I agree for healthcare.. but you could get shot in Canada too. All of the western world have problems with guns. US is always criticized for guns, and NZ has been admired for peace, but after the NZ Mosque shooting, it turned out that NZ has poor gun laws too. It is all fate. I have never seen NZ been criticized for guns laws before.
Not so long ago, a 19 year old immigrant was brutally shot dead by someone who broke in their house in Winnepeg. There is a experience of someone who had bunch of people knocking their doors with guns in Alberta at their apartment for burglary. The person was newly moved immigrant and they were scared to their life after that incident. It was directly from the person who experienced it, don't remember if it was in this forum or a Whatsapp group.
I find it really appalling that there are all kinds of "justifications" being thrown as to why immigrating to Canada is your last straw
- I remember you asking if any Indian with GC would leave voluntarily. That would be me, why? Because I have been mugged 5 different times in broad daylight (3 at gunpoint) in 3 different cities in the states, not in shady areas or places where I wasn't supposed to be. My US boss (non desi) took offence that I was on a 3 minute phone call with my sick sister during work. NEVER have I ever felt unsafe in my 3 years in Canada or had co-workers/bosses micromanage me. In fact, my family was invited to a few houses when they got the news that my parents were visiting. I'm not saying people in the US are better/worse. BUT the general culture in Canada is way more safer, respectful and tolerant.
- Crime is something that every place on earth has to coexist with, but the hate crimes in the US are way more than your house/car break-ins here. Threat to life is something I haven't felt even remotely here.
- Canada has fewer jobs, no doubt, but if you're truly a "skilled immigrant" you will go through the initial struggle and be ok with relative ease once you have a year of experience or so, hell, even locals go through the same. The key here is networking and if you've missed it, you are to blame. The same people who refused to meet me initially are now sending me job/partnership offers almost every week. You have to be patient, period.
- On the specific topic of incomes, salaries are lesser than the US for sure, but your golden ticket to wealth is the fact that you can be an entrepreneur from day one. Agreed that not everyone wants to be one but once you have established yourself in the right professional circles, it is very easy to do even side consulting work. My current small firm has offered me a minority stake in their company, would you ever dream of this in the US being on H1, highly unlikely!
- I injured myself (minor scratches) while hiking and got into a walk in clinic and walked out without paying a penny and was attended by a funny nurse who had a similar accident in the same trail, we made friends instantly!
Truth is, especially we Indians get the false sense of entitlement the day we complete our first day in an office in any country abroad. The US never had, never will have an obligation to grant you permanent residency, it is privilege, just as the Canadian PR is. We all know what we signed up for when we filled up our F1 visa forms. Denial is convenient but reality hits you sooner or later. If you're looking at Canada as plan B/stepping stone to get back in the US, you will never be happy here because you came here
against your own will in the first place. The true value of a Canadian PR will only be realized when there is a new government at the helm who turn anti-immigrant/protectionist etc.
If you are constantly going to bash Canada and its lack of opportunities (which is false, at least in my opinion), you are better off in the US because you are never going to mentally be ready to accept Canada.
From an Indian, ex-US, happy Canadian!
