One Year Later: My Experience Moving from Canada to the US

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  • Опубліковано 29 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 136

  • @Bossnj
    @Bossnj Рік тому +64

    I’m a Canadian born and raised and I’m looking forward to move to USA 🇺🇸

    • @mayatorres5858
      @mayatorres5858 Рік тому +2

      Why? America has a very poor quality of life.

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому +12

      I would recommend working for a company that has offices/HQ in the U.S. and doing an internal transfer.

    • @lkspor5626
      @lkspor5626 Рік тому +29

      @@mayatorres5858 poor life? lmao hot dog sellers and uber drivers makes least $500 in a day and truck drivers makes least 10k in a month!

    • @mayatorres5858
      @mayatorres5858 Рік тому +3

      @@lkspor5626 I said poor QUALITY OF LIFE. Try reading next time. And there are a ton of people living below or near the poverty line, if we must go there.

    • @angryanglocanadian7581
      @angryanglocanadian7581 Рік тому

      @@mayatorres5858 Canada sucks. Time to move to the US while you still can. If you are uneducated and doing min. wage then Canada is good but otherwise US is way better

  • @C_Ma__S
    @C_Ma__S 11 місяців тому +29

    My biggest qualms in Canada are two-fold. 1. Cost of living, realestate, cell phones, insurance, etc, is way too expensive. Its actually quite ridiculous how expensive it is to live here now.
    2. The 6 to 8 months of winter with many bouts of extreme cold and snow. As I get older my tolerance for it is waning.

    • @quietreader4190
      @quietreader4190 4 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, the US has all four seasons and some places get colder than others with snow and wet and ice but then we have places that don't get really any snow during the winter but it can get chilly. From what I understand, it's somewhere in Tennessee that is the cut off point for snow and anywhere south of that you will rarely get snow. A lot of people in the northern US states that get snow will snowbird if they can afford to.
      Snowbirding is when people will leave in the late fall before snow starts to places like Florida, Texas, and the like and will live down in their second home until spring in which they will return to their main residence.

    • @C_Ma__S
      @C_Ma__S 4 місяці тому

      @quietreader4190 oh yeah for sure about the snowbirding thing. Us canadians do it too, some will go down to florida, arizona, california etc. For a good chunk of the winter.

  • @joshchen2539
    @joshchen2539 Рік тому +22

    wow, glad to hear that you are from Calgary, I'm in Clagary and I've been thinking of moving to USA recently so I searched for some videos. I'm a programmer as well.

    • @estebanforondasierra
      @estebanforondasierra 6 місяців тому

      Hey @joshchen2539. Did you take your decision already?
      I'm also a programmer living in Toronto and I've been struggling with this decision a lot. I like the work-life balance in Canada, how friendly people are and how many fun plans you can find. But I find crazy how high the rent prices are and specially how unfordable everything is here. At the other hand I'm a little bit afraid of losing a lot of life balance moving to US but I like the idea of earning more money and being able to afford things I like for my future as a house for example.
      Would be great to hear your thoughts, maybe talk if that is possible

    • @joshchen2539
      @joshchen2539 6 місяців тому +2

      @@estebanforondasierra hey man, First, I moved to Toronto as well, I'm in Toronto and I understand all your points, but my main point is that Canada is not affordable even for programmers with many years of experience, only the US can provide us opportunities and money, and so simple to compare and make a decision. Second, don't be afraid to lose something, you will gain more than you thought.

    • @LK-iy9qw
      @LK-iy9qw 4 місяці тому

      Did you successfully start your new life in the US?​@@joshchen2539

  • @stugooden7826
    @stugooden7826 Рік тому +7

    Fellow Canadian comms pro living in the US! Great video

  • @mmonikat
    @mmonikat Рік тому +7

    I went through the exact same experience.My biggest struggle though is coming from Toronto to Kentucky is finding a good friend group .

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому

      I actually just released a vlog that talked about the Seattle Freeze! I do share some tips for making new friends in new places at kkarenism.com/seattlefreeze if helpful.

    • @bikashlamsal6254
      @bikashlamsal6254 Рік тому +2

      Can i transfer my college from Canada to USA I m doing my Pg nursing course in Canada please explain me I want to move USA

  • @BenGarrott
    @BenGarrott Рік тому +3

    Lived in Washington my whole life. Yes Seattle and the surrounding areas are less safe, older and dirtier than the Bellevue area, which is a lot more expensive, but you kind of get what you pay for.

  • @RatherBeCancelledThanHandled
    @RatherBeCancelledThanHandled Рік тому +6

    Congrats ! I wouldn’t want to live in Seattle ; but I’d love Texas .

  • @sadaffatima8120
    @sadaffatima8120 5 місяців тому +2

    Great video, thanks for sharing! My biggest roadblock for moving to US is healthcare. How is your experience?

  • @keithpalmer4547
    @keithpalmer4547 Рік тому +22

    I moved from the USA to Canada. Could not be happier and have no regrets. I am in southern Alberta. The USA is a great place but so is Canada. Both nations have separate issues but both are some of the best places on earth to live overall.

    • @truthteller2711
      @truthteller2711 Рік тому +2

      May I ask why and what’s the advantage of moving to Canada? Thanks

    • @keithpalmer4547
      @keithpalmer4547 Рік тому +9

      @@truthteller2711 healthcare is better here in Canada as in affordable "free", few tRump supporters, MUCH less gun violence, School Shootings are nonexistent basically, Cities are MUCH safer overall, quality of life is better as shown in most global rankings for livable cities, countries and happiness indexes. However the USA is the place to be if you want to make $$$$, the USA is huge with a very wide array of cities big and small, country living from desert, mountain, coasts, forests etc. And people are more friendly in the USA.

    • @deadshotmeek
      @deadshotmeek Рік тому

      ⁠@@keithpalmer4547may I ask which states are the best to move to? been thinking of trying out the states for awhile.

    • @Maryb-j5k
      @Maryb-j5k Рік тому +4

      @@keithpalmer4547Hi Keith, even with the current economic state of Canada? I live in Toronto and I just want to run away… 😢

    • @Ghettofinger
      @Ghettofinger 8 місяців тому +2

      @@keithpalmer4547 The US is a big plcae, the advantages you mentioned are either non existent or better in the US depending on where you live. Sure, comparing the average of the country, Canada is better in those respects, but if you live in a upscale neighborhood in Massachusetts, you will live better tyan most people in Canada.

  • @gunit6815
    @gunit6815 5 місяців тому +3

    How can a regular Albertan immigrate to the United States? Canada is getting quite unaffordable. Can you make any recommendations? I do not have any fancy degrees or any family living down there. My wife and I would like to make the move in the next few years. So I cannot do any software engineering or fancy jobs like that.

    • @sjlcanada
      @sjlcanada 3 місяці тому +1

      open a canadian non profit organization and then open a subsidiary llc in usa. Use that llc to sponsor you to go to the states through the O1 visa. Youll need to be a director or higher to be considered extraordinary status.
      The process takes a few months.
      OR
      if you want to skip the hard work, just ask an already registered non profit with a similar set up to help you out. although they may charge a fee of about 2-3k.

  • @tofunmi-l3k
    @tofunmi-l3k Рік тому +1

    Thanks for sharing this 💗💗

  • @ScottHaggins-e3k
    @ScottHaggins-e3k 3 місяці тому

    Thank you for sharing, I'm a Canadian currently living in the Deep South, family reasons, but would also be curious how you find the personalities of Americans different than Canadians, if any...

  • @chizaa8
    @chizaa8 Рік тому +1

    Oh jeez I just got my G last year so I’m a late bloomer with driving and as soon as you said you had to take a driving test I got flashbacks and said NOPE!! lmao I’m glad moving there worked out for you though!

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому +2

      haha thank you, it hasn't been easy but I am grateful for the learnings.

  • @liyaboleo
    @liyaboleo 2 місяці тому

    The video did not explain the most important part of the process in depth: VISA......what types of VISA did you or MS apply for? TN? H1B?

  • @SANJ0288
    @SANJ0288 Рік тому +2

    How did you move though what type of visa? Did Microsoft pay for all your moving expenses and how do you find the cost of healthcare given its free in Canada?

    • @robocop581
      @robocop581 Рік тому +4

      Healthcare is not free in Canada

    • @jypapiiiii
      @jypapiiiii Рік тому +4

      There's long waits for healthcare though

    • @mfaye5549
      @mfaye5549 9 місяців тому +1

      I've had horrible experiences with the Healthcare system here. (Canada) People overdosing and dying while in waiting rooms.

    • @megp5112
      @megp5112 9 місяців тому +2

      Have you not looked at the taxes we pay? It's far far far from free. We pay out the ass for shit

  • @lally754
    @lally754 Рік тому

    Thank you so much for this video!

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому +1

      Thank you for watching Laura!

    • @TheLion-pl1im
      @TheLion-pl1im 9 місяців тому

      @@kkarenism great video! I subscribed to your channel! Which type of visa did you receive to move to the USA?

  • @Maryb-j5k
    @Maryb-j5k Рік тому

    Can you please say how you found your job in Seattle? Did you have a reference from Microsoft?

  • @treyreed5734
    @treyreed5734 8 місяців тому +1

    My girlfriend is a Canadian citizen with a degree in Early Childhood Education. We’re not married and I’m a U.S citizen in the military. She’s looking to move with me to my next unit where I’ll be for 2 years. Which Visa do you recommend she applies for?

    • @karenngo4888
      @karenngo4888 7 місяців тому

      I am not too sure since her degree isn't business or technical focused, so it can be tough to get a U.S. work visa. I would recommend consulting an immigration consultant!

  • @ViralCog
    @ViralCog 3 місяці тому

    How do i move my home things from canada to usa ? Do the moving companies do cross border move?

  • @EliF-ge5bu
    @EliF-ge5bu 8 місяців тому +2

    4:21. You are not a citizen, first or second class. You are a resident alien and must get all the paperwork in order when you choose to move here.

    • @karenngo4888
      @karenngo4888 7 місяців тому

      Correct, I am a resident alien... I was saying that I felt like I was "second class"!

    • @elifuentes7070
      @elifuentes7070 7 місяців тому +1

      @@karenngo4888 You felt like a second-class citizen because you must start from scratch and get all the paperwork that citizens have spent a lifetime putting together? How entitled are you?

    • @sjlcanada
      @sjlcanada 3 місяці тому

      @@elifuentes7070 i mean when you get called an alien and youre from canada....thats just crazy lol.

  • @drieschnerdify
    @drieschnerdify 29 днів тому

    I would like to move down there in the near future

  • @ThePhantom712
    @ThePhantom712 2 місяці тому

    So im a Canadian as well and I was thinking about moving to the U.S, What would happen to my credit score if I moved to the U.S because my credit score is in the 700s and how long did it take to get a Social security number? Housing up here in Northern Canada is like non existent and if u do find housing its very expensive so is the cost of food and everything else.

    • @rileyharris6425
      @rileyharris6425 Місяць тому

      Your credit score won’t move with you if you do decide to move to the u.s

  • @MizzRosexox
    @MizzRosexox Рік тому +4

    What visa did you have to apply for and did you have to pay for a lawyer yourself ? What website is good to search for jobs in the US? I’m in Ontario

  • @drieschnerdify
    @drieschnerdify Рік тому +2

    I'm hoping that I can move to the United States as well I'm just starting my process I hope it goes well

    • @simonlee7077
      @simonlee7077 Рік тому +1

      Same. Though I'm in school, but I hope to pursue some good internship opportunities to maximize my chances of getting a return offer from a US company. That'll set me on the path towards permanent residency

    • @drieschnerdify
      @drieschnerdify Рік тому

      Thats great I hope everything works out for ya

  • @TYUIO11111
    @TYUIO11111 5 місяців тому

    albertan here we have no provincial tax(state tax) yes 0 and have free health care and way cheaper over the counter drugs. This blew my mind when i went to states so expensive! pay is pretty good housing is decent edmonton can get a place for 300k canadian, also job protection every candian has a pension via government , employment insurance if you lose your job and by law company has to give you severance if they fire you an 3 weeks notice. if you get fired in the u.s you are screwed, evry tech person i know (no joke every one of them) has been laid off and they were not working for a giant company so no severance or health insurance

  • @Inficate-bd3qu
    @Inficate-bd3qu 8 місяців тому

    Hi Karen, thanks for sharing! I wonder how you handled the six-month gap before moving to the US. I guess you were still working for Microsoft at that time, so it wasn't an issue. But for people switching companies, can they continue working for the Canadian company until the move happens?

    • @karenngo4888
      @karenngo4888 7 місяців тому

      That would depend on your employer and the terms you discuss!

  • @SnelSports
    @SnelSports 4 місяці тому +1

    I’m 26 born in Canada lived my whole life by the time in 30 I’ll be living in the USA for the rest of my life

  • @dourbeen
    @dourbeen 8 місяців тому

    Why didn't you go withTN visa? One gets it rightaway at border based on job offer letter.

    • @karenngo4888
      @karenngo4888 7 місяців тому +2

      I got an L1B visa because I had already worked at a subsidiary (Microsoft Canada) for over a year.

  • @rgx4306
    @rgx4306 6 місяців тому

    How did you find the job? I’m Canadian and have family in California, and wanting to move.

  • @simonlee7077
    @simonlee7077 Рік тому +2

    I'm still in college, but I plan to transfer to a university to complete a 4 year bachelor's. The recent layoffs haven't been good news, but I hope things get better when I graduate. I wish to immigrate to the US through tech employment and I will do so regardless of what others say. But when it comes to job hunting, how hard was it to find a company who's willing to hire you since you need a visa? I might qualify for the TN visa, but some companies explicitly say no visa sponsorship including TN. Do you think I have a chance immediately after graduation to land a job offer in the US?

    • @ittybiskii_7991
      @ittybiskii_7991 Рік тому +1

      Currently going through the same thing, I hope you still kept your motivation for your big move!

    • @theghostedfounder
      @theghostedfounder Рік тому

      you need experience to qualify for a TN visa. so right after college would be impossible even if you get a job willing to sponsor for TN. USCIS does not issue TN visas for recent graduates. read the guidelines.

  • @sjlcanada
    @sjlcanada 3 місяці тому +1

    somehow with me making 34k per year in usa, i have more money in my pocket than when i was living in canada at 70k per year lol

  • @AkaSpartan
    @AkaSpartan 8 місяців тому

    Wild I was looking this up but I remember you from school

  • @chriskozma3507
    @chriskozma3507 Рік тому +2

    Did you get a bullet proof vest?

    • @sjlcanada
      @sjlcanada 3 місяці тому

      its needed. i remember when US customs asked me what my vest was for. i told them " you crazy bastards have guns" lol.

  • @Pulkit__7
    @Pulkit__7 5 місяців тому

    Nice, I am working on my communication skills, and very soon, apply to all USA west coast jobs 🤘
    Do you mind, explaining what does day in life working in customer communication team, looks like? Like, what work do you do? Is it interesting or boring?

  • @SheldonRunkle
    @SheldonRunkle 4 місяці тому

    S.Bend,In.here,…I want to get polotitions here to have an open policy for;Canada,U.K, Iraland,Israel& western English speaking countries ! !

  • @judeezeani4498
    @judeezeani4498 Рік тому

    Hey,I’m also looking to relocate..pls more videos on this

  • @adonis-e3u
    @adonis-e3u 3 місяці тому

    Good Luck.

  • @gvrry
    @gvrry 9 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for your insight! Been thinking of moving myself and my partner for more affordable pastures

  • @x0Angels
    @x0Angels 2 роки тому +2

    we want a jackie reveal!!!

  • @CanadaMath
    @CanadaMath 2 місяці тому

    In 2004 I wrote a somewhat famous article called 'Top 8 reasons not to immigrate to Canada'. In short, the Canadian authorities tried to destroy my life. They made it so that I could not be employable in Canada. So I moved to the U.S. in 2005 and then some years later I moved permanently to the Philippines. I am happy that so many years later videos like yours are saying essentially the same things that I did. I was ahead of my time. I will never go back to Canada. Not to live, not to visit, not even a connecting flight. Too cold, too expensive, taxes are astronomical, no culture, no freedom, no jobs, no opportunities, only modern slavery, worst healthcare system, unbearable political correctness, crime infested/drug infested, xenophobic people, too depressing. It has become a North Korea style dictatorship in the western world.
    There are many reasons why Canada has fallen apart. But the number one reason is ‘multiculturalism’. My friends, multiculturalism simply does not work. Different cultures do not come together and mix, different cultures come together and clash. The world is divided into different countries for a reason: because people hate each other and only want to be with their own kind. The number two reason for Canada’s demise is ‘socialism’. In this modern era of aging populations, it is mathematically impossible for socialism to continue. The government does not have the money to take care of old people and provide healthcare, pensions, welfare, unemployment benefits, disability benefits and the numerous other programs, even with the astronomical taxation that burdens hard working Canucks. Well Canada, you had a good run. Time for Canucks to move to an emerging country. We welcome you here in Southeast Asia.
    Multiculturalism destroys the fabric and identity of a country. Socialism bankrupts a country.

  • @danonthemoon24
    @danonthemoon24 3 місяці тому +1

    I bet you pay half the income tax

  • @peterrezba995
    @peterrezba995 23 дні тому

    This has to do with the current H-1B visa controversy, George Galloway from the UK Parliament thinks that people like yourself and I that are moving to the USA, and will be employed with employers like Elon Musk, Oracle, MS or whomever will be paying us $9.00 per hour LOL They think it's true In fact most Americans think that people like you and I are going to the US to work for minimum wage?? It boggles my mind it's bizarre. There's a shortage in the US for those in possession of a BSCpE especially with the surge in AI tech and the fact the countries like China are starting become more advanced than the USA so they NEED qualified engineers right NOW!! And they will be earning $100k-$200k depending on their experience NOT $9.00 an hour LOL

  • @casebeth
    @casebeth Рік тому +1

    Why the hell would you trade Calgary for Seattle?

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому +4

      Ever since studying abroad in Singapore, I became interested in gaining international work experience! The U.S. isn't that far, but it's still very different.

    • @casebeth
      @casebeth Рік тому +1

      @@kkarenism I'm well aware of what the US is like , having grown up here. I hope you never have any medical needs while you're here and never have to experience gun violence, but the longer you stay the more likely both those.things are.

    • @QualityBuddy
      @QualityBuddy 8 місяців тому

      ​@casebeth fam that's everywhere and for someone who lived here for so long if you don't like America *Leave* its simple go live in Canada then nobody forcing you to stay in the the usa

  • @thegreypath1777
    @thegreypath1777 4 місяці тому

    I am a citizen of The USA. I want to move to Canada so bad that I can taste it. I love cold and snow - I just don’t get enough in The USA.

  • @bstorm66
    @bstorm66 Рік тому +5

    Wrong direction lol. Once you have a fam, you don't wanna be in the US.

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому +4

      Aha, it's definitely different from Canada but I am learning and growing a lot from the experience!

    • @OLIAKOS
      @OLIAKOS Рік тому +2

      Why you say that

    • @esparda07
      @esparda07 Рік тому +25

      Nice try. Any worker in Tech gets at least x2 their salary in the US compared to Canada.

    • @simonlee7077
      @simonlee7077 Рік тому +3

      @@esparda07 People on the internet is talking trash to me as well when I said I was gonna move after graduation to get a green card

    • @ladiiyb
      @ladiiyb Рік тому +4

      @@esparda07 Im currently in tech working for a bank. I gave my all but receive bare minimum. I plan to relocate to USA, specifically to Texas or Georgia. thanks for the tip

  • @tedd2361
    @tedd2361 Рік тому +3

    Hello! I want to immigrate to either US or Canada. What would you think is better? Based on what you explained in this video I find that US would be better, but I would really appreciate an honest opinion from you. It would help me a lot

    • @kkarenism
      @kkarenism  Рік тому

      I think it really depends on your values and what you're interested in when it comes to cost of living, quality of life, income potential, proximity to friends/family, etc.
      As a born and raised Canadian, I do love my home country and am more familiar with it so I might be a bit biased, especially because I consider myself still adjusting to life in the U.S.!

    • @aheat3036
      @aheat3036 Рік тому +12

      There are way more opportunities and choices in the U.S. compared to Canada and the salary is also higher. In addition to all that, the weather is the U.S. is much better!

    • @techsavvy2909
      @techsavvy2909 5 місяців тому +1

      USA is the better option for you and don't believe anyone telling you otherwise. Canada is a sinking ship. If possible most Canadians would want to move to the states. The struggle that you will go through in Canada is unbearable.