The Canadian Dream vs the American Dream– Is the American Dream slowly dying? Do more people prefer to migrate to Canada?
Let’s find out more about the Canadian Dream vs the American Dream
In 2015, Indians made up 14% of Canada’s total newcomers. 4 years late, in 2019, Canada welcomed 85,585 Indians – a little over 25% of the total number of immigrants.
With the US Green Card becoming more elusive, many Indians are giving up on the ‘American Dream’ and moving to Canada. According to rough estimates, 20,000 Indians are migrating from the USA to Canada each year.
Top 5 Source Countries For New Immigrants To Canada In 2019
- India: 85,585
- China: 30,260
- Philippines: 27,815
- Nigeria: 12,595
- The USA: 10,800
Read: The Canadian Start Up Visa – Application Fee, Procedure And More
The Canadian Dream Vs The American Dream – Why America Is Losing Favor
Under the Trump administration, visa approval rates for Indians has dropped dramatically. There are about 900,000 Indians currently in the USA with H1B, L1 and H4EAD visas.
For almost all of them, getting a Green Card has no guarantee. Under the existing rules, only 7% of all the 140,000 Green Cards issued annually may be awarded to Indians. This amounts to just 9,800 Green Cards.
In effect, this means that only around 1% of Indians in the USA can obtain a Green Card each year.
Without a Green Card, they must obtain extensions of their H1B visas to remain in the country. The H1B visa application is tied to the employer, and hence switching jobs and career growth is not easy for Indians on these visas.
Additionally, employers do not want to invest in training immigrants for managerial positions since there is no guarantee of getting an extension or permanent residency.
The Canadian Dream Vs The American Dream – What Makes Canada A Greener Pasture?
Canada’s immigration policy is much simpler and immigrant-friendly. Indians can apply for PR online and in most cases, if they qualify, they can move there within a few months.
Canadian tech firms are offering work permits and health insurance to foreign workers in America who have been affected by the US immigration ban.
It also helps to note that Canadians are warmer people and have a friendlier outlook on immigrants. The country has plenty of opportunities for skilled workers, and Indians abroad have realized that the job security is well worth the move.
So, in the Canadian Dream vs. the American Dream, the Canadian Dream is winning the game.