Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
May 7th 2020, 4:03 pm
#16
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
A problem with being in Canada in the past years has been lack of access to friends and family. They're there, you're here, they don't want to see Canada and you don't have time off to go home. If you're not near a cheap airport, and that means one in the US, you likely can't afford to go anyway. That'll all be worse now; you be going off like Stanley and Livingstone.
otoh, consumer durables! You can buy more stuff.
otoh, consumer durables! You can buy more stuff.
My husband's live in the Scottish Highlands and Islands whilst we ourselves are in mainland Scotland.
To visit anybody, we need to take a 1-hr flight or go on a long drive (and then a ferry).
We've not seen anybody since Christmas.
May 7th 2020, 4:06 pm
#17
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
If I had to summarise I'd say you get more space and larger housing than the UK, but still some social safety net and not nearly as much of the abject poverty that you see surprisingly large amounts of when you live in the US. Canada is a good hybrid of "US" consumer lifestyle, with a hint of UK style social security safety net. You get socialised medicine (up to a point), sane government leadership with a functioning political system, and not quite such fanatical gun rights advocacy as South of the border.
Much depends though on whether you can find a decent job, and probably where you choose to move to within Canada. And whether you can hack the winter year after year. I couldnt find a decent replacement job in Canada and was hired in South Carolina for about 25% more than I was paid in Ontario, and much as I dislike the politics and social disparity here, I dont know that I could face winter in Ontario year after year again after a couple of years of the easy life down here if I could find a decent job back in Canukistan.
Much depends though on whether you can find a decent job, and probably where you choose to move to within Canada. And whether you can hack the winter year after year. I couldnt find a decent replacement job in Canada and was hired in South Carolina for about 25% more than I was paid in Ontario, and much as I dislike the politics and social disparity here, I dont know that I could face winter in Ontario year after year again after a couple of years of the easy life down here if I could find a decent job back in Canukistan.
And do you mean to say that when you hold a Canadian PR you can then work in the US? I've no desire to go there especially with the current admin, mind, but I am curious.
May 7th 2020, 4:08 pm
#19
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
........ and no, as a PR you can't then work in the US without a work permit or visa of some sort (unless you happen to be a long haul trucker)
May 7th 2020, 4:09 pm
#20
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
Sad but very true in some cases. There is one country in particular where they apply for PR status in both the US and Canada. Once their US application is approved even if the Canadian one is approved months before they then choose the US. Since 2008 some of those who chose the US then decided Canada was the better option and found out they no longer met the requirements to retain their Canadian PR status and felt very pissed when reported and issued removal orders to leave Canada.
So, is a removal order permanent?
May 7th 2020, 4:11 pm
#21
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
It's common for people to accept a job offer in Canada and then not turn up because they were granted a visa for the US. IME that's the most common reason for people not to turn up after signing the paperwork. It's also common for people to walk out, giving no notice, because they get a job across the border.
I realise that this is at variance with industries in which people are typically hired from within Canada.
I realise that this is at variance with industries in which people are typically hired from within Canada.
May 7th 2020, 4:14 pm
#23
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
Winter was mild in Ontario this year, very little snow and the temperatures barely went below -20c https://toronto.weatherstats.ca/char...e-monthly.html
........ and no, as a PR you can't then work in the US without a work permit or visa of some sort (unless you happen to be a long haul trucker)
........ and no, as a PR you can't then work in the US without a work permit or visa of some sort (unless you happen to be a long haul trucker)
I reckon you get used to it though, don't you?I suppose it's easier to get WP for US when you're Canadian and vice versa?
May 7th 2020, 4:17 pm
#25
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
We felt like that about New York, but the US is big enougn to accommodate lots of different tastes, needs, and expectations, and we headed south, past Mrs P's home turf, and found our own little piece of paradise. .... Well actually, it turned out to be a piece of paradise big enough to fit the entire road on where we lived in London, including all 84 houses (42 on each side), all the back gardens, all the front gardens, the pavement, and the actual road itself.
May 7th 2020, 4:24 pm
#26
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
Winter? Long, cold, snow on the ground between mid Dec and March, sometimes April. Lows down to below -20C many mornings, months without the temperature peeking above zero. But mostly sunny, and there is fun to be had learning to ski and such.You do need to embrace it or else you will go nuts. That said I'm in my third year in the Carolinas and there is much to be said for wearing shorts in February instead of a snowpants and not having to clear the snow off your car to schlep to work in the slush, or better yet driving roof down in a convertible most of the year round. Summer in Ontario was an eye opener, very hot and humid, but I guess that helped acclimatise me for southern living to some extent.
PR doesnt help get into the US but you can be a Cdn citizen after three years + and that can get you into the US job market (although there are some downsides to Nafta "TN" visas that I wont bore you with).
May 7th 2020, 4:24 pm
#27
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
Via email, telephone interviews, Skype, the same way they do if they're in Canada.
There are always workarounds if the demand is there. Currently, in our business, loads of people are laid off but, at the beginning of the year, it was more common to hire someone in Bangalore or Shanghai for a job in Toronto than someone in Toronto.
May 7th 2020, 4:41 pm
#28
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
Oh that's interesting. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Yes it's certainly a personal choice and I agree that even visiting won't be enough. There are just things that won't reveal themselves to you until you're actually living there.
Can I ask, now that you're in Canada, would you ever consider moving back?
Yes it's certainly a personal choice and I agree that even visiting won't be enough. There are just things that won't reveal themselves to you until you're actually living there.
Can I ask, now that you're in Canada, would you ever consider moving back?
For every positive I could find to move back I could equally find a negative. I own a nice condo here and wonder if I could even get a similar property in the UK for the same price? Too many what ifs and buts for me to consider and at the moment no desire to move back but could if I wanted to.
May 7th 2020, 4:44 pm
#29
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
There are several countries but I have dealt with one in particular which shall remain nameless less I be accused of being racist etc even though the evidence and facts support this. In these particular cases the removal order is not permanent and they could always reapply for PR status once removed back to their country.
May 7th 2020, 4:54 pm
#30
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Re: Top Reasons to Move (and Not Move) to Canada
This was the view from my home office, about six weeks ago, before the trees leafed-out. 
Most of what you can see is ours, except the far distance on the very left, but we own a lot more out of the picture, around to the right.
Most of what you can see is ours, except the far distance on the very left, but we own a lot more out of the picture, around to the right.
