The Canadian nightmare

[CanadianImmigrant2007]

Hi all,
We moved to Canada as a compromise between me and my wife, I wanted to move to the USA and she (a French national) insisted on Canada. We first moved to Canada with a work permit, after a few month in Canada the employer reduced my salary by 50% and his explanation was that I have no other options and I should behave myself and be productive or else he will get me deported. We believed that after having a permanent residence it will be better so we applied for one, because my kids went to a French school we didn't want to move again..
Applied for permanent resident (I have a master's degree) with high score and got it. Now when I applied for a job I was told I need Canadian credentials and experience, what a BS, I worked in Canada already!!. When I applied for a job that required less then my skill set I was refused for being overqualified. Practically no win situation, they want you to deliver pizza or work for minimum wages at walmart.

When I realized that I must create my own future I started my company and sold it 8 years later, and now I am retired and enjoy my boat, snowmobile and all the toys money can buy.
Conclusion: if you have it in you, don't go to Canada! If by a miracle you will succeed you will pay high taxes to keep the hungry Canadian government happy.

 

[zardoz]

Hi all,
We moved to Canada as a compromise between me and my wife, I wanted to move to the USA and she (a French national) insisted on Canada. We first moved to Canada with a work permit, after a few month in Canada the employer reduced my salary by 50% and his explanation was that I have no other options and I should behave myself and be productive or else he will get me deported. We believed that after having a permanent residence it will be better so we applied for one, because my kids went to a French school we didn't want to move again..
Applied for permanent resident (I have a master's degree) with high score and got it. Now when I applied for a job I was told I need Canadian credentials and experience, what a BS, I worked in Canada already!!. When I applied for a job that required less then my skill set I was refused for being overqualified. Practically no win situation, they want you to deliver pizza or work for minimum wages at walmart.

When I realized that I must create my own future I started my company and sold it 8 years later, and now I am retired and enjoy my boat, snowmobile and all the toys money can buy.
Conclusion: if you have it in you, don't go to Canada! If by a miracle you will succeed you will pay high taxes to keep the hungry Canadian government happy.

Strange as it may seem, I actually like that post. Not for the obvious bitterness that it portrays but rather as an example to any would-be immigrant of how hard is can be to get started here. It's not a country where the streets are paved with gold. You have to work at getting settled and there are some real nasty people out there who will take advantage of your status.

Having said that, there is no way that I personally would have immigrated to the USA. Canada suits me fine and I have settled here with absolutely no regrets. There are many, many, others who feel the same.

 

[alnemeh82]

Hi all,
We moved to Canada as a compromise between me and my wife, I wanted to move to the USA and she (a French national) insisted on Canada. We first moved to Canada with a work permit, after a few month in Canada the employer reduced my salary by 50% and his explanation was that I have no other options and I should behave myself and be productive or else he will get me deported. We believed that after having a permanent residence it will be better so we applied for one, because my kids went to a French school we didn't want to move again..
Applied for permanent resident (I have a master's degree) with high score and got it. Now when I applied for a job I was told I need Canadian credentials and experience, what a BS, I worked in Canada already!!. When I applied for a job that required less then my skill set I was refused for being overqualified. Practically no win situation, they want you to deliver pizza or work for minimum wages at walmart.

When I realized that I must create my own future I started my company and sold it 8 years later, and now I am retired and enjoy my boat, snowmobile and all the toys money can buy.
Conclusion: if you have it in you, don't go to Canada! If by a miracle you will succeed you will pay high taxes to keep the hungry Canadian government happy.

I'm not sure why you refer to it as a nightmare? You have went through hardship at first, as any immigrant would expect, but eventually you prevailed. Now you're settled, safe and enjoying life in a beautiful country! Isnt that what everyone seeks when they decide to immigrate...Hardship at first is inevitable when immigrating to the unknown. If one thinks otherwise, then he better stay where he is....Thank you for sharing your exp. I take it as a motivational story contra to the title