Anyone immigrated through USA ? How was is ? How is it different in Canada ?

[volodyalysak]

Question is to people who had lived in US for a while and got moved to Canada, how do you like it ? Is it better ? Worse ? What to expect ?
To me it seems like it is the same as USA, pack your car and go, find shitty job to get started and buildup your experience and get good job later.
Thanks

 

[dks2323]

I lived in states for around 6 years before moving to Canada in 2014. I used to think the same you think that Canada is same as USA. Well, you'll get to know a place only when you start living there.
Its different, thats what I felt, and still feel the same. Its so easy to get a job in US and the same kind of job would fetch you a lot more than what you get in Canada. The feel good factor in states is more than in Canada ( I should say Toronto, thats where I am). You are a part of a bigger economy when are in states. You can find jobs almost in all the parts of US. You are not limited.

Being said that, Canada is not bad at all. It has its advantages. I got lucky, I must say, here in Canada. Within an year, I got my PR. This is a distant dream in US to get the green card. I already own a home as it was an easy decision once you get the PR. It takes a lot of time in US to get settled, considering the looooooong wait period of green card( I am from India so it all depends on your country of birth. You could be in a different situation).
You are limited in Canada as only few big cities have plenty and good jobs. But if you get an early PR then you can start something of your own.

So it all depends on your situation. At the end, green card, PR, jobs, place, people do not matter much if you can make it big.

Overall, I think that I still have to start liking Canada, even when I am doing much better than what I would have been doing in US.

Just my thought.....

 

[volodyalysak]

Thank for sharing that, i mean i work shitty jobs here in US, can't go back home and see my family for last 9 years, even if i make less there, but feel more like human i'll take it. US should really make something like EE for people who really tried to be part of community and get a green card.

 

[axlh17]

I lived in states for around 6 years before moving to Canada in 2014. I used to think the same you think that Canada is same as USA. Well, you'll get to know a place only when you start living there.
Its different, thats what I felt, and still feel the same. Its so easy to get a job in US and the same kind of job would fetch you a lot more than what you get in Canada. The feel good factor in states is more than in Canada ( I should say Toronto, thats where I am). You are a part of a bigger economy when are in states. You can find jobs almost in all the parts of US. You are not limited.

Being said that, Canada is not bad at all. It has its advantages. I got lucky, I must say, here in Canada. Within an year, I got my PR. This is a distant dream in US to get the green card. I already own a home as it was an easy decision once you get the PR. It takes a lot of time in US to get settled, considering the looooooong wait period of green card( I am from India so it all depends on your country of birth. You could be in a different situation).
You are limited in Canada as only few big cities have plenty and good jobs. But if you get an early PR then you can start something of your own.

So it all depends on your situation. At the end, green card, PR, jobs, place, people do not matter much if you can make it big.

Overall, I think that I still have to start liking Canada, even when I am doing much better than what I would have been doing in US.

Just my thought.....

I'm curious how Canadian employers see education and work experience obtained in the U.S.?

 

[dks2323]

Well, you need to mention the country of residence and your status there...and then it all depends on VO...I am strictly talking about the Express Entry here....

Thank for sharing that, i mean i work *censored word* jobs here in US, can't go back home and see my family for last 9 years, even if i make less there, but feel more like human i'll take it. US should really make something like EE for people who really tried to be part of community and get a green card.

 

[torontosm]

I'm curious how Canadian employers see education and work experience obtained in the U.S.?

A US education and work experience is definitely valued in Canada. I moved to Canada after spending a number of years studying and working in the US and had no issues "transferring" my qualifications.

 

[dks2323]

Not sure about education as I do not have any but I think my experience helped. Nobody said that explicitly in my interviews but I guess it did help me.
I know a lot of guys personally with same foreign experience as me. But when it came to get a job, I did not even wait a single day and I had 3 job offers at the same time with 100K+ salary and others had to wait for months to get 55K.

Its difficult to say if I was better than others but the only difference among us was my US experience.

But everyone has different experience, Its only what I experienced and ,may not be the truth.

I'm curious how Canadian employers see education and work experience obtained in the U.S.?

 

[axlh17]

Not sure about education as I do not have any but I think my experience helped. Nobody said that explicitly in my interviews but I guess it did help me.
I know a lot of guys personally with same foreign experience as me. But when it came to get a job, I did not even wait a single day and I had 3 job offers at the same time with 100K+ salary and others had to wait for months to get 55K.

Its difficult to say if I was better than others but the only difference among us was my US experience.

But everyone has different experience, Its only what I experienced and ,may not be the truth.

100K is a quite a lot in Canada. What industry are you in? And how many years of work did you do in US? Thank you.

 

[dks2323]

100K is a quite a lot in Canada. What industry are you in? And how many years of work did you do in US? Thank you.

Around 6 years of US experience and total 8.5 years at the time of moving to Canada...I work in IT as an specialist/Senior Analyst in one of the big banks....

 

[volodyalysak]

Around 6 years of US experience and total 8.5 years at the time of moving to Canada...I work in IT as an specialist/Senior Analyst in one of the big banks....

I have Masters in Network Engineering, and had some experience like 9 years ago working for ISP, but after that i had experience in NOC 2242 so that what is my main NOC is for EE. But i would really like to get back into IT, i don't know where even to start and what to learn/relearn now to get into business.

 

[Musikwala]

Interesting thread. I really do hope that US experience helps make us look more attractive to Canadian employers. After all we are already familiar with North American work culture. Only thing is, my US work experience was from 2003 until 2009. Since 2009 I've been living and working in South Africa. But I did do my Masters in the US and worked for about 6 years there.

 

[volodyalysak]

That what i was thinking, why not award more points for US experience ? I mean it is almost same culture, bunch of companies are in US and Canada that work by the same principals. I'm from Ukraine and my work experience there was like 2 years 10 years ago, when i came to states it did change my view on work approach completely. Many people from other countries have no clue on what to expect in Canada after landing, while people who got some experience in US will transition with ease. (At least it sounds like it from people who already moved from US).

 

[Musikwala]

people who got some experience in US will transition with ease. (At least it sounds like it from people who already moved from US).

That's great to know! +1

 

[dks2323]

I have Masters in Network Engineering, and had some experience like 9 years ago working for ISP, but after that i had experience in NOC 2242 so that what is my main NOC is for EE. But i would really like to get back into IT, i don't know where even to start and what to learn/relearn now to get into business.

I got lucky with the technology I work on....It is a rare skill in Canada unlike US.....There are very few jobs in this but if you get one, then its a high paying job....so thats what I suggest, train yourself in such a technology....Hadoop and big data is in big demand nowadays....expertise in such a technology and get in the market ASAP....thats what makes the difference, to get the early break and get hold of things....

 

[dks2323]

That what i was thinking, why not award more points for US experience ?

Well, it may make a difference to employers buy why would it make a difference to CIC as far as immigration is concerned....Canada is having a tough time to integrate and consume the students graduated from Canadian univresities/colleges....so why would they bother about some one having US experience...I may sound biased but give it a thought....