Hi there,
Below is our situation. Please share any thoughts and suggestions that would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
we are currently in the USA. I lived here for about 8-9 yrs and my husband for over 3 yrs. he lived in Europe before coming to the US. we have no kids.
recently my husband got a job offer from a company in Montreal. while we are contemplating about the offer, we are also researching if the move is a good call. this is where people who already are living in Canada could throw in some thoughts.
below are my concerns.
1. through my research on the internet, i found that Montreal people are not very friendly.
you must know french to survive at work? is that true ? ( we don't know a piece of french ?)
2. it has lot of racism ? people don't smile at you on the roads ?
3. cost of living. we lived in bigger cities in the US ..(north east and midwest)..so comparatively, how is Montreal ?
4. do we lose our credit score from US ? do we start from scratch ? in case we want to buy a home ?
5. how is the Indian community. I have been to Toronto before. I am not expecting in that level, but, general groceries, restaurants, temples ?
6. Health care - in US employer pays for you. I think in Canada the govt takes care? does that apply people working on work permit? what about the prescription drugs that we have now. can we find someone soon to write a prescription to get the non - OTC drugs ?
7. Perm residency - once we are in the country - how long does it take to get one ? my husband has a ph.d.
8. cars - do we need one ? we each have one and we suspect that its a pain to bring them into Canada from the border ? given that mine is a leased one.
9. weather - is it like new yorkish ? chicago type or even worse.. ?
Please feel free to thrown in anything that i am missing.
Thanks,
K.
Quote:
Originally posted by newyorktocanada
Hi there,
Below is our situation. Please share any thoughts and suggestions that would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
we are currently in the USA. I lived here for about 8-9 yrs and my husband for over 3 yrs. he lived in Europe before coming to the US. we have no kids.
recently my husband got a job offer from a company in Montreal. while we are contemplating about the offer, we are also researching if the move is a good call. this is where people who already are living in Canada could throw in some thoughts.
below are my concerns.
1. through my research on the internet, i found that Montreal people are not very friendly.
you must know french to survive at work? is that true ? ( we don't know a piece of french ?)
2. it has lot of racism ? people don't smile at you on the roads ?
3. cost of living. we lived in bigger cities in the US ..(north east and midwest)..so comparatively, how is Montreal ?
4. do we lose our credit score from US ? do we start from scratch ? in case we want to buy a home ?
5. how is the Indian community. I have been to Toronto before. I am not expecting in that level, but, general groceries, restaurants, temples ?
6. Health care - in US employer pays for you. I think in Canada the govt takes care? does that apply people working on work permit? what about the prescription drugs that we have now. can we find someone soon to write a prescription to get the non - OTC drugs ?
7. Perm residency - once we are in the country - how long does it take to get one ? my husband has a ph.d.
8. cars - do we need one ? we each have one and we suspect that its a pain to bring them into Canada from the border ? given that mine is a leased one.
9. weather - is it like new yorkish ? chicago type or even worse.. ?
Please feel free to thrown in anything that i am missing.
Thanks,
K.
1. through my research on the internet, i found that Montreal people are not very friendly.
If you do not know French than it's not easy. French is default there but you can survive without French.
you must know french to survive at work? is that true ? ( we don't know a piece of french ?)
You can manage at work somehow but not easy to hangout with locals.
2. it has lot of racism ? people don't smile at you on the roads ?
May not be as friendly like other part of North America. Too much taxes, too much govt to support bottom 30% and high unemployment bring frustration.
3. cost of living. we lived in bigger cities in the US ..(north east and midwest)..so comparatively, how is Montreal ?
Montreal is a big city but not like Boston, NY or Philly.
4. do we lose our credit score from US ? do we start from scratch ? in case we want to buy a home ?
You will not loose your credit if leaving for a short period. Sometime credit score goes down if not using US credit card.
5. how is the Indian community. I have been to Toronto before. I am not expecting in that level, but, general groceries, restaurants, temples ?
No ans here.
6. Health care - in US employer pays for you. I think in Canada the govt takes care? does that apply people working on work permit? what about the prescription drugs that we have now. can we find someone soon to write a prescription to get the non - OTC drugs ?
I think Work permit people are not covered by Provincial healthcare. Please check Quebec Healthcare guidelines. OTC, dental and prescription drugs are not covered by Provincial healthcare.
7. Perm residency - once we are in the country - how long does it take to get one ? my husband has a ph.d.
If you are looking faster way to immigrate Canada then it makes sense otherwise just wondering why you are leaving USA NE if doing good and near to get US green card. EB1 (phd) is pretty fast.
8. cars - do we need one ? we each have one and we suspect that its a pain to bring them into Canada from the border ? given that mine is a leased one.
You need car if moving with long term. There is lot of information about car import to Quebec if you own the car in USA.
9. weather - is it like new yorkish ? chicago type or even worse.. ?
It's more like New England weather but can be brutal when signs are in french on road.
1. through my research on the internet, i found that Montreal people are not very friendly.
you must know french to survive at work? is that true ? ( we don't know a piece of french ?)
Not really. Since you do not understand their language and they do not understand your language .... you may feel like that. Montreal people tries their best to help you, if you ask them. But what happens is as lot of people do not understand you ( english) ... some times you feel the inconvenience.
2. it has lot of racism ? people don't smile at you on the roads ?
Nope .... it is a BIG word. Again it comes more with language ..
3. cost of living. we lived in bigger cities in the US ..(north east and midwest)..so comparatively, how is Montreal ?
You do not see much difference ... it is like any medium size US city.
4. do we lose our credit score from US ? do we start from scratch ? in case we want to buy a home ?
US credit score is different and Canada credit score is different. There is no link. You have to buildup Canadian credit score seperately.
If your US credit history is BAD ... you are lucky
You can start a fresh. Just joking ... you can a get a Canadian credit card soon and buildup history soon. If your US score is good, you may use that to get a better credit card in Canada as soon as you are here.
5. how is the Indian community. I have been to Toronto before. I am not expecting in that level, but, general groceries, restaurants, temples ?
Indian community is growing and some times I see they are more active than that are in Toronto. However, groceries and restaurants ( desi) are limited not like in Toronto or NJ.
6. Health care - in US employer pays for you. I think in Canada the govt takes care? does that apply people working on work permit? what about the prescription drugs that we have now. can we find someone soon to write a prescription to get the non - OTC drugs ?
You can get a health card. Drugs you have to buy or take a plan through your employer.
7. Perm residency - once we are in the country - how long does it take to get one ? my husband has a ph.d.
It may not be difficult to get PR .... I will be able to tell you only after knowing profiles of both of you.
8. cars - do we need one ? we each have one and we suspect that its a pain to bring them into Canada from the border ? given that mine is a leased one.
Montreal is well connected ( subways) and you can manage without car.
9. weather - is it like new yorkish ? chicago type or even worse.. ?
Most of the times It will be like NY / Chicago. Some times it is much colder than those places. Weather patterns are changing and this year ... it is like there is no winter.
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 21-03-12 12:01:19
Quote:
Originally posted by newyorktocanada
Hi there,
Below is our situation. Please share any thoughts and suggestions that would be helpful.
Thanks in advance.
we are currently in the USA. I lived here for about 8-9 yrs and my husband for over 3 yrs. he lived in Europe before coming to the US. we have no kids.
recently my husband got a job offer from a company in Montreal. while we are contemplating about the offer, we are also researching if the move is a good call. this is where people who already are living in Canada could throw in some thoughts.
below are my concerns.
1. through my research on the internet, i found that Montreal people are not very friendly.
you must know french to survive at work? is that true ? ( we don't know a piece of french ?)
2. it has lot of racism ? people don't smile at you on the roads ?
3. cost of living. we lived in bigger cities in the US ..(north east and midwest)..so comparatively, how is Montreal ?
4. do we lose our credit score from US ? do we start from scratch ? in case we want to buy a home ?
5. how is the Indian community. I have been to Toronto before. I am not expecting in that level, but, general groceries, restaurants, temples ?
6. Health care - in US employer pays for you. I think in Canada the govt takes care? does that apply people working on work permit? what about the prescription drugs that we have now. can we find someone soon to write a prescription to get the non - OTC drugs ?
7. Perm residency - once we are in the country - how long does it take to get one ? my husband has a ph.d.
8. cars - do we need one ? we each have one and we suspect that its a pain to bring them into Canada from the border ? given that mine is a leased one.
9. weather - is it like new yorkish ? chicago type or even worse.. ?
Please feel free to thrown in anything that i am missing.
Thanks,
K.
1. Internet says a lot about Indians, Chinese, Jews, Blacks, Whites, Americans, etc. You got to take them all with a pinch of salt. Else, you'd go crazy. It is your attitude that defines your success. So, go with that. You both have lived in the US long enough to know that. If you haven't adapted in the US, you most likely will find it difficult anywhere.
Should you know French? I don't know. I am sure Montreal is lot cosmopolitan than interiors of Quebec. So, my hunch, you'll be ok.
2. See 1.
4. No, you can utilize your US credit history to buy or loan in the initial stages. Once you build up Cdn history, you'll have two credit scores independent of each other. You'll have to divulge your Social Security numbers for vendors to pull up your US credit history.
6. Healthcare. Your employer will supplement what is not covered by the province. Benefits, obviously would vary by the employer, but generally would be competitive. If you already have the offer, you should have the benefit package as well.
8. In order to import the cars into Canada, you need to own them without any liens/loans/leases.
Best wishes on your decision.
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Dimple2001
If you can stay back in US do so. if u have no choice then come here. Are u on work visa in US.
I lived in different cities in US and let me tell you US is better than canada in all aspects.
People with skills are going to US from here.
Montreal sucks.
Dont come here if u can stay back in US. Its not worth it.
Quote:
Originally posted by sridharm
If you can stay back in US do so. if u have no choice then come here. Are u on work visa in US.
I lived in different cities in US and let me tell you US is better than canada in all aspects.
People with skills are going to US from here.
Montreal sucks.
Dont come here if u can stay back in US. Its not worth it.
I agree with you sridharm. If you never lived in US and directly come to Canada from home country than you never care or compare with USA . But moving from USA to Canada and adjustment takes sometime. Everything looks so expensive in Canada (HST/PST/GST, high income tax, lower salaries, high cost of food/car/gas/flights/housing and less saving).
The nearest Canadian city to US is Calgary,AB (Lowest taxes in Canada, good salaries, less socialist mindset and reasonable living cost).
Thank you to each of you.. for your inputs..
