USA or Canada, which is better for immigration?

Contrary to popular opinion, it is much easier to immigrate to Canada than to the USA. In general, USA immigration is employment-based, which means the easiest and fastest way to enter the USA is via a work permit or business immigration. After that, an applicant can “adjust their status” for permanent residence. Unless a person is sponsored by a close relative, rarely do people immigrate to the USA directly and must enter first on a work permit (which means a person must have an employer first).

Canada has a wider variety of options for immigration, permanent and temporary. It has skilled immigration streams where qualified applicants from overseas are invited for permanent residency based on a point matrix, which the US does not currently have.

Canada also has family sponsorships, as well as business immigration streams. Both countries do promote international student programs but converting to a permanent residency in Canada is simpler and more efficient than the US version.

USA or Canada, immigration differences

1. The USA has a priority date system that lets applicants know where their application is in the system. Canada does not.

2. Canada does not have a publicly announced quota for the number of immigrants entering or for work permits. The USA does, for example: if you are applying for an H1B visa and the quota has been filled, you must wait until the next year.

3. Canada permits its visitors to renew their visitor status in an easy way. After 9/11 USA has restricted the time a visitor can remain in the country and it is much more difficult to extend.

4. USA keeps a tracking system of who comes in and out. Canada until recently had no record of who/ when a person leaves but has started rolling out this system which is still not 100% implemented.

5. EEUU permits the sponsorship of siblings, this kind of application can take a decade to be processed, on the other hand, Canada has eliminated the sponsorship of siblings altogether.

Business Immigration USA or Canada, which one is better?

Some major similarities are found in the business immigration streams of US & Canada. They both have very identical intra-Company transfer, and E-2 visas which is the equivalent of the economic benefit/owner-operator program in Canada (to buy or start a business).

Both countries have a Startup Visa program, although the US one is stricter and does not issue direct green cards.

The major difference in the US and Canadian business immigration streams is that the US has the EB5 program which is based on a 100% passive investment to obtain a conditional green card which eventually turns into a regular green card. Canada has no such program except for the provincial Quebec investor program which is now temporarily closed until 2023.

If you have a business idea or an existing business, whether it's a Startup or not, we can help you move your operations or business concept to Canada. Get a FREE assessment with our Business Immigration experts, fill out our form. Click here.

Which is more expensive Canada or USA? 

Let’s look at the cost of living between 2 major urban cities: New York City and Toronto.

Source: Numbeo

Healthcare:

The United States has the highest healthcare costs in the world. Per capita, individuals can expect to pay approximately $11,172 annually. On the other hand, Canadians spend an annual average of $7,064.

It’s a well-known fact that the social support and medical system in Canada is more encompassing, but the US isn’t. In retrospect, the Canadian healthcare system is slower, but the US one is faster and has more options, although more expensive.

Education:

University can be another large expense in a person's life and puts many students deep in debt. The United States tops the list for countries with the most expensive university costs, with Canada coming in 11th. The average annual tuition at a ranked, in-state public college in the U.S. is estimated at $9,687, while the average annual tuition at a private college was $35,000 according to the National Center for Education Statistics, undergraduate tuition, fees, room, and board were estimated to be $17,797 at public institutions, $46,014 at private non-profit institutions, and $26,261 at private for-profit institutions.

In Canada, the average annual tuition at a public college in 2020-2021 was $6,580 Canadian dollars.

Undergraduate Courses:

The cost of undergraduate degrees in the US varies greatly between institutions, and it is even higher for international students. International students pay $25,000-$35,000 per year at a public university and $30,000-$45,000 at private colleges on average. The cost can reach up to $50,000-$55,000 per year for some private colleges.

For a cheaper option, you can go to a community college. You will receive an associate’s degree instead of a bachelor’s degree. They can charge you $2500-$3000 per year. You can use the associate’s degree as a qualification for the first half of your bachelor’s degree and later you can apply for a master’s degree as well.

Postgraduate Courses:

All the fees depend on the courses that you choose. In general, a Ph.D. or master’s course will cost less than the MBA, JD, or MD courses. International students usually pay $20,000-$35,000 for public colleges and $35,000-$50.000 for private colleges per year.

If you’re interested in studying in Canada, you’re at the right place! At INGWE, we have successfully supported applicants from +47 countries. Get a FREE assessment with one of our licensed immigration consultants, click here.

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