. If you move to Alberta from any other province then there is wait time of 3 months. Keep in mind there is lot of stuff that provincial health plan does not cover, usually that supplemental coverage is provided through employment health coverage.

When I first landed I did not fill up goods to follow form, when I finally moved I was still able import my few household stuff and car duty free.

As far as whether its worth it or not, its difficult to answer. More or less depends upon your situation and whats your emphasis on. Yes you are right this is no easy decision to make. I moved after 11 years in US. I know it first hand, with family it becomes even tougher choice to make. Believe me I feel for you, but unfortunately nobody can answer that question for you. One thing I would suggest, do not compare US and Canada as if its one to one comparison. US and Canada are two different countries, the more you compare more miserable you will feel. Also if you plan to leave US, don't be in a hurry to get back to US as soon as possible, enjoy the stay here with its ups and downs. I will admit I made the same mistake, you will too but try to minimize it. I even had a full plan to return to US once my priority date was close to getting current, right now I am not so sure that I even want to live in US anymore.

US is far more attractive on its surface than Canada, Canada takes time to warm up to you. But today if someone asks me which country to migrate to .....without hesitation I will say pick Canada over US anytime. Its not a position that I had when I moved to Canada mind you, it takes time to get used to Canada.

Yes economy is smaller, yes competition is much more ,yes salaries are low, yes taxes are higher, yes insurance rates are high, yes groceries cost more, yes its far more colder up here.......but I live with much more peace of mind.

I will not sugar coat it, its been a tidy struggle. When I moved to Canada I was still working remotely for the US company. Worked remotely for close to a year, unfortunately they went bankrupt and I was laid off. Got a contract job, then found another job, then got laid off, then moved to West Coast , found another job, closely missed another layoff.....so life goes, but I will say I live with much more peace of mind.
 

novsaggi

Star Member
Jan 27, 2011
100
5
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
NOC Code......
3131
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-09-2010
AOR Received.
26-01-2011
File Transfer...
20-12-2011 to Los Angels Office
For the question is it really worth it,
The answer feels like - what option do you have
Yes there are taxes in canada, similar like US, just more.
 

boatyyo

Star Member
Jan 11, 2017
75
15
I'd say in light of the recent Kansas shooting, it might be really worth it.
I've just started the process, giving ielts this sat and i'm praying to get PR. i'd much rather work for less money than deal with the BS going on in US right now.
 

BCguy

Champion Member
Jul 26, 2008
2,041
43
Vancouver British Columbia
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
16-03-1976
I am not Indian but have a lot of good Indian friends who are Immigration lawyers and consultants as well as none immigration professionals..I was just talking to one and here was HIS take.I look at the US cabinet and I see one Indian face,I see in Canada Indians are the Defense Minister,Industry Minister,Transportation Minister and Small business Minister.I look at the top positions in universities and corporations and I see lots of Indians.I see all the different races living together in harmony and peace.I look at my children going to school with subsidized college education at the top schools in the country.I live knowing that even if I have a major medical issue,the goverment will cover my bills.For me giving up my job in India was worth it to come to Canada
 
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cprak0

Hero Member
May 25, 2010
506
26
Ottawa
Category........
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
21-05-2011
aashay12 said:
Is it worth it, leaving the life of 14 years in US and moving to Canada
Not sure when GC will come, but definitely don't want to move to India.
Also if the wife is pregnant, would she get any benefits right away or have to wait for few months.
I forgot to mention we have Canadian PR.
When we landed we did not fill out goods to follow form, we actually did but did not include any details
Like what we were going to bring to Canada when we come back the next time.
So we got a car after we did the landing, do you think they will ask us to pay any tax while importing to canada and a lot of other taxes, for which we did not report. (Tv, laptops, furniture)...
Canada has lot of bloody and unnecessary taxes, so just wanna make sure, before I take the step...
It really hurts to leave something u dreamt of since u were a kid.
Is it really worth it?...
Definitely worth it!

We had a 9-10 years in the US, returned to India for 5 years and then moved to Canada for good.

It takes a while to get adjusted, but then it is worth all the trouble. Canada is
great place to live, nice people and progressive...taxes make all this happen, I guess...
 

aquaviva

Newbie
Jun 27, 2017
1
0
Hi Guys, I've done an MS in Computer Science and worked for a little over 6 years (with my current job) in the United States (lived here for almost 10 years), but ever since I learned that my position at work was going to end, I've tried to rethink the whole plan I had to come to the United States from India back in 2007. I do have an approved I-140 filed from the company I would leave. But since I am on H1B, it would take least 10 years of being temporary. Its so risky to do many things financially here in the US being on a temporary basis such as making big purchases, or having to go back to India after the grace period ends on job loss. I would prefer living in a country as close to the United States, which I think Canada would be. Which all brought me to think of pursuing an idea to move to Canada. I hope it works out well. How has your experience been there & also on the job font ? (software is my field). Also if you become a citizen in Canada in 4 years, and in time say after 10 years one reaches their Priority date for their Green card, could a person try to get a job in the US if they wanted to move to the United States later in time and use the same Priority date to file for a green card (via company sponsor - if the new company files for H1B and GC) ? I am wondering what could be the possibilities after moving to Canada and later trying to come back to the United States (if desired in the future) ? Also when you moved to Canada and wanted to visit the US (having a Canadian PR - Indian Passport , and approved I-140 if you had such a combination), did you have to apply for visitors visa? I also wonder if there are possibilities for people to live near the Canadian border and work in the US - does anyone do this? Please share your ideas.

When I read the above, what is so special about Alberta, is there any benefit of living in one Province as opposed to another?
 
Last edited:

aashay12

Star Member
Jun 12, 2012
197
7
Category........
Visa Office......
buffalo transferred to ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
july 2011
Med's Request
25th october 2013
Med's Done....
yes
Interview........
no
Passport Req..
first week of january
VISA ISSUED...
24/1/14
LANDED..........
13 nov, a day before the visa expires
I'd say in light of the recent Kansas shooting, it might be really worth it.
I've just started the process, giving ielts this sat and i'm praying to get PR. i'd much rather work for less money than deal with the BS going on in US right now.
Not worried about Kansas incident, if anyone comes for me i am coming at them....not scared as an average indian...
I love the red states atleast you can open carry or conceal and carry.
 

aashay12

Star Member
Jun 12, 2012
197
7
Category........
Visa Office......
buffalo transferred to ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
july 2011
Med's Request
25th october 2013
Med's Done....
yes
Interview........
no
Passport Req..
first week of january
VISA ISSUED...
24/1/14
LANDED..........
13 nov, a day before the visa expires
Crazy as it sounds, but trump might be the only president who will do the immigration bill.
No other president stands close in doing it.....only a businessman would know the benefits.
 

DEEPCUR

Champion Member
Apr 12, 2016
2,428
642
Crazy as it sounds, but trump might be the only president who will do the immigration bill.
No other president stands close in doing it.....only a businessman would know the benefits.
If he moves to point based system, it would still disadvantage people who have stayed long in US as they'd be of higher age. MS students under 30 will walk away with all visas as they'll have highest years of US experience and less age
 

hsetin

Star Member
Jul 29, 2009
65
4
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
New Delhi
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01-11-2012
AOR Received.
11-12-2012
File Transfer...
11-12-2012
Med's Done....
01-11-2012
Passport Req..
01-03-2013
I moved to Alberta from Virginia in 2011. I agree with justinline, this is a personal decision. Comparisons are hard to make, yes Canada definitely is a more peaceful and chilled out place, both at work and outside work. I do miss the hectic pace of work in US, and a constant challenge/fight (that most immigrants have in their DNA ), but the rewards were better as well.
The pace of things is slow in Canada, there are less choices, actually i think much less competition for job too, but more importantly, there is a sense of belonging, and Canadians are much much better than the Trumptard majority in America.
But it does take time to develop this liking, it is not as instant as the shiny things you were once attracted to when you landed in US. And yes you will also miss the quality immigrants (atleast from India), if you are in tech sector.
 

HamiltonApplicant

Hero Member
Apr 3, 2017
488
122
Hamilton
Visa Office......
Munich, Germany
App. Filed.......
Jan 2007
Med's Request
Dec 2009
Med's Done....
Jan 2010
Passport Req..
Apr 2010
VISA ISSUED...
May 2010
LANDED..........
25-11-2010
Is it worth it, leaving the life of 14 years in US and moving to Canada
Not sure when GC will come, but definitely don't want to move to India.
Also if the wife is pregnant, would she get any benefits right away or have to wait for few months.
I forgot to mention we have Canadian PR.
When we landed we did not fill out goods to follow form, we actually did but did not include any details
Like what we were going to bring to Canada when we come back the next time.
So we got a car after we did the landing, do you think they will ask us to pay any tax while importing to canada and a lot of other taxes, for which we did not report. (Tv, laptops, furniture)...
Canada has lot of bloody and unnecessary taxes, so just wanna make sure, before I take the step...
It really hurts to leave something u dreamt of since u were a kid.
Is it really worth it?...
Hope the following helps:
Canada Pros: Good health care, relatively peaceful country to live, once can get citizenship in a relatively short period of time, good public transport(In comparison to US), good child support, schools(Well!) Ok
Canada cons: Auto insurance is very expensive, real estate is very expensive, alcohol is expensive.

Overall, I would say if US gets 9/10, Canada get 8.5/10!

After 10 years in Europe and two years in US, I moved Canada in 2012! Never regretted it....

As for you, judging based on your reaction Kansas incidence, you are an American by temperament, stay there if possible!
 
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aashay12

Star Member
Jun 12, 2012
197
7
Category........
Visa Office......
buffalo transferred to ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
july 2011
Med's Request
25th october 2013
Med's Done....
yes
Interview........
no
Passport Req..
first week of january
VISA ISSUED...
24/1/14
LANDED..........
13 nov, a day before the visa expires
Hope the following helps:
Canada Pros: Good health care, relatively peaceful country to live, once can get citizenship in a relatively short period of time, good public transport(In comparison to US), good child support, schools(Well!) Ok
Canada cons: Auto insurance is very expensive, real estate is very expensive, alcohol is expensive.

Overall, I would say if US gets 9/10, Canada get 8.5/10!

After 10 years in Europe and two years in US, I moved Canada in 2012! Never regretted it....

As for you, judging based on your reaction Kansas incidence, you are an American by temperament, stay there if possible!

Hamilton,
I would love to live here, but I have to be practical too...
canada seems better from all sides.