Eight causes expert international employees within the US ought to think about immigrating to Canada…

In the event you’re a talented international employee in the USA contemplating new alternatives, Canada affords compelling causes to make the transfer up north.

The USA persistently ranks as one of many high international locations of residence for candidates invited to use for Canadian everlasting residency (PR), as per the Specific Entry year-end report 2023.

Uncover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

With a shared border and a long-standing relationship, Canada and the US keep shut connections that may make the transition simpler.

Listed below are some causes to contemplate immigrating to Canada in the event you’re a talented international employee within the US:

Quicker pathways to everlasting residency

Canada affords a number of pathways to everlasting residency (PR), the equal of a inexperienced card within the US. Some of the fashionable routes is the Specific Entry system, which scores candidates based mostly on components akin to age, training, work expertise, and language proficiency.

Many expert international employees within the US are more likely to be eligible for Canada’s Federal Expert Employee Program (FSWP), enabling them to create an Specific Entry profile and to enter the Specific Entry pool.

The very best-ranking people within the pool are invited to use for PR throughout periodic attracts held by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

A top-ranking candidate would possibly obtain an invite to use (ITA) inside a number of weeks of getting into the pool. After responding to their ITA, a profitable candidate might obtain everlasting residency inside just a few months (5 months is the newest processing time).

In distinction, acquiring a US employment-based inexperienced card could be a prolonged and unsure course of. It usually will depend on employer sponsorship and might take a few years, particularly for candidates from international locations with excessive demand, akin to India and China. Processing occasions for these candidates can exceed a decade.

Quicker pathways to citizenship

Canadian everlasting residents who’ve resided inside the nation for 3 out of the final 5 years can apply for Canadian citizenship.

Within the US, a inexperienced card holder can apply to turn into a citizen after 5 years of changing into a lawful everlasting resident, or three years if they’re married to a US citizen.

Work-life steadiness

Canada values work-life steadiness and has carried out legal guidelines in some provinces that limit after-work communication, giving workers the fitting to disconnect.

Statutory holidays, that are paid days off, are additionally an essential a part of Canada’s work tradition. Some holidays are noticed nationwide – akin to New 12 months’s Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day – whereas others are particular to particular person provinces.

On common, Canadians obtain 10 to 13 such paid holidays per yr, relying on the province the place they dwell.

In distinction, the USA acknowledges 11 federal holidays, however non-public employers aren’t required to watch them (besides federally-chartered banks).

All Canadian jurisdictions mandate that employers present workers with at the very least two weeks (or four% of gross wages) of paid trip per yr, and infrequently three weeks or extra for longer-tenured workers. Canadian jurisdictions additionally require that employers pay out any accrued trip on the finish of your employment.

In distinction, many US jurisdictions present no trip minimums in any way – and in lots of states, employers aren’t required to pay out accrued trip time on termination.

Severance pay

Severance pay is paid to an worker to compensate them for misplaced wages when they’re terminated with out trigger, with no lengthy sufficient discover interval.

In all Canadian jurisdictions, laws supplies a minimal requirement of 1 week for discover of termination, or pay in lieu of discover, when shedding an worker. Which means that in the event you’re laid off in Canada, you possibly can anticipate to obtain at the very least one week’s discover or one week’s pay, and infrequently extra, as these minimums enhance along with your tenure.

Moreover, in case your employment settlement in Canada lacks a termination clause, or has an unlawful or unenforceable termination clause, you may be entitled to common-law severance, within the quantity of months or years, relying in your scenario.

In distinction, many US states observe “at-will” employment, which means that an employer can terminate an worker at any time, for any cause (so long as it’s not discriminatory), without having to offer discover or pay in lieu of discover.

Publicly funded common healthcare

In contrast to the USA, Canada has a common well being care system funded by way of taxes. All everlasting residents can apply for public medical health insurance.

In Canada, you needn’t fear about shedding medical health insurance protection for emergencies or critical medical situations in the event you lose your job.

In the event you do get group medical health insurance protection by way of your Canadian employer, that is prolonged well being protection, and you may anticipate to pay round 75-140 CAD per thirty days out of pocket for it.

In distinction, shedding your job in the USA usually means shedding the medical health insurance required for vital medical care. If you are employed within the US, you’ll pay rather more out of pocket in your portion of the premiums—a mean of 978 CAD (702 USD) per thirty days, in response to the Kaiser Household Basis (KFF)’s 25th Employer Well being Advantages Survey.

Paid parental go away

In Canada, new dad and mom can take as much as 76 weeks of paid break day, by receiving advantages beneath the federal Employment Insurance coverage program.

In distinction, the US supplies for less than 12 weeks of unpaid parental go away.

Canadian paid break day for folks consists of a mix of go away for the birthing mum or dad (“maternity go away”), and go away for both mum or dad (“parental go away”).

Maternity go away in Canada

The birthing mum or dad will get as much as 15 weeks of the place they’ll obtain Employment Insurance coverage advantages at a fee of 55% of their common weekly earnings, as much as $668 weekly.

Parental go away in Canada

As well as, new dad and mom are entitled to 69 weeks off which will be cut up between the 2 (with nobody mum or dad getting greater than 61 weeks).

There are two choices – customary parental and prolonged parental – with the quantity of pay relying on the choice chosen.

Parental go away within the US

US legislation for parental go away permits workers to take a job-protected go away of absence of as much as 12 weeks, however doesn’t present for any pay.

Previous age safety

Retirees in Canada can obtain a month-to-month pension of as much as 989.63 CAD (in 2024), by claiming Previous Age Safety (OAS) advantages.*

On high of this, low-income retirees can obtain a further $1,086.88 CAD (in 2024) within the type of the Assured Earnings Complement (GIS).

Each funds are listed to inflation and are offered based mostly on being retirement age and the way lengthy the particular person has resided in Canada. They’re funded out of tax income and never based mostly on a retiree’s historic employment earnings or contributions.

The US supplies retirees with no comparable profit to OAS.

Each Canada and the US present different pensions based mostly on retirees’ historical past of employment earnings: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Social Safety, respectively.

In the event you transfer to Canada, you possibly can nonetheless acquire any Social Safety advantages you might be entitled to when you retire, based mostly on earlier earnings and contributions in the USA.

*Assuming delaying receiving OAS to age 70, in order to maximise the month-to-month profit.

Welcoming tradition

Canada is understood for its various inhabitants and a tradition that’s welcoming of newcomers.

In response to the 2021 Canadian census, Canada’s inhabitants self-reported over 450 ethnic or cultural origins. Canada additionally ranked first on Gallup’s 2019 Migrant Acceptance Index, scoring eight.46 out of 9. In distinction, the US ranked in sixth place.

The Canadian authorities acknowledges the contributions of newcomers and actively helps their integration.

Newcomers to the nation can profit from free government-funded settlement organizations, language courses (in English and French), and different techniques in place to ease the transition.

Uncover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration