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<ul class="summary-list"><li>I've lived in Canada for over a decade, and though it's not perfect, I prefer it to the US.</li><li>I've had major surgery and dealt with long COVID for years and haven't paid a cent for healthcare.</li></ul>When my partner was offered a job in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-toronto-best-city-quick-trip-things-to-do-skip-2024-10">Toronto</a> 13 years ago, we felt like we'd won the lottery.We were living in the Midwest, where people stared at us as if they'd never seen a multiracial couple before and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cosmopolitan-jessica-pels-career-advice-how-to-get-dream-job-2020-4">Cosmopolitan magazine</a> was covered with black plastic in the supermarket because it was too racy.We'd long wanted to live somewhere more diverse and walkable, with less violence. Settling in downtown Toronto — where we could walk or take <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canada-via-rail-vs-amtrak-business-class-review-photos-2022-8">public transportation</a> and over half of the population was born outside Canada — was like being in a smaller, cleaner version of New York City.Add on the promise of Canadian healthcare, and we were close to nirvana.After living for more than a decade in Canada, we've come to realize that the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-pros-cons-heathcare-home-prices">country is far from perfect</a>. But there are many factors that make it unimaginable for me to live in the US again.<h2 id="a284571f-bca4-4fba-a6f4-d7f8b2efefe7">Canada's healthcare system isn't perfect, but I prefer it to the US's</h2>Canadian healthcare has its downsides.While the majority of care is free, people typically have to pay out of pocket for prescriptions, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-americans-dont-exercise-mental-health-crisis-depression-anxiety-fitness-2024-6">mental-health</a> care, and dental and vision care, which can make these services inaccessible to many.Despite that, I can't envision living without <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dr-adam-kay-americas-been-gaslit-about-socialized-medicine-2019-12">socialized medicine</a> again. I had a complicated pregnancy and an emergency C-section and I developed long COVID four years ago, but I've never paid a cent for healthcare here.When I lived in the US, I worked in public health in California, helping uninsured families access care. I saw firsthand <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-get-medical-bills-reduced-negotiate-challenge-payment-plan-2024-9">how medical debt could ruin people</a>.There was also a brief time when I was in my 20s, before the Affordable Care Act, when I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-giving-up-medical-care-cant-afford-costs-2024-2">lived without health insurance</a> in California and was terrified of getting injured and ending up with a huge hospital bill.<h2 id="82b9efcc-e263-4015-b997-fc1d979a471a">Traveling in Canada can be more expensive, but we've found ways to manage</h2><div type="image" title="landscape of Canada's Laurentian Mountains" height="3840" width="5760" msid="115259769" hostid="261" sizebytes="1759662"></div>Because of <a target="_blank" href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/airlines-fees-canada">federal regulations</a>, domestic flights in Canada are often more expensive than flights to the US. However, we've found ways to manage by coordinating work trips and visiting friends.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beautiful-natural-wonders-2018-7">Canada's nature</a> is one of our favorite aspects of living here. We've vacationed across the country, but we have a special fondness for Québec's Laurentian Mountains and the forests of Ontario.We also spent months in the Yukon subarctic, where we glimpsed a grizzly bear, lynx, moose, scores of ravens, and wilderness more pristine than I thought possible.<h2 id="001263da-7c4c-4498-aabe-c1e9c7dbf46c">We love the diversity in Toronto, but we have experienced racism</h2>My husband and I found friends through community groups and parent-and-baby classes with other immigrant parents. Our friends are from all over, including Nigeria, Russia, Pakistan, Mexico, China, and Peru.Living in such a global environment is simply second nature for our Canadian-born child, who became trilingual in kindergarten in a public French school.However, immigrants and people of color aren't always treated kindly, despite Canada having had an official <a target="_blank" href="http://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-multiculturalism-policy-1971">multiculturalism policy</a> since 1971.My Afro-Latino partner often laments the racism he's experienced in Canada, which has been more directly harmful to him than the racism he experienced in the United States.For example, he sold his bike after nearly being hit by drivers so many times, including one who told him to get off the road before calling him the N-word.When he does porch drop-offs of kids' items I've sold on Marketplace, he gets followed and questioned by people who act like he's a thief.And when we renewed his employer-sponsored work permit at the border a decade ago, an immigration official grilled him and said, "Couldn't they find a Canadian for the job?"In part because of those experiences, my husband has felt compelled to connect even more with different BIPOC communities in Canada.After we moved here, he found out about his Indigenous Caribbean ancestry through genetic testing, and it has become an extremely important part of our experience as a family to educate ourselves about Indigenous people's histories, lives, and teachings. We see it as one of our responsibilities as settlers.<h2 id="859b0674-9e41-4b48-abbc-f3eccee0cca8">I prefer living in Canada to the United States</h2><div type="image" title="Canadian flag with Toronto skyline in the background" height="3744" width="5616" msid="115259767" hostid="261" sizebytes="940328"></div>The longer I live here, the less I feel like I belong when I travel back to the US.My family inhabits multiple marginalized identities — queer, <a target="_blank" href="https://economichardship.org/2023/04/the-disabled-tax-means-i-pay-extra-for-necessities-constantly/">disabled</a>, immigrant, and BIPOC — that are under attack in the US. The ability to live and thrive outside the US, with free healthcare to boot, has long made me feel survivor's guilt for enjoying that stability.There are trade-offs to Canadian life: <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canada-housing-crisis-bubble-imploding-real-estate-prices-rent-decline-2023-11">Astronomical housing costs</a> caused by foreign investment and government policy make me worry that when my child is an adult, they won't be able to afford rent, much less buy a home.I'm also disabled and cannot work full time. If I'm ever without my partner's financial support, I wouldn't qualify for or be able to live on my province's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tvo.org/article/people-cant-live-on-dirt-disabled-ontarians-push-for-odsp-reform">paltry disability benefits</a>.In the end, it's a balancing act.I will forever follow events in American society and politics, even when I someday become a Canadian citizen. But for my family's safety and health, there's no going back.

My husband and I moved from the US to Canada 13 years ago. We love the free healthcare here and the great friends we made.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Canada faces a severe housing-affordability crisis, with home values doubling since 2011.</li><li>Last year, the federal government launched the Housing Accelerator Fund to boost home construction.</li></ul>Canada is facing a housing-affordability crisis even more severe than the US's housing woes. But its federal government is starting to aggressively throw its weight behind fixing the home shortage.Like the American federal government, Canada's national government doesn't have a lot of control over housing policy. Instead, provincial and municipal governments create land-use policies and control building and demand-side subsidies that shape the housing landscape.Despite the federal government's limited control over housing policy, it's gotten a lot of the blame for skyrocketing costs, said Mike Moffatt, a senior director at the Smart Prosperity Institute at the University of Ottawa. That public sentiment pushed officials in Ottawa to warm to a more hands-on approach. "Canadians just want to be able to afford a home — they don't really care about the intricacies of constitutional law," Moffatt said.So last year, the federal government launched an initiative — the <a target="_blank" href="https://liberal.ca/our-platform/1-4-million-new-homes/">Housing Accelerator Fund</a> — that incentivizes local governments to legalize denser housing construction, including by mass transit, and otherwise stimulate more home building. In exchange, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party have opened up billions of dollars in infrastructure funding — from water to transit — to support that new housing.The program pushes provinces and cities to create more pro-housing policies, including ending single-family zoning, loosening restrictions on how tall and close together residential buildings can be, opening up government land for housing, and eliminating parking mandates. The federal government first made deals directly with all the country's major cities, which the government <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-fraser-housing-strategy-1.7171889">estimates</a> will allow 750,000 more homes to be permitted than otherwise would have been.In April, Trudeau <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-budget-housing-1.7161005">announced an additional $5 billion</a> in infrastructure grants for provinces and territories that implement pro-housing policies, including legalizing "missing-middle" homes. Those include medium-density housing like duplexes, triplexes, and small apartment buildings. The most recent push is part of Trudeau's larger housing plan, which aims to get <a target="_blank" href="https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/04/12/trudeau-reveals-liberal-plan-to-build-3-9m-homes-by-2031-amid-housing-crisis/">3.9 million new homes built by 2031</a>.Overall, the federal push has already been quite successful in changing the housing-policy landscape across the country, Moffatt said. For example, as a result of their deals with the government, all of the major cities now allow at least four units to be built on single-family lots. Certain provinces, such as British Columbia, have been much more willing to push pro-housing policies. Local governments in places like Ontario and Alberta have put up more of a fight. However, the approach creates some political cover for policymakers facing antihousing constituencies."Uptake hasn't been universal, but overall it's been quite strong," Moffatt said. "We have seen some municipal changes that, even 20 months ago, I would have said were highly, highly unlikely."But just because denser housing is legal doesn't mean it will get built. Building missing-middle housing and other more-affordable homes needs to be attractive to developers. And with home-construction costs way up, that's a steeper ask, said Matti Siemiatycki, who heads the Infrastructure Institute at the University of Toronto's School of Cities. "With the rising interest rates, with rising construction costs, a lot of the product that used to be financed is now becoming much harder," he said.City governments have long been "biased towards homeowners and not towards renters," Moshe Lander, a Concordia University economist, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canada-housing-crisis-bubble-imploding-real-estate-prices-rent-decline-2023-11">told Business Insider late last year</a>, and support policies that limit home building and keep home values elevated.Like in the US, the housing-affordability crisis in Canada is driven by a lack of housing and rising demand. Over the past several years, an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/22/americas/canada-record-population-growth-intl/index.html">influx of immigrants</a>, rampant investor speculation, and rapidly rising construction costs have also sent prices up. The average home value in Canada has <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65688460">more than doubled since 2011</a>. Rents are up <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cp24.com/news/average-asking-rent-prices-reach-2-193-in-february-up-10-5-from-2023-1.6802734">more than 20%</a> over the past two years. And a ballooning number of Canadians are spending more than they can afford on housing.At this point, most of Canada's housing landscape looks like California's supply-starved and deeply unaffordable market."The difference is that California makes up about 12% or 13% of the United States, whereas Ontario and BC combined are over half," Moffatt said. "Half to two-thirds of the country is unaffordable."Siemiatycki said there had been a "subtle but noticeable change" in how Canadians view residential density. Many homeowners who previously opposed densification are starting to realize that "even if it's not them that rising prices and skyrocketing impact, it might be their children, or their colleagues, or their elders," he said.Pro-housing policies are increasingly popular across Canada's ideological spectrum. The federal opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, says Trudeau's government hasn't gone far enough and has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-housing-plan-1.6966907">proposed his own plan</a>, which would require cities to increase the number of new homes built by 15% each year or lose out on federal grant money. It would also impose a fine on cities that tolerate "NIMBY" — the antidevelopment "not in my backyard" philosophy — opposition to housing construction.Under President Joe Biden's 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the US federal government is providing states and cities across the country with hundreds of billions of dollars in funding for transportation and other infrastructure projects. Some American fans of Canada's Housing Accelerator Fund <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/yfreemark/status/1800921956268880362">suggest it could be a model</a> for US efforts to incentivize denser and more abundant housing construction.Correction — July 3, 2024: An earlier version of this story misspelled the names of Moshe Lander and Mike Moffatt.

Canada's bold plan to make housing more affordable is showing signs of working &mdash; and could be a model for the US

Foreign nationals who are in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> as visitors and who receive a valid job offer will be able to apply for and receive a <keyword id="177232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-permit" source="Orion">work permit</keyword> without having to leave the country, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced. The move, an extension of a Covid-era temporary public policy that was set to expire today, has now been extended by two years, until February 28, 2025. Visitors applying under this public policy who held a work permit within the last 12 months will also continue to be able to request interim work authorization to begin working for their new employer more quickly. Prior to this temporary policy change, those applying to work in Canada would typically need to apply for their initial work permit before they came to Canada. If they were already in Canada with visitor status when they were approved for a work permit, they would need to leave the country to be issued their work permit. With this policy in place, leaving Canada isn't necessary. Those looking to benefit from this temporary public policy must have valid status in Canada as a visitor on the day they apply, and have a job offer that is supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer of employment. An LMIA is an application that an employer makes to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to evaluate if hiring foreign workers will have a positive, neutral or negative impact on the Canadian economy. If ESDC deems the impact is negative, the employer will not be eligible to hire foreign nationals, according to CIC News. Under the policy, applicants must also submit an application for an employer-specific work permit no later than February 28, 2025. IRCC said that continuing this policy makes visitors an option for employers in Canada, many of whom are facing significant labour shortages during a period of economic expansion. There was an overall decrease in the number of vacancies to 848,000 from over one million, according to Statistics Canada data from December 2022. However, key sectors like healthcare, food and social assistance still need more employees to fill in-demand positions.

Visitors can continue applying for work permits inside Canada

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Vaishali Gauba dreamed of being a journalist in the US but wasn't able to secure an H-1B visa. </li><li>Years later, Gauba secured a work visa in Canada after moving there to study. </li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Vaishali Gauba, 29, about her experience navigating the US and Canadian immigration systems. Business Insider verified her visas. The following has been edited for length and clarity.I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-usa-denmark-pros-prefer-america-2024-3">moved to the US</a> when I was 17, with ambitions of being a journalist.I grew up in Gurugram, India, and moved to New Jersey in 2012 for my undergraduate degree. I studied journalism, media studies, and business management at Rutgers University.I worked with major US news outlets during and after college and wanted to keep working in America, but couldn't secure an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-startups-sponsor-h1b-work-visas-2024-1">H-1B work visa</a>. I returned to India feeling defeated. Five years later, I <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/english-man-moved-to-canada-loves-it-surprising-things-2023-10">relocated to Canada</a>.In Canada, I found a clearer path to securing a work permit, and I'm less worried about being uprooted by the immigration system.<h2 id="b6a8d628-2960-4ae2-bfa9-e6651b4da0a4">I interned at US media companies at university</h2>I came to the US on an F-1 visa, which is for full-time students.During my studies, I worked for the student newspaper, The Daily Targum, and also did news internships at CNBC, NBC, and CBS, which each lasted around four months.I remember having to get permission from international student services and the journalism department to do the internships, as there were restrictions around working off-campus for F-1 students. The work had to be related to my field of study.I remember feeling anxious about needing to get so many approvals to work as an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-employers-can-support-international-students-job-seekers-2022-3">international student</a>, but thankfully, I was permitted to do the internships.Working at big-name publications felt like a milestone, but it was also difficult to balance the internships with two college majors.<h2 id="76d690be-d407-4073-9d70-b7a3d889b3da">I wasn't able to secure an H-1B visa to stay in the US</h2>I became accustomed to the reality that anything related to my professional life required a lot of paperwork. I knew that to continue working in the US, I needed to apply for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ice-arrests-15-students-employed-fake-companies-to-stay-us-2020-10">optional practical training</a>, which allows F-1 students to work for a year in a field related to their studies.I graduated in May 2016, and after my OPT was approved, I started on the CBS Page Program, a rotational program for graduates.I had several assignments there, including on the evening news and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I talked with Stephen Colbert at the show's rooftop parties and saw many celebrities on the job.But my time there was limited. The Page Program lasted a year, around the time my OPT expired. After six months on the program, I asked CBS about the possibility of sponsoring me for an H-1B visa but was told they don't offer sponsorships.I didn't realize this when I started working there, but I wanted the experience and to work on my OPT, so I would have done the program regardless.I applied to other jobs, but many applications included a question about whether I'd need a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fake-name-resume-hired-guilty-2024-5">visa sponsorship</a> now or in the future. I felt that this one question was already filtering me out as a candidate and I wasn't getting called for interviews.I spoke with two lawyers about my options. They told me about the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-ukraine-tech-culture-differences-2024-5">O-1 visa</a> for people with "extraordinary" ability in certain fields. I tried gathering references for the application, but as time went on, I felt my chances were slim.This is partly because the lawyers shared case studies of people who received O-1 visas with me, and I felt they were more arts-orientated than journalism-orientated. I felt the lawyers weren't confident I had a good chance, so I decided not to apply.Extended family members and lawyers suggested I continue my education to stay in the US on another F-1 visa. I eventually decided against this as I didn't think I could learn anything about news from a school program I wasn't already learning at CBS.<h2 id="f3fc1807-fde1-4bd6-b552-e9cd476f3cef">I went back to India feeling defeated</h2>I started to feel lost. I remember lashing out at my dad on the phone when he suggested I come home, but in the end, I had a gut feeling that it was time to return to India, so <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/left-us-for-northern-ireland-these-cultural-differences-surprised-me-2023-9">I left the US</a> in August 2017.It felt like a defeat. I knew I wanted to be a journalist in America, but I couldn't do it. I'd given so much to the US in terms of time, energy, and money, and it was hard to accept that I had to give up on it because of visa stuff.I spent the next five years in India, working in journalism before pivoting into a brand and communications position. In 2021, I began freelancing in PR and marketing strategy.I planned on doing a master's in digital media to boost my PR career. My boyfriend at the time, who's my husband now, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-from-sydney-australia-to-canada-pros-cons-2024-5">moved to Canada</a> for his MBA in 2021, so I started exploring master's options there.<h2 id="d34eb837-2609-4a93-ba9b-25683513eb6c">I've found the Canadian immigration system to be more immigrant-friendly</h2>I came to Canada on a study permit and started my master's program at Toronto Metropolitan University in September 2022.I applied for a work visa in September 2023 after finishing my studies. While it took a long time to get my study permit because of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cicnews.com/2023/12/breaking-canadian-parliament-committee-provides-recommendations-to-address-immigration-backlogs-1240610.html#gs.bm1bft">the backlog created by COVID-19</a>, the work visa process took less than a month and was fairly easy.Graduating from my master's program made me eligible for an open work permit, which isn't tied to a specific employer. I'm self-employed as a freelancer.Unlike the US <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/h1b-visa-lottery-changes-benefit-startups-hiring-immigrants-2024-2">H-1B process</a>, I didn't need an employer to sponsor me, and there was no lottery system.While I'm aware that some people have a hard time coming to Canada, my overall experience of Canadian immigration processes has been smooth. I feel it's more favorable to immigrants than the US processes.I couldn't get a work visa in the US, but there was a clearer and more stable path to getting one in Canada.When I left the US in 2017, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-first-week-as-president-2017-1">Donald Trump</a> had just become president. My understanding is that it's become <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-google-twitter-speak-out-against-trump-h1b-visa-freeze-2020-6">harder to get a work visa in the US</a> since.My work visa expires in October 2024, and I'm open to options for settling in Canada beyond that. Moving back to India is still a small possibility as my partner, and I have family there, but I like the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montreal-canada-city-low-cost-of-living-quality-of-life-2024-6">quality of life in Canada</a>, and I'm less concerned about my life being uprooted here than I was in the US.

I lost my dream job in the US because I couldn't get a work visa. In Canada, the pathway has been much smoother. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dalia Goldberg chose to leave the US in 2010 to earn her BA at McGill University in Canada.</li><li>During her four years in college, she experienced some culture shock and learned a new language.</li></ul>It was 2009, my <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/high-school-senior-commutes-hour-school-every-day-2024-4">senior year of high school</a> and I felt clueless.I'd never fit in particularly well at school. I enjoyed learning when I was younger, but toned down my enthusiasm when it became clear that having too many nerdy interests was "uncool." So by the time some of my peers were eagerly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/successful-ivy-league-college-application-look-insider-2024-5">filling out college applications</a> and even discussing what they might choose as a major, I was still dragging my feet.I didn't feel particularly excited about the future. What was the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-millennials-skipping-college-living-paycheck-to-paycheck-2024-5">big deal about college</a>, anyway? I'd just be studying the same old subjects, preparing for some job I didn't really want. My parents took me on college visits, where we attended presentations that I listened to halfheartedly.Growing up in a Philadelphia suburb, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/miami-university-ohio-confusion-student-florida-2023-10">University of Miami</a> caught my eye. I was enamored by the lush green campus filled with flowers and fountains, just a half-hour drive from South Beach. The distance from my hometown was an added bonus. But with a whopping cost of attendance of over <a target="_blank" href="https://irsa.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/Documents/CDS1011.pdf">$50,000 per year</a> at the time (including fees, room, and board), I'd definitely have to take out student loans.Similarly, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-nyu-fresham-move-overwhelming-2023-9">NYU</a> offered the excitement of living in a big city, but the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2012/10/04/Most-Expensive-Colleges:-2012-2013.html">tuition fees nearing $60,000 per year</a> were daunting.I began filling out applications to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-public-state-universities-compared-to-ivy-harvard-jobs-2023-7">state schools</a>, a more affordable option. But I couldn't quite give up my dream of moving further away and having an adventure.<h2 id="043029b2-21db-434e-a82f-8e9ab3fa8aeb">I started looking into colleges outside the US</h2>I wanted to meet new people, explore new places, and get a fresh start. Maybe if I could get away from memories of middle-school bullies and awkward encounters with boys, I could finally start to enjoy studying again.My parents had bought me a big book of colleges, which I haphazardly flicked through while watching TV. Then, something caught my eye. Not all the colleges in the book were American; some were overseas, and those were cheaper, a lot cheaper."Can I visit <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-universities-in-every-country-2014-7#ireland-trinity-college-dublin-15">Trinity College Dublin</a>?" I asked my parents. But they weren't fans of this idea. Europe was far away, and going back and forth would be expensive. Would European degrees be valid in the US? There were too many variables.So I proposed a closer option: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/college-tuition-costs-usa-canada-england-2017-3">McGill University </a>in Montreal. It was well-known in the US and just a 1.5 hour flight from Philadelphia. You could even take the train. The costs were significantly cheaper than my other favorites: around $25,000 for the year, including room and board.<h2 id="8416f662-2e81-40fa-b741-48b225dfc14a">Deciding on Montreal came with challenges</h2>During my first <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-montreal-canada-paris-of-north-america-2024-6">visit to Montreal</a>, I knew it was the place for me. I loved the narrow streets of the Old City, the plazas, the bars, and the restaurants. I also found the school appealing. I felt that this was a place where I'd be free to do things my way. I liked the independent approach to student life, with most students moving off-campus after their first year.When I went back to my high school, I pushed harder on my academic efforts than before. I studied hard in my French class, got a few letters of recommendation, and took the ACTs and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-sat-test-easier-expert-2024-3">SAT subject tests</a>. Finally, I got the score I needed for admission.Leading up to graduation, I started to have cold feet. I'd be leaving all the friends I'd made in the last few years and starting completely from scratch. Did I really want to do this? Some friends thought it was cool that I was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-to-canada-from-us-differences-pros-cons-guns-drugs-2023-12">moving to Canada</a>, but others found it odd. Even when I explained the lower costs, it sounded too far away to them.<div type="image" title="Three college students on a couch looking at photos on a camera" height="469" width="625" msid="111390566" hostid="261" sizebytes="29658"></div>When I got to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/montreal-canada-city-low-cost-of-living-quality-of-life-2024-6">Montreal</a>, I didn't feel comfortable right away. Like any college freshman, I was somewhat anxious about being away from home for the first time, but there was also the added element of culture shock.I'd become friends with a French exchange student at my high school and spent some time in France, but I soon found the language and expressions used in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quebec-city-montreal-canada-things-to-do-history-architecture-2022-10">Quebec</a> were a lot different. I also didn't know much about Canadian culture — the slang, the history, the education system, and the way of viewing the world.At first, as I met groups of students who all knew each other from high school, I felt like it would be hard to find my place at McGill. Still, after a while, I found a good group of friends, got involved in city activities, and began feeling at home.<h2 id="eef77b24-1110-4048-a3b3-d398be15d05e">Starting my career abroad</h2>After receiving my diploma four years later, I knew I wanted to stay abroad.I applied for a post-graduate work permit that allowed me to stay in Canada, and found a job at a marketing agency where I had to speak French every day. At first, I felt intimidated. I didn't get some of the jokes and cultural references made around the office, so socializing was hard. Still, over time I began to feel more comfortable working in a second language.After a few years, I decided to move to Berlin with my partner at the time. It was hard to find work, learn German, and navigate the immigration system, but I drew on my previous experiences to help and found a remote job <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-teacher-side-hustle-job-youtube-english-2023-11">teaching English online</a>. We continued moving around Europe until I settled in Spain in 2018, where I started a career as a freelance content writer and journalist.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moved-to-germany-from-us-school-almost-deported-dont-regret-2023-11">Moving abroad for my degree</a> gave me the courage to pursue my own path. As I learned to figure out confusing visa situations, new cultures, and foreign language environments, I became more resilient and motivated in my career.Not having a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/how-to-pay-off-student-loan-debt-fast">student loan to pay off</a> was an added bonus.Got a personal essay about choosing to attend college outside the US that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: <a target="_blank" href="mailto:akarplus@businessinsider.com">akarplus@businessinsider.com</a>.

I'm an American who went to college in Canada. I'm debt-free — and I have no plans to move back to the US.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Canada is developing a scheme to attract digital nomads to the country.</li><li>Under current rules, remote workers are allowed to live and work in Canada for six months.</li></ul>Canada is developing a scheme to attract digital nomads to the country.The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/06/canadas-tech-talent-strategy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the plans were aimed at making Canada a go-to destination for digital nomads. Under current Canadian immigration rules, digital nomads can stay in Canada for up to six months under a visitor status while still working for foreign companies.The details of the new scheme are still uncertain. However, the IRCC said it planned to collaborate with public and private partners to access if more policies were needed to attract global remote workers. The government department said the developments were part of a push to recruit overseas talent, especially highly skilled tech workers."We expect that some digital nomads who initially enter Canada to work remotely will decide to seek opportunities with Canadian employers," the IRCC said in a release. "When they receive a job offer from a Canadian company, they would be able to bring their skills to a Canadian employer by applying for a temporary work permit or even permanent residence."Representatives for the IRCC did not immediately respond to Insider's request for further comment, made outside normal working hours.Governments around the world have been developing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/countries-with-digital-nomad-visas-list-income-requirements-spain-portugal-malta-12">policies for remote workers</a> since the COVID-19 pandemic increased the practice.More than 25 countries offer "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/digital-nomads-share-visa-application-process-malta-dubai-mexico-bermuda-2022-8">digital nomad visas</a>" including Bali, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/portugal-launches-digital-nomad-visa-2700-month-income-requirement-2022-10">Portugal</a>, and Greece. Governments hope the visas will encourage more sustainable tourist economies after the pandemic shut down most international travel and hurt tourist-dependent economies.

Canada is launching a remote-work scheme to lure digital nomads to the country

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Canada's First Nations are breaking ground on historic housing and community development projects.</li><li>The country's most significant developments are happening in Vancouver, its most expensive city. </li></ul>Much like in the US, Canada is experiencing a severe housing affordability crisis, and the country's indigenous communities, known as First Nations, have long suffered disproportionately from inadequate housing.But Canada's indigenous communities are fighting to address the issue. In Vancouver alone, several First Nations are leading a major push to build housing on indigenous-owned land, in some cases partnering with the federal government to build entirely new communities that will house tens of thousands of people, while generating wealth for generations of First Nations members to come.Ground has already been broken on <a target="_blank" href="https://senakw.com/">one of these projects</a>, 11 towers with 6,000 homes being built by the Squamish Nation on a 12-acre piece of land near downtown Vancouver, Canada's most expensive real-estate market. The Squamish people were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/little-known-history-of-squamish-nation-land-in-vancouver-1.5104584">forced off of this land</a> in the early 20th century and finally won back their ancestral territory about 20 years ago.Because the development, named Sen̓áḵw, is on Squamish Nation reserve land, it's not subject to the same governmental land-use regulations as land elsewhere in the city, allowing for a speedier approval and construction process. The first three towers are set to be completed in November 2025, and the rest of the development is scheduled to be done in about eight years.Mindy Wight, CEO of the Squamish development group building Sen̓áḵw, called it "the creation of a modern Squamish village" in an interview with Business Insider.Wight sees Sen̓áḵw and other indigenous developments as particularly innovative ways to solve the region's housing crisis."While the Nation benefits from generating wealth and prosperity for its members, it's actually solving some of those challenges that are facing Vancouver," Wight said.She noted that about 20% of the units will be designated as affordable housing, and 250 units will be reserved for Nation members.The new housing is much needed for Vancouverites, especially First Nation members. Canada's federal auditor general recently <a target="_blank" href="https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/auditor-general-slams-governments-failure-first-nations-housing?taid=65f9e43d90ad1e000175d3a5&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">condemned</a> a "distressing and persistent pattern of failure" by federal programs designed to support First Nations housing and infrastructure, among other services. She said she was "completely discouraged" by the number of First Nations families forced to live in unsafe or inadequate housing.<div type="image" title="The site of the Sen̓áḵw development under construction in late February 2024 in Vancouver, Canada." height="727" width="971" msid="108820264" hostid="261" sizebytes="85718"></div>In a separate effort, three First Nations — the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples — came together to create a partnership to develop six different pieces of land in Vancouver and the surrounding area. The value of the land alone, which has been acquired by the Nations over the last decade, now exceeds $4 billion, according to Brennan Cook, vice president of the MST Development Corporation, the real estate company representing the three First Nations."What they're doing here is groundbreaking, it really hasn't been done elsewhere," Cook said.In two major projects in Vancouver, the MST Development Corporation joined with the Canadian federal government to buy two large pieces of land in the city that will be developed into entirely new communities, with schools, libraries, daycares, public space, and thousands of units of housing.One 90-acre planned development, called Jericho Lands, will house up to 18,000 people — more than doubling the area's current population. The project is moving along — the Vancouver City Council <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/jericho-lands-policy-statement-1.7094161">unanimously approved</a> its policy statement in January, greenlighting the creation of more finalized plans. The other development, Heather Street Lands, a 21-acre site in central Vancouver, will have about 2,600 homes.The Nations want the developments to be an investment that reaps returns over time, so it will offer 99-year leases to homeowners, rather than selling off any of its property."The idea is to create a legacy economic engine for the Nations to provide for their community members, whether that be the preservation and retention of culture, art, language, healthcare, any other kind of employment training procurement opportunities," Cook said.Elisa Campbell, a vice president at the Canada Lands Company, the arm of the federal government partnering with the three First Nations, called the Jericho and Heather Street Lands projects "transformational" and "globally exceptional.""These are not just properties, these are communities that are in the broader context of a city," Campbell told Business Insider. "These are city-building moments."But the pre-construction approval process has been slow because the land isn't First Nations reserve land, and is subject to all of the government's land-use regulations. Heather Lands has been underway for a decade already and the project still isn't done with the municipal approvals process. Jericho Lands is expected to take between 20 and 30 years to complete.The housing projects aren't the only major developments underway on indigenous land in Canada. Just off the coast of Vancouver, the Malahat First Nation is <a target="_blank" href="https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/malahat-first-nation-vancouver-island-battery-manufacturing-facility">building a 100,000-square-foot battery plant</a> in partnership with the company Energy Plug Technologies on the Nation's land. The factory will create in-demand lithium-iron-phosphate battery storage and create about 100 new jobs.<h2>NIMBY pushback</h2>Of course, the housing developments have <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/kits-point-judicial-review-vancouver-squamish-nation-senakw-1.6608352">faced pushback</a> from some community members. Sen̓áḵw <a target="_blank" href="https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-court-rejects-challenge-to-huge-squamish-nation-housing-project-in-vancouver">survived a legal challenge</a> last fall when a British Columbia Supreme Court judge rejected a claim that the local community wasn't sufficiently engaged in the planning process.Some of the development's critics have attempted to weaponize Native American philosophy against it. In one case, former Vancouver city councilor Gordon Price argued that the First Nations cannot call themselves "land defenders" when they're building concrete high rises. "There's a big gap between that and an indigenous way of building," Price, who is not a member of the First Nations, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mf-t2tqSw">told CBC Vancouver</a> last year.Supporters reject Price's argument, noting that building housing and sustainable communities are both in the best interests of the First Nations and the broader city. Bates College environmental studies professor Tyler Harper has called this tendency for non-indigenous Canadians and Americans to stereotype indigenous communities as conservationists "sentimental racism.""Indigenous people are reduced to vehicles for timeless, pre-historical knowledge – wish fulfillment for white progressives dreaming of a prelapsarian age before capital and industry," he <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/Tyler_A_Harper/status/1759636229052625197">wrote</a> recently on X."Canadians aren't used to seeing Indigenous people occupy places that are socially, economically or geographically valuable, like Sen̓áḵw," indigenous writer Michelle Cyca <a target="_blank" href="https://macleans.ca/society/sen%cc%93a%e1%b8%b5w-vancouver/">wrote recently</a> in MacLean's. "It's remarkable because it's a restoration of our authority and presence in the heart of a Canadian city."<div type="image" title="A rendering of residential towers and a courtyard in the Sen̓áḵw development in Vancouver." height="817" width="544" msid="108820265" hostid="261" sizebytes="75930"></div><h2>Could this kind of development happen in the US?</h2>There are no housing or infrastructure developments on US tribal land that match the scale of the First Nations projects in Canada. While some Native American tribes have spearheaded significant <a target="_blank" href="https://tucson.com/news/local/business/pascua-yaqui-tribe-opens-first-master-planned-community-in-tucson/article_fd4f5ade-e83d-11ed-a4b2-e301f69dc840.html#:~:text=The%20Pascua%20Yaqui%20Tribe%20has%20finished%20its%20first%20master%20planned,The%20Homes%20at%20Yaqui%20Square">housing projects</a>, most indigenous-owned land in the US isn't in the most valuable housing markets. Other economic development efforts in the US have been largely focused on the gaming industry, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nber.org/digest/feb03/social-and-economic-impact-native-american-casinos">casinos</a>."The big picture problem is that the legacy of Indian removal is that it forced so many tribes onto marginal land that they are excluded from some of the highest value areas of the country," Alex Armlovich, a senior housing-policy analyst at the Niskanen Center, told Business Insider.Pro-housing and development advocates like Armlovich are "open-mouthed in awe of just what an incredible thing they're working on in Vancouver," Armlovich added.Pro-housing advocates say economic development projects on Indian land are possible if local and state governments take action to restore ancestral land in cities to tribes that are interested in development, or otherwise work with Native American tribes to invest in industrial development."At a time when NIMBYism and permitting hangups are threatening America's push for green industrial policy, a win-win alliance with Native American tribes could be exactly what this nation needs," economist Noah Smith, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/at-least-five-interesting-things-8dd">wrote recently</a>. "Instead of demanding Native Americans be guardians of a pastoral past, we could enlist their aid in leading us into a green technological future."Housing developments are particularly attractive at a time when so many parts of the country are facing a shortage of homes and, as a result, skyrocketing housing costs."If a city wanted to get serious about land acknowledgments, and facilitate development, and house a tribe on its historic lands, that would be pretty incredible to do it in a way that's positive for everybody," Armlovich said.

Canada's First Nations are building the densest neighborhood in the country by reclaiming their ancestral land and defying NIMBYs

<keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> has initiated a significant move which will benefit Indian professionals and other foreigners as it expanded its work permits to family members of temporary international workers from next year. While addressing the reporters, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada Sean Fraser announced that his department is extending work permits to family members of temporary foreign workers on Friday. Prior to this announcement, spouses were only eligible for a work permit if the principal applicant was working in a high-skill occupation. This temporary measure aims to improve the emotional well-being, physical health and financial stability of workers by keeping families together. As a result, it is expected that the worker will better integrate into their overall work environment and community, according to the press statement released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Starting in January 2023, through a temporary 2-year measure, Canada will expand eligibility to work in Canada to spouses and working-age children through a phased approach for workers at all skill levels. This would include families of workers in health care, trades and hospitality, for example. As a result of this new approach, it is estimated that family members of more than 200,000 foreign workers could begin working in Canada, offering a greater opportunity for both foreign workers seeking to work in Canada and for employers addressing their labour needs. "Everywhere I go, employers across the country continue to identify a lack of workers as their biggest obstacle. Today's announcement will help employers find the workers they need to fill their labour gaps by expanding work permits to family members at all skill levels, resulting in family members of over 200,000 foreign workers being able to work in Canada. Our government is going to continue helping employers overcome labour shortages, while also supporting the well-being of workers and uniting their families," the statement quoted Canadian Minister as saying. "Labour is the number 1 challenge facing Canada's tourism sector as we position ourselves for post-pandemic growth. Today, our government is bringing in innovative, family-based solutions to resolve this issue and help our tourism partners grow to meet the global demand for Canadian experiences from coast to coast to coast," he added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/postpartum-depression-in-mothers-can-have-serious-consequences-on-the-childs-health-and-development/articleshow/95946346.cms">Postpartum depression in mothers can have serious consequences on the child’s health and development</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/markets/news/foreign-investors-upgrade-india-as-dedicated-allocation-in-investment-portfolios-say-equity-experts/articleshow/95974087.cms">Foreign investors upgrade India as dedicated allocation in investment portfolios, say equity experts</a>

Family members of Indian workers now eligible to work in Canada

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Susanna Song, 29, and her husband moved to Miami from Toronto in March. </li><li>She said they struggled getting a credit card and renting without paying a huge deposit. </li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Susanna Song, 29, who quit her job as a business analyst-slash-consultant to move from Toronto, Canada, to Miami, Florida with her husband in March. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.I was born in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toronto-things-to-never-do-there-canada-according-to-local">Toronto</a> and raised around the Greater Toronto Area my whole life. All I've ever known is Toronto.I left my job at the end of March to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-miami-nyc-finance-investors-relocate-millennials-florida-taxes-careers-2023-12">move to Miami</a> with my husband, who works in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-miamis-hot-new-tech-scene-2021-6">the tech industry</a>.The move was financially motivated. But another thing that prompted the move, especially toward <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/miami-climate-change-gentrification-flooding-housing-crisis-real-estate-prices-2024-4">Miami</a>, is weather and lifestyle.But the catapult to why we decided to move now is timing. We're 29. To some people, that's young, and to some people, that's the time to start a family. I want to live my life before I have kids. It was now or never.<div type="image" title="South Beach, Miami." height="960" width="1280" msid="110439809" hostid="261" sizebytes="154622"></div>We came here on a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals">TN</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-layoffs-work-h1b-visa-immigration-lawyer-facebook-amazon-2022-12">visa</a>, sponsored through the company my husband works for. We own our condo downtown in Toronto, and we are renting it out right now.In our minds, it was between New York and Miami. New York would be so much more familiar, but Miami would bring that whole new experience for us: a different lifestyle.<h2 id="7720412c-d787-4cff-8142-9c2cdede5989">Opening a bank account and getting a credit card is tough for newcomers to the US</h2>The first day, our flight got delayed. I was so tired and mentally drained. When we got to the Airbnb in Brickell, Miami, it wasn't very homey. My husband went to shower first, and I was sitting on the couch, and I was like, "Oh, my god. What did we just do?"In the beginning, we couldn't even open bank accounts or get credit cards. It's hard to make a bank account if you don't have proof of address. They started our credit limit at $500. That's pretty low, especially for a city like Miami, where it's not necessarily that cheap.We booked our Airbnb closer to downtown Miami. Coming from downtown Toronto, we thought we would love it there. But we realized that the hustle and bustle wasn't for us anymore.<div type="image" title="Song and her husband didn't enjoy the hustle and bustle of Brickell in Miami." height="960" width="1280" msid="110439810" hostid="261" sizebytes="220206"></div>We rented a car. For three days, we were in the car all day, zipping around Miami to different locations. We ended up picking Coral Gables. It's a very family-friendly neighborhood, walkable, and a lot more quiet.You need good credit when you are renting a place. Otherwise, they make you put down an incredible deposit amount. We found a place that looked at a balance of everything and worked with us on a deposit that made sense for us.The main challenge for me, though, which we've always known, is that the visa that we are on only allows me to live in the US. It would not allow me to have a work permit and to make money.I always defined myself by my career success. But I see it as an investment in my future — to figure out what will make me happy long term.<h2 id="133e12b7-c128-41e1-aecf-692ebf084af6">An active, outdoorsy lifestyle boosts my happiness</h2>I know a lot of people get seasonal depression, but I get hit hard every year with it. Last year, in Toronto, was particularly hard for me. It just felt so dark and gloomy.I wanted to become a more active person, going out in the sun and playing tennis and golf. Not that you can't do that in Toronto, but being in Miami removes some of those barriers because of how naturally warm it is.Everything I do, I just try to do outdoors now.<div type="image" title="Coral Gables a quieter, family-oriented neighborhood, according to Song." height="3024" width="4032" msid="110439812" hostid="261" sizebytes="866440"></div>I do groceries by foot, not by car. We take long walks here, an hour to an hour and a half. My husband is also teaching me how to play tennis. Eventually, once we have a car, we're going to play golf.In Toronto, I'd go grocery shopping in a sweatsuit, but here, everybody's in Alo tights and an Alo tank top. It's motivation, though, seeing all the fit people.This is the strongest, mentally healthiest time I've felt in my adult life.<h2 id="80696188-7b4f-4e26-a5fe-fa5a3c080a6e">I've felt homesick, but I don't have any relocation regrets yet</h2>Your entire life is so different when you move. That's a really big aspect of homesickness I didn't think of before.You walk out the door, and everything is different. Your dentist is different, your doctor is different, your hair salon is different, and your favorite coffee shop is different. I feel guilty, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-deal-with-homesickness-loneliness-living-abroad-2023-11">feeling homesick</a>. I should be so happy because I know this is a big privilege and a blessing.But one of the positives of moving to Miami with my husband is that we've always been a couple that likes to travel together. Moving to a new country where you know nobody has made us the type of close that I never thought we would be. I didn't think anyone could ever be this close.It's strengthened our connection as husband and wife, and that's helped with the adjustment.It's hard to plan out your life a couple of years in advance. I don't know what life is going to bring.I didn't leave Toronto because I didn't like it. I left because there were better opportunities, and I wanted to live this lifestyle here.Right now, we're really living each day to the fullest. Do I foresee hard times and challenges? Of course. But ultimately, I still remember why we came here, and for that reason, I do not think I'll regret it.

I'm a millennial who moved to Florida from Canada. I had to put my career on hold, but I'm happier being outside all the time.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Grigory Lukin achieved financial independence and retired early from his Amazon job at age 34.</li><li>He saved a lot of his paycheck and earned relocation bonuses for moving from city to city in the US.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=biauto-64547-20&amp;h=bb7ec99aa2aaf8baadc40202fdc2837ba5a390f5610432a376ea96df1c6dec1e&amp;postID=65e1ed114aaa4153d1fbbce6&amp;postSlug=amazon-worker-financial-independence-retire-early-fire-in-canada-cheaper-2024-3&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FLets-Retire-Young-Simplicity-Lean-FIRE-ebook%2Fdp%2FB0C6R1RNJT%3Fref_%3Dast_author_mpb">Grigory Lukin</a>, 37, about his experience saving through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/financial-independence-retire-early">Lean FIRE method</a> and retiring at age 34 in 2021. Originally from Russia, Lukin lived in different US cities before moving to Canad, all while saving for an early retirement. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.I developed a personal philosophy. It basically amounted to: Earn more, spend less, invest the rest. It was a nice little mantra."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/financial-independence-retire-early">Lean FIRE</a>" is when you live like a monk or like a grad student. Basically, you don't necessarily have to be broke or be "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-employees-use-frupidity-mix-frugality-stupidy-2022-8">frupid</a>" — when you make stupid decisions just to save money and it backfires. It's just about living within your means and not focusing on consumerism and capitalism, but rather enjoying the little things in life.I spent several years just trying to keep my head above the water, financially speaking, working manual jobs at Amazon warehouses.There's a book by Tim Ferriss called "The 4-Hour Workweek." When it came out in 2007, it was really revolutionary. He wrote about a bunch of things, but one of my favorite concepts was geographic arbitrage. Basically, you can enjoy the same standard of living, or even better, someplace way cheaper and way nicer.My long-term plan was to leverage my Amazon seniority and my skill set into getting transferred to one of our offices abroad. In 2016, I decided to write a five-year plan. It said that within five years I was going to move to a slightly more civilized country with better healthcare and a cheaper standard of living. And that I will be able to squirrel away enough money to set off on the most basic Lean FIRE retirement.I updated the plan every three months religiously and managed to accomplish the plan three months ahead of schedule, in May 2021.<h2>I tried to save almost half of my paycheck and sometimes contributed 90% to my 401(k)</h2>When I was living in Seattle, I did my best to save a big chunk of my paycheck.I was using almost every trick in the book. I would cook at home, I would use my little slow cooker to make some chicken, beans, and garlic, and eat it at work. I think it amounted to about $2 a portion, while all of my coworkers were going out to those food trucks.For example, there's this great huge light show in the sky twice a day every single day — the sunrise and sunset, but how many people actually stop to take a look? If they could charge you money for it, they would.I went to fun local events with my friends, different presentations and art gallery openings — and work presentations — to score free cider and snacks.I almost never bought new books or entertainment. I would just use a local library, which is a severely underappreciated resource.<div type="image" title="A man posing on snow in front of a National Park sign." height="2500" width="1875" msid="108248905" hostid="261" sizebytes="596466"></div>I would maintain a $3,000 emergency fund and put everything else that was left over at the end of the month into my taxable investment account. The percentage varied, but I believe every single month, I would save between 25% and 45% of my paycheck.Sometimes I would squirrel away enough money for a few months so that I could switch my 401(k) contribution from 10% to 90%.My paycheck would look absolutely hilarious. It would basically say $100 after all the fees and taxes. As long as you remember to flip it back to a 10% contribution, it was fine.<h2>I was able to supplement my income with relocation bonuses</h2>I never made even close to $100,000 a year.My salary was about $59,000, and then there would be a variable number of stock options. I was a low-level Amazonian. So if I could do it, anyone could do it.I started at Amazon in November 2009 as a temporary seasonal worker, packing boxes in Reno. I got a permanent position in May 2010 and transferred to Las Vegas in September 2011. In August 2012, I became a quality analyst in the ICQA (inventory control, quality assurance) department. I then transferred and helped launch Amazon's fulfillment centers in Fort Worth and Tampa, in the same quality analyst role. I transferred to Seattle and leveled up to the lowest corporate tier in August 2015: my job title became business analyst on PPT (Production Planning Team). In May 2017, I transferred to FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and worked there as an investigation specialist. With Amazon, when you work as a warehouse employee, every time they open a new warehouse somewhere else in the country, they give you a $10,000 cash bonus if you transfer there. They take away one-third for taxes right away, so basically, they give you $6,700 cash in your bank account. You have to figure out your own move and just show up in this warehouse. That's how I moved from Reno to Las Vegas to Fort Worth to Tampa, and then to Seattle.Over the course of three years, I tried to transfer to the UK — before Brexit — Poland, Canada, Australia, and then Canada again. And it finally worked. I got a transfer from Seattle to Toronto in March 2019, where I became a financial analyst attached to a nearby fulfillment center. That was an awesome road trip — I just shoved everything into my little Kia Rio.I spent about two years on a work permit until I got my permanent resident status. By then, it was 2021.I quit Amazon in May 2021. I spent 11-and-a-half years working for Amazon altogether. In 2020, I sold all of my Amazon stock, which I had been stockpiling for years. At the time, it was an all-time high and the only stock that was still going up. I used that money to invest in companies that were basically on sale, 50% or 60% off your shopping malls, cruise ships, airlines, and a couple of other companies like that. Within the years that followed, I believe my total return was 293%.<h2>I finally stopped working after moving to Canada, and it's way easier to save here</h2>I would highly recommend geographic arbitrage, or moving to other countries, to absolutely everybody — but I'm biased.Moving to another country was the foundation of my big plan. When I moved to Toronto, I took a 48% pay cut in my total compensation.I was only in Toronto because it was part of the plan to move to Canada. Once I didn't have to stay there because of Amazon, I finally had a choice to make for the first time in my adult life: I could move to any city I wanted to.<div type="image" title="A man taking a selfie." height="2048" width="1536" msid="108248907" hostid="261" sizebytes="282078"></div>In my personal opinion, aside from some similarities, Canada is suspiciously similar to the United States. There are some differences. Instead of guns, they have maple syrup; instead of miles, you have kilometers. But I didn't feel foreign enough. Quebec, on the other hand, was this mysterious province with its own alternate history. I visited Quebec City to do some apartment hunting and just absolutely fell in love.There are some provinces in Canada that have rent control, like British Columbia and Quebec, but Quebec enforces it a lot better than all the others. The cheapest cities to live in are in Quebec.When my lease in Toronto ended in September 2021, I packed everything up into a U-Haul trailer, sold my car, and moved to Quebec City.Saving here is infinitely easier. When I moved, my rent was all-inclusive for a nice large apartment on the second floor of a brick building next to the tourist sector. The rent was about 670 Canadian (or $493), and that's inclusive of electricity, fast internet — the whole thing. Now it's going up a little bit to 730 Canadian plus 40 Canadian for electricity ($567).You can't get anything in the States for that kind of money in terms of your own apartment in a brick, soundproof, building — just beautiful.The entire past year in 2023, I think I've only bought a few new material things: a couple of books, a new pair of jeans, and some socks, and that was it.I gain pleasure from simple things, like learning to cook with my Instant Pot is amazing. I enjoy a very nice healthy and balanced diet. Going out and having fun and all of that definitely fits into a $ 1,000-a-month budget, give or take.I would recommend everyone at least consider geographic arbitrage, if not to another country, then maybe another city or another state. I know a lot of people are rooted to where they are through their community, family, friends. But it's kind of like "Lord of the Rings" — it's little hobbits who are reluctant to leave their village until they absolutely have to.The first time you move is the most difficult, and then it just gets easier and easier every single time. Being this modern-day, nomadic vagabond is a lot of fun if you let it be.

I retired from Amazon at 34 and chose to settle in Canada, where I only need $1,000 a month to live well

<ul><li>Indians were the top immigrant group to take up residence in <keyword id="6356687" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="canada" source="Orion">Canada</keyword> this year (January to March).</li><li>The country also plans to welcome over 4,32,000 new immigrants this year, as per an Economic Times report.</li><li>The <keyword id="151242" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Canadian-government" source="Orion">Canadian government</keyword> announced on April 22 that Express Entry draws will soon resume and applications for candidates to apply for permanent residents will begin early July.</li></ul>Canada is one of the most popular choices among Indians to either work or for higher education. According to the figures of the first quarter, which was released earlier in April by the Canadian government, Indians were the top immigrant group to take-up residence in Canada this year (January to March). In the first three months of this year itself, the country had welcomed 1,08,000 migrants including Indians. In 2021, nearly 100,000 Indians became permanent residents of Canada as the country admitted a record 405,000 new immigrants in its history so far. The country also plans to welcome over 4,32,000 new immigrants this year, <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/migrate/indians-top-as-canada-admits-108000-new-immigrants-in-the-first-quarter/articleshow/90587538.cms?from=mdr">as per</a> an Economic Times report. To hit its target number, the country announced on April 22 that Express Entry draws will soon resume and applications for candidates to apply for permanent residents will begin early July. Express Entry is a programme for permanent immigration for <keyword id="7701922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Canadian-Experience-Class" source="Orion">Canadian Experience Class</keyword> (CEC), <keyword id="1040205" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Federal-Skilled-Worker-Program" source="Orion">Federal Skilled Worker Program</keyword> (FSWP), and <keyword id="10218776" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Federal-Skilled-Trades-Program" source="Orion">Federal Skilled Trades Program</keyword> (FSTP). Eligibility for CEC — Skilled workers with 3 years of Canadian work experience before applying for Express Entry. Eligibility for FSWP — Skilled workers with foreign work experience must meet education and other criterias. Eligibility for FSTP — Skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade and must have a valid job offer or a certificate of qualification. Canada has rolled out new policies to address the labour shortage in the country.“ As Canada continues to recover from the pandemic, employers are actively looking to fill hundreds of thousands of vacant positions in all sectors across the country. Immigration is more important than ever to fuel Canada’s economy, as our strong economic growth is now outpacing our ability to find and keep workers,” said the press release rolled out by the government of Canada. International immigrants whose stay visa is soon to expire can stay a little longer through this new temporary policy. <keyword id="5792642" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sean-fraser" source="Orion">Sean Fraser</keyword>, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said in the release, “ A new temporary policy that will give recent international graduates with expiring temporary status an opportunity to stay in Canada longer, so that they can continue to gain work experience and have a better chance at qualifying for permanent residency.” He further said, “Starting in summer 2022, former international students who are in Canada and have a post-graduation work permit expiring between January and December 2022 will qualify for an additional open work permit of up to 18 months. We are exploring a simplified, expeditious process for this, and details will be made available in the weeks ahead.” The Federal High Skilled processing inventory has been cut in half, decreasing from 119,000 people in September 2021 to just 48,000 people in March 2022, said Fraser. According to the ET report, over 95,000 post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) are going to expire in 2022 and around 50,000 of them could enjoy the benefits of this new open work permit. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Getting a permanent residence is easier now" comment="subhead" text="Getting a permanent residence is easier now">Getting a permanent residence is easier now</cmsannotation> In order to attract more foreign immigrants to fill up the job vacancies in Canada, the country has doubled the number of permanent residence decisions made in the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same time period in 2021. “ From January 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022, we have made over 156,000 final decisions on permanent residence applications and, through these efforts, Canada welcomed over 113,000 new permanent residents in the first quarter of 2022,” revealed the release. Canada also rolled out a ‘limited-time pathway’ programme for temporary residents to apply for permanent residence in 2021. Currently, new applications are closed for now and the processing of the applications that came in 2021 is going-on for now. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/swiggy-to-upskill-delivery-boys-to-become-company-employees/articleshow/91069593.cms">Swiggy to upskill delivery boys to become company employees</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/top-universities-producing-the-most-number-of-ceos-guess-which-indian-institute-is-included-in-the-list/slidelist/91066313.cms">top universities producing the most number of CEOs — guess which Indian institute is included in the list</a>

Planning to study in or migrate to Canada? Know about the new immigration policies announced by the country

<ul><li>Canada has accelerated the process for permanent residency for candidates with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) skills. </li><li>The duration of the permit is two years, after which workers can apply for permanent residency. </li><li>The permanent scheme will benefit companies looking for specialised skills and short-term occupations.</li></ul>A permanent residency visa application to move to Canada can take several months, if not years. It appears now -- at least for technologists -- a faster work permit may bring closer permanent residency. Under its GTS scheme, technologists with science, technology, engineering and mathematics or STEM background, can secure a work permit in certain sectors in two weeks, TOI <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/canada-holds-doors-wide-open-for-indians/articleshow/68804155.cms">reported.</a> That is likely to aid in their future PR applications. The duration of the permit is two years, after which workers can apply for PR. The GTS scheme is said to benefit companies looking for specialised talent and those planning to fill short-term positions. For the companies seeking <keyword id="6822620" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="STEM-Skills">STEM skills</keyword>, the minimum annual salary bar will be 80,000 canadian dollars for the first two applications and 1,50,000 CAD for the rest. Canada is the second largest destination for Indian emigrants moving with ‘in demand’ skills, a recent Linkedin report said.

You Searched For "Canada work permits" and got 12 results

My husband and I moved from the US to Canada 13 years ago. We love the free healthcare here and the great friends we made.

Lygia Navarro

Canada's bold plan to make housing more affordable is showing signs of working and could be a model for the US

Eliza Relman

Visitors can continue applying for work permits inside Canada

IANS

I lost my dream job in the US because I couldn't get a work visa. In Canada, the pathway has been much smoother.

Charissa Cheong

I'm an American who went to college in Canada. I'm debt-free — and I have no plans to move back to the US.

Dalia Goldberg

Canada is launching a remote-work scheme to lure digital nomads to the country

Beatrice Nolan

Canada's First Nations are building the densest neighborhood in the country by reclaiming their ancestral land and defying NIMBYs

Eliza Relman

Family members of Indian workers now eligible to work in Canada

ANI

I'm a millennial who moved to Florida from Canada. I had to put my career on hold, but I'm happier being outside all the time.

Maria Noyen

I retired from Amazon at 34 and chose to settle in Canada, where I only need $1,000 a month to live well

Jordan Pandy

Planning to study in or migrate to Canada? Know about the new immigration policies announced by the country

Vaamanaa Sethi

Canada just made it easier for Indian techies to find work in the country

BI India Bureau

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