Planning Canada Immigration

[ivar]

Hi Friends,

There will be many friends like me and simillar situation. I am in my 5th year of H1b hardly a year and half left. I filed this green card process three times but didn't work out for some reasons. I thought of starting a new thread just to explore some options and seeks opinions from all of you regarding possibilities of immigration to canada and its pros and cons.

From few things that comes to my mind.
1. Is going back to india a better option than immigration to canada? We realize the actual word of freedom in our own country, we stay with our parents, friends, relatives can switch to any employer without restrictions. Iam not sure about the software or IT job market in Canada.

2. How much time does it take to get Canadian PR? How much is the cost involved?
3. Any hopes of PERM getting approved based on the current situation in US like layoffs, unemployments, H1b ban in few companies. I saw few threads regarding sending RFEs for approved I-140. Looks like they are after Legal immigrations more than illegal immigrants.

Thank you,
R

[GC_dd]

i am also in same boat. see some threads in alberta immigration is good for h1b people. that should take 8-9 months for PR.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=18825 (Alberta Welcomes H-1B Visa Holders and Their Families)

[PHANI_TAVVALA]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...ow/4089512.cms

[skalra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%2...Livable_Cities

[go_guy123]

Originally Posted by GC_dd

i am also in same boat. see some threads in alberta immigration is good for h1b people. that should take 8-9 months for PR.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=18825 (Alberta Welcomes H-1B Visa Holders and Their Families)

Canada IT job market is not that great like US but you can manage. In fact it sucks.
Only makes sense if you are planing to stay in Canada for 3 years, get citizenship and look to work in USA on
TN 1 visa for Canadians.

Since Feb 2008 Canadian skilled worker immigration rules have been tightened a lot and they will
process your case only if you are in the 38 occupation categories or stayed (as student or worked) for 1 years in Canada.

Alberta program is all that is left but there you need to stay in Alberta for 2 years.
(find out the details)

Also this current recession will be deep in USA, the 2002 recession wasn't allowed to go deep enough to clean up the excesses by
ultra low int rates and inflating the housing bubble. (thank Greenspan for that)

[go_guy123]

Originally Posted by skalra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%2...Livable_Cities

Here is the quote from the above link

"Important criteria are safety, education, hygiene, recreation, political-economic stability and public transportation. "

Interestingly "availability of good paying jobs, career growth" is not there in the list ...why is that?

Mostly welfare centric european cities in that list.

[americandesi]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

Here is the quote from the above link

"Important criteria are safety, education, hygiene, recreation, political-economic stability and public transportation. "

I am not sure how to believe in this list with respect to "safety" when comparing Vancouver with Toronto.

The same Wikipedia has quoted that the province with the lowest crime rate in Canada as Ontario (where Toronto is located).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Canada

The homicide rate for Toronto was 1.9 per 100,000 people compared to Atlanta (34.5), Boston (5.5) New York City (9.1), Vancouver (2.8) and Washington, DC (45.5).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Toronto

Then how come the "World's Most Livable Cities" has got Vancouver ahead of Toronto?

Did Vancouver beat Toronto in other criterias like education, hygiene, recreation, political-economic stability and public transportation? If so, this list is BS cuz all these items are far less relevant compared to safety.

[ivar]

Originally Posted by GC_dd

i am also in same boat. see some threads in alberta immigration is good for h1b people. that should take 8-9 months for PR.
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...ad.php?t=18825 (Alberta Welcomes H-1B Visa Holders and Their Families)

GC_dd,

The link you provided has loads of information. I was busy reading through the posts this weekend. I am still thinking if going back to india is a better option than going to canada.. still not able to justify my decision for canada immigration. There are very less positives compared to moving back to india. Still i feel like its good to keep an option open just incase we need it..

Thank you,
R

[PresidentO]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

Here is the quote from the above link

"Important criteria are safety, education, hygiene, recreation, political-economic stability and public transportation. "

Interestingly "availability of good paying jobs, career growth" is not there in the list ...why is that?

Mostly welfare centric european cities in that list.

You are right. Those reports are pretty subjective.

Thats why take that list as N/A to your(mine as well) situation. There are similar reports on Y! every single day. Best 10 cities for this, that and what not.. Jeez! Y! Reporters, Give me a break from those dumbo reports.

[ivar]

Originally Posted by PresidentO

You are right. Those reports are pretty subjective.

Thats why take that list as N/A to your(mine as well) situation. There are similar reports on Y! every single day. Best 10 cities for this, that and what not.. Jeez! Y! Reporters, Give me a break from those dumbo reports.

I expected New York to be in atleast the top five. The list doesn't make much sense.

Thanks,
R

[bobzibub]

Originally Posted by go_guy123

Canada IT job market is not that great like US but you can manage. In fact it sucks.
Only makes sense if you are planing to stay in Canada for 3 years, get citizenship and look to work in USA on
TN 1 visa for Canadians.
...

Alternatively, you can go there, work for a couple years and then start a business with your permanent residency.

Canadians are notoriously risk averse and don't often start them so the government offers tax regime is more generous than the US, you have access to excellent infrastructure and people. Yes there is regulation but no Sarbanes-Oxley.

[sbmallik]

Canadian PR process is easier that it's US conterpart. However, jobs in IT are scarce. Searching for jobs requires networking as most of the recruitments are hidden. FYI - Economic downturn impacted Canada more than India.

[BECsufferer]

This weekend I got call from my friend who met a young guy ( on h1) interested in immigrating to Canada. After my conversation, I learned some attorney this chap contacted for paper work is asking for $4K as fee. I was astonished to hear that ... after all this education, why are people wasting their money? I was student several years ago when I filed immigration and we did it all by ourself.

I strongly advise anyone to take some time out, printout the forms and application kit and on weekend without distraction read them over. The process and paperwork is so simple and straight forward, anyone can do it. Why waste money?

[kumar1]

We applied for Canadian immigration in 2004/2005 and got the whole thing done in 18 months. We did not hire any lawyer. It is simple.
However, right now we are in the I-485 stage (EB3-India, best category you know). I have been here for last 9 years now and if my Green Card does not come through then I would head back to India. I do not have any motivation left to start over my life in a brand new country.

[snathan]

Please contribute or just be another free rider.

The choice is yours

http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/sh...3597&page=1000 (Contribtuion Campaign - 2009)