CPP-Ottawa

[kfair001]

haha yeah it's pretty great. I'm 30 and thinking about having a baby soon. The 12 months of mat leave also helps the situation be less stressful. In NJ I would have only qualified for a max 12 weeks and having one income in a place like NJ just doesn't work. It's far too expensive.

In the US, the vacation time that I received...I rarely ever got to take it! I never went on a single summer holiday in the 5 years I worked and I was a public servant! Due to summer being our busiest time of the year (It was a University so we had registration for fall) we were literally not allowed to take off in the summer. It was awful.

See that's just it. The decision whether to immigrate to the US or Canada via Family Class should be based solely on your relationship with your spouse and what works best for the future of your family. In our situation, I'm a Canadian who chose to go to University in the states on a hockey scholarship where I met my husband my first year. We went back and forth for a long time about whether I should immigrate there or whether he should come here and at the end of the day we decided to come to Canada based on the fact that I have a better relationship with my family and we want to raise our kids here. The mat leave perk is a plus too. Based on what we both took in university the job opportunities were a little better for the both of us in Canada as well.

I've had the benefit of living in both countries and I love both of them. The US and canada are pretty similar and they both have their pros and cons. On a side note, I have nothing against the US customs officers bc I believe that they have every right to be as safe as they are based on the tragedies that have happened in the past.

I guess my point here is my husband and I spent 2 years really talking and thinking about where we should be as a family because the last thing either of us wanted was to resent each other in the long run. Personally, We firmly believe that we made the best decision for us and our family in moving to Canada. But I think the decision should be based on your own relationship and what you think is best for the relationship in the long run.

Good luck everyone.

 

[thetreble]

It absolutely should be based upon what works best for the two of you, but that doesn't make it easy. We both have great families and I missed mine terribly when I was living in the US. But it wasn't missing my family that made me change my mind and ask my husband to come with me. The US and Canada do have some similiarities, but socially, they are very, very different. What is acceptable social or even work behaviour can be very different in both places. Race became a part of my every day life and it disgusted me. There is nothing in life that does not touch or relate to race in America. I also found that people's politics got in their way of rationale.

In Canada, I don't see that as much of an every day issue. Since I've been back to work here, it's been a huge sigh of relief

 

[computergeek]

at least not as many people here put lawn chairs on the street to save their parking spots.

I'd forgotten about that ritual - and you wouldn't EVER want to MOVE one of those lawn chairs to use their spot... it's a good way to get your car destroyed!

Since they shut Vancouver down when it snows, most people don't bother to put on winter tires (I keep telling my spouse that winter tires make a huge difference). I laugh about twice every winter when I hear a car with studded tires drive by me here - it's such a rare occurrence. I remember carrying chains around with me in New Hampshire - and using them from time to time.

 

[IvanP]

we want to raise our kids here.

If you've got kids and you expect they'll go to college, the move is really a no-brainer. Canadian schools are generally supposed to be better than US schools (I know there's lots of variation in the US, with some really great schools and really awful schools, but statistically Canada has the upper hand), and the tuition at the best Canadian universities is only what - 5% of what you'd pay for a top university in the States? Our kids are 7 and 9 and we looked at just those two factors - quality of schools and cost of universities, and it easily outweighed many other factors.

 

[uskyoot]

It absolutely should be based upon what works best for the two of you, but that doesn't make it easy. We both have great families and I missed mine terribly when I was living in the US. But it wasn't missing my family that made me change my mind and ask my husband to come with me. The US and Canada do have some similiarities, but socially, they are very, very different. What is acceptable social or even work behaviour can be very different in both places. Race became a part of my every day life and it disgusted me. There is nothing in life that does not touch or relate to race in America. I also found that people's politics got in their way of rationale.

In Canada, I don't see that as much of an every day issue. Since I've been back to work here, it's been a huge sigh of relief

I agree. When my husband and I first started dating he we talked about where we would live if we got married and he asked me if I had thought about what it would be like to be married to a black man living in the south. It never even occured to me that it would be an issue. Boy was I wrong.....

 

[aerogurl87]

I agree. When my husband and I first started dating he we talked about where we would live if we got married and he asked me if I had thought about what it would be like to be married to a black man living in the south. It never even occured to me that it would be an issue. Boy was I wrong.....

I'm from the South and as much as I love my southern roots with their fattening cuisine and awesome accents (well I may be a little biased, haha) I don't think I'd like to raise a family down there because of the fact that my fiance and I are an interracial couple. I'm black and he's white, and although the racial issue has gotten better, it's still got a way to go compared to Canada. We live in a small town in Alberta and no one has ever really looked at us strangely or asked if we ever thought about what problems being an interracial couple might cause here. His parents have asked if it would be a problem with my family since I'm from the South, which it isn't at all. But that's about it.

 

[Shylox]

I'd forgotten about that ritual - and you wouldn't EVER want to MOVE one of those lawn chairs to use their spot... it's a good way to get your car destroyed!

Since they shut Vancouver down when it snows, most people don't bother to put on winter tires (I keep telling my spouse that winter tires make a huge difference). I laugh about twice every winter when I hear a car with studded tires drive by me here - it's such a rare occurrence. I remember carrying chains around with me in New Hampshire - and using them from time to time.

But when you live in a city where it rains pours for 2/3 of the year, you should have all weather tires! If you can't stop properly when the light turns red then you're going too effing fast, or you need new/different tires. I cringe every time I see someone almost die because of this problem.

 

[Rattles]

I'm from the South and as much as I love my southern roots with their fattening cuisine and awesome accents (well I may be a little biased, haha) I don't think I'd like to raise a family down there because of the fact that my fiance and I are an interracial couple. I'm black and he's white, and although the racial issue has gotten better, it's still got a way to go compared to Canada. We live in a small town in Alberta and no one has ever really looked at us strangely or asked if we ever thought about what problems being an interracial couple might cause here. His parents have asked if it would be a problem with my family since I'm from the South, which it isn't at all. But that's about it.

It's odd, I am from Texas and when my wife and I are there we don't get a second look (perhaps because it's Austin?), but here in Vancouver I get some drop dead looks from time to time. I don't judge the whole area based on those few as Vancouver is eerily similar to Austin. Love both places.

 

[Rattles]

BTW, is anybody here having problems with ecas today?

 

[uskyoot]

I find the larger cities are OK, we are in Knoxville TN, but it is when we venture out into the counties that we have problems.
There are towns that we cannot go to let alone live in. The KKK is still active in the surrounding area.

 

[amikety]

BTW, is anybody here having problems with ecas today?

I logged in earlier. Only problem was my status hasn't changed!

 

[Rattles]

I logged in earlier. Only problem was my status hasn't changed!

Don't expect it to as mine never has either. I received PPR Saturday and mine hasn't even shown in process yet.

 

[amikety]

Don't expect it to as mine never has either. I received PPR Saturday and mine hasn't even shown in process yet.

I'll pretend that's what is going on with mine. I wish we had the little cheerleader smiley. I'd so give you one

 

[Rattles]

I'll pretend that's what is going on with mine. I wish we had the little cheerleader smiley. I'd so give you one

Thanks, my ppr isn't quite as wonderful as most because a docs request came with it and it just had to be a police clearance from Australia that I have to somehow pay in Australian funds. Working on finding out where I can get a money order in Australian $ right now.

 

[amikety]

Thanks, my ppr isn't quite as wonderful as most because a docs request came with it and it just had to be a police clearance from Australia that I have to somehow pay in Australian funds. Working on finding out where I can get a money order in Australian $ right now.

I got a money order for my police clearance from BMO (my regular bank) in US funds. Call some banks and ask.