Relocation to the USA vs. Canada

Relocation to the USA vs. Canada

Ernest Emeka

a month ago

Canada VS USA: Which Country Is Better To Settle?

The United States of America and Canada are ideal destinations for migration.  The two countries have great employment opportunities, a better quality of life, and a fast-growing economy that attracts millions of immigrates to them annually.
Comparing Canada and the USA when you want to pick one can be a challenging decision. If you are wondering what makes the two countries unique and different, this article can help you make that choice.

Job Security and Average Work Hours

·         Canada

Average work hours:  Under Canada’s federally regulated sector, the standard work hours for employees are 8 hours per day, for any period of 24 consecutive hours. This sums up to 40 hours a week.

Canadian businesses give employees a minimum of 10 paid leaves annually.

·         The United States 

Average work hours: According to  Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed Americans worked for about 34.4 hours per week.

The USA has a minimum of 10 paid annual leaves for all employees.

Highlights

·         The USA offers  employees better salary packages
·         Canada has better healthcare, more maternity leaves and other social benefits.
·         The average work hours for Canada are slightly higher than that of the US.
·         Canada and USA has similar annual leave structure.

Taxation

·         Canada

Income Tax

If you work in Canada regardless of your nationality, you pay a federal tax of 15% of your total income if your minimum salary is $46,605. If you earn more than this amount, your taxation will increase.

You are expected to pay a provincial tax in Canada

 | Province | Province Tax
| Alberta | 10-15 %
| British Columbia | 5.06- 16.8%
| Manitoba | 10.8%- 17.4%
| New Brunswick | 9.68%- 20.3%
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 8.7%- 18.3 %
| Northwest Territories | 5.9%- 14.05%
| Nova Scotia | 8.79%- 21%
| Ontario | 5.05%- 13.16%
| Prince Edward Island | 9.8%- 16.7 %
| Quebec | 15%-25.75%
| Saskatchewan | 10.5%- 14.5 %
| Yukon | 6.4%- 15%
 

You do not pay tax for healthcare provisions like drugs, dental services, and others. 


·         The United States

Income Tax

In the United States, income tax is in two categories; Federal and the State. You do not pay for state tax if you work in Washington. 

 | State | State Tax
| California | 1% to 13.3%
| Minnesota | 5.35% to 9.85%
| New York | 4% to 8.82%
| Kansas | 3.10% to 5.7%
| Iowa | 0.33% to 8.53%
| Virginia | 2% to 5.75%
| Georgia | 1% to 5.75%
| Illinois | 4.95%
| Arizona | 2.59% to 4.54%
| Indiana | 3.23%
 

The sales tax is levied on the things you bought in any state.

Education

·         Canada

Canadian University Tuition Fees is cheaper by an average of 27% compared to what you pay in the United States.

 | QS World University Rankings 2021 – Top 5 Universities in Canada
| Canada Rank | Global Rank | University
| 1 |   25 | University of Toronto
| 2 |   31 | McGill University
| 3 |   45  | University of British Columbia
| 4 |   118  | Université de Montréal
| 5 |   119  | University of Alberta

 
 

Canadian immigration system allows children to access public school education until the age of 16 and 18. 

·         The United States

The United States boasts of 8 Ivy League Schools, and they include Columbia University, Cornell University, Brown University,  Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

 | QS World University Rankings: Top 5 Universities in the US
| Rank | Institution | Location
| 1 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA
| 2 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | Cambridge, MA
| 4 | The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | Berkeley, CA
| 5 | Columbia University | New York, NY
 

The United States' comprehensive system of education makes its tuition fees are higher than in Canada.

The United States allows all children to access free public schools. The average cost of schooling in a private elementary school is $10,000 a year, and it is $15,000 for private high schools.

Highlights

·         The United States has more World-ranking Universities. 
·         The average tuition fee in Canada is lower.


Immigration Pathways 


·         Canada Immigration

Types of Canadian visas:

·         PR Visa (Permanent Residence):

·         Express Entry Visa

·         Federal Skilled Worker Visa

·         Provincial Nominee Programs

·         Family Sponsorship

·         Visitor Visa

·         Student Visa

·         Business Immigrant Visa


·         The United States Immigration

Types of Canadian visas:

·         F1, J1, M1 Student Visa: For students 
·         E1, E2 Visa:  for employees
·         IR1 and CR1 visa: Spouse of a US Citizen
·         K1 visa: Fiancé to marry a US citizen
·         I-130 petition (K-3) Visa: Spouse of a US Citizen awaiting approval.

·         Language Barriers

 | Canada | USA
| The dominant languages are English and French. | The dominant language is English.
| Provinces like Quebec are dominated by French-speaking citizens. | The US is a hub for every community.
 


Immigration Pathways: 


Express Entry Canada Vs U.S. H1B Visa 

 | Permanent Residence via Express Entry Canada | U.S. Green Card via  H-1B visa program
| Express Entry immigration system is popular. | The US H1-B visa is popular.
| Fast-track visa process. You can get a PR in just 6 months. | A  Green Card can take many years.
| You can get a Permanent Resident Status. | Immigrants arrive with a temporary work visa and extend the visa or convert to Green Card status.
| No job offer is required. | You must have a job offer.
| No sponsorship from family or employers is required. | You need employer sponsorship and work experience to get a PR status
| You can bring your family to Canada to live and work there. | Dependants of H1B visa holders may not be allowed to work in the US
| You can apply from outside of Canada. | You cannot apply on your own. Your employer will apply for your H1B visa.
| Immigrants can earn their citizenship after 3 years of employment. | Citizenship is complicated.
 

Highlights

·         You can easily immigrate to Canada than to the United States of America. The USA immigration is employment-based. This means that you can enter the country easier and faster via a work permit.
·         When you arrive, you can “adjust your status” for permanent residence. It could be difficult to migrate to the USA directly. You can achieve this if a relative or family sponsors you.  You can relocate when you have a job offer first.
·         Canada is the opposite of the United States. You do not relocate easier as a worker. An employer with a validated offer of employment from Human Resources Canada can help you.  However, you do not need a job offer or a relative to help relocate to Canada.
·         If you have work experience or are educated, you can qualify for the country’s permanent residence.  
·         The United States has a priority date system that lets applicants know where their application is in the system. However, Canada does not offer such a service.
·         Canada does not practice a quota of the number of immigrants entering its provinces, but the United States makes use of quota system for immigration. 
·         You can renew your visitor status in Canada, but the USA has restricted the time a visitor can remain in the country.
·         USA keeps a tracking system of people entering and leaving the country. Canada does not keep such record.
·         The USA permits the sponsorship of siblings, while Canada does not accept such sponsorship.

 

 

Why people  immigrate more to Canada?

Some residents in the United States, and immigrants from different parts of the world want to relocate to Canada for the following reasons:

Free universal healthcare:  The huge medical bills experienced in the United States are not felt in Canada. 

Better work-life balance: Employees in Canada get shorter hours. Most full-time U.S. workers can work an average of 47 hours a week. In  Canada, the standard number of weekly work hours is 40 hours a week.

Paid statutory holidays: Employees in Canada enjoy paid statutory holidays, but in the U.S., employers do not pay employees for time not worked.

Paid maternity leave:  in the U.S., employees get 12 weeks of unpaid parental leave for new parents. 

However, Canadian mothers can enjoy 35 to 61 weeks off with payment through Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI).

Canada accepts more migrants: Canada has become the most accepting country for migrants in the world.