Quitting US immigration for Toronto

We are Path To Canada. 

We help immigrants overcome the barriers in US immigration to build successful, engaged careers with their existing US based employers through remote work opportunities in Canada.

You can reach out to Path to Canada for a free consultation at https://pathtocanada.com/check-eligibility-to-move-to-canada/ 

Today, we speak to Weiman who arrived in the US for high school and went on to pursue a Masters in Actuarial Science. The 6-year H-1B limit caused her to reconsider her options. She currently lives in Toronto 

What will this journey look like for you? 

Weiman recalls feeling uneasy when talks of studying in the US first came up in her home in Southern China. A significant factor was Weiman’s age. At 16, she didn’t readily warm up to the idea. 

Ultimately though, came the big move – to a residential High School in New York city. 

It was a substantial transition at an age where not many are equipped to handle such change. A baptism into a new cultural paradigm. 

Thankfully, with some time and support from family in the US, she found her bearings. 

After high school, came Bachelors at the University of Minnesota and finally a Masters’ degree in Actuarial Sciences from Columbia university. Weiman started her work life at the Big 4 – E&Y and KPMG. 

As immigrants know all too well, once Weiman had left behind the gates of university, she was on the immigration clock. She had actually been quite fortunate and had a capped H-1B. But her 6 year H-1B restriction was starting to become a limiting factor. 

It was time to evaluate options… 

With some research, she realized that H-1B and L-1 were not an immediately-possible option past the 6-year mark. With scarce options to stay in the US, Weiman started thinking outside the proverbial box. 

Wishing to continue her current role, time zones would be a significant consideration. This quickly ruled out moving to Europe, where she had previously visited. 

The obvious choice was Canada. 

She had heard that her company had employees working remotely from outside the US. 

So, how did that work? 

A few chats with her CEO revealed that while there was a remote work option offered, there was no immigration support. 

It was a BYOV situation – Bring your own visa! 

And along with this, a very relatable struggle – The CEO and company management lacked meaningful awareness of US immigration. 

So many of us know this pain point of immigrant life and the frenetic activities around managing it.  

First, rapidly learn about immigration – its many rules, restrictions, if’s and but’s.
Then explain it all, in the simplest possible terms, to a manager, director or HR person whose understanding and subsequent action holds the key to our continued ability to work. 

Inform, but don’t overwhelm. Educate, but don’t over-share.
Convey urgency, but not alarm. Signal concern, but not panic.
Balance the need for promptness, without being overly demanding.  

And given all this is happening at the workplace, keep well within the bounds of polite workplace etiquette, with any anxiety and frustration in careful check.  

It took Weiman significant research and convincing for the organization to finally partner with Path To Canada in 2022. Once the organization was on board, the ball started to roll smoothly. 

She reports being satisfied with the follow-up and overall process that went into creating her work permit application. Having submitted the application during the Covid-era, she did encounter some delays, which she graciously stated were “beyond our control”. 

Work Permit in hand, Weiman was soon in Toronto. She had visited Toronto previously and it was close enough to her employer’s base in New York for this to work. 

So, what were her expectations when she arrived? 

Weiman says she moved with an open mind. Wise words for immigrants to live by! When we spoke to her for this piece, she was 5-months old in her new city and largely satisfied. 

She doesn’t drive and lives downtown. While she finds public transit in Toronto less convenient than New York, she still seems to largely be able to get where she needs to go. 

Five months is long enough to start to really get a feel for a new city. 

Weiman finds that Toronto is more “chill”, as she puts it. She appreciates the more relaxed pace of life. The diversity of the city and its reflection on the food scene has not escaped her notice. 

She observes approvingly, that there seem to be a LOT of first-generation immigrants in Toronto. Somewhat causally, diverse, authentic cuisine offerings guaranteed to leave you spoiled for choice, have made Toronto an excellent food-city! 

You can feel the excitement in the conversation as she rattles off the offerings available to her near where she lives! 

When she isn’t partaking in the food scene, Weiman is content in the ethnic grocery selections at a “huge” Asian grocery store in downtown, to support her gastronomic explorations at home! After all, home is where the tummy is full of comfort food, right? 

Overall, for someone that has lived and worked in the US, Weiman thinks transitioning into life in Canada is fairly straightforward due to the cultural similarities. 

But, even with the easiest transitions, immigration can still leave some feeling lonely and unrooted. 

How has Weiman dealt with that aspect? 

Her rental apartment offers a Community room with activities and workshops that she enjoys. It also has a resident forum for questions and sharing resources! Weiman also recommends newcomers try Meetup, an app-based platform that connects people to various interest-based communities – board games, outdoor activities, hobby-related groups, book clubs, singles groups, tech groups, professional development circles etc. 

Also, Toronto is also a bustling city, with events happening all the time! 

Tech startup events, concerts, festivals, holiday markets and also year-round-markets like Kensington Market, St. Lawrence Market etc., there are arts and crafts festivals, beer fests, even events centered around dog-lovers. 

Weiman seems to have found her feet in this welcoming city, working remotely for a job she enjoys, channeling her energies on building the future she envisions for herself. 

Opportunity cost 

For many of us who have struggled through US immigration it is striking just how time, headspace and emotional work it takes to work through these issues. The opportunity cost deserves some consideration. 

What would you do, if immigration were less uncertain, if not completely resolved? Who would you become? What chances would you take? What opportunities would you explore? 

Let Path To Canada be your partner in helping you realize that vision, by removing US immigration from the equation.  

Book a free consultation call with one of our relocation experts today