Over the past year, there has been a surge in people seeking immigration advice.
The most frequently asked question is, given the difficulty of obtaining a U.S. visa and the $900,000 cost of the EB-5 investor visa—which currently has no waiting list—where can I immigrate if my budget is around 1 million RMB or a bit more? Should I first go to Canada and then indirectly make my way to the U.S.?
The U.S., as a global superpower, is attractive to people worldwide due to the high value of its citizenship. However, the high costs deter many families.
Yet, if we shift our gaze slightly north, Canada undoubtedly becomes the second choice for many who want to emigrate. For this reason, Canada has become the second most popular immigration destination globally, following the U.S.
With careful research, we will find that Canada is a country full of opportunities.
Canada boasts a high-quality lifestyle, world-leading healthcare, diverse culture, and inclusive communities. It also has excellent primary and tertiary education, fundamental research, and extensive employment opportunities.
Geoffrey Hinton, the “Godfather of AI” from the University of Toronto, has led the world in AI research. Many in the core technology team behind the popular ChatGPT come from Hinton’s network. The Chief Scientist and Research Director of ChatGPT, as well as the Computing Director, are all doctoral students of Geoffrey Hinton.
Whether it’s Google’s AI or ChatGPT, there are traces of University of Toronto graduates in the background. Canada ranks sixteenth in the world in terms of GDP per capita, and in 2021, it was rated as the best country of the year by U.S. News & World Report.
In The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Global Livability Ranking, Canada had three cities in the list for seven out of eight years from 2015 to 2022, making it the only country to do so. Vancouver topped the EIU’s most livable city list from 2002 to 2010.
Moreover, compared to the U.S., Canada’s policies are exceedingly friendly.
Firstly, Canada’s national ideology is entirely different from that of the U.S., more resembling European, especially Nordic, countries.
Canada possesses rich natural and mineral resources, a highly developed industrial sector, and is one of the G7 industrial nations, not to mention its beautiful living environment.
Canada is the country where Chinese immigrants have the most significant and most systematic political participation. The overall status of Chinese Canadians is far higher than that in the U.S., and they are a respected group.
Unlike the U.S.’s ‘melting pot’ approach—expecting everyone to ultimately become an ‘American’—Canada respects the independence and diversity of each ethnicity and culture (a ‘mosaic’). Different ethnic groups coexist harmoniously in Canada, with very few instances of discrimination.
Relations between individuals are more equal, friendly, and mindful of disadvantaged groups, and the gap between the rich and poor is small.
Furthermore, Canada possesses one of the world’s best free healthcare systems, not to mention its state-provided retirement system. The high-tax funded social welfare system is something one can truly appreciate.
In addition to this, there’s the matter of public safety, an issue of great concern to many. Canada is recognized as one of the safest countries in the world.
Stimulated by the numerous severe gun incidents in the U.S. in recent years, the Canadian government introduced its strictest gun ban to date on May 31, 2022: a nationwide freeze on the import and sale of handguns.
With its low levels of illegal immigration, Canada is one of the most peaceful countries in the world and has never experienced large-scale warfare.
If the above-mentioned points are not significant to you, consider this: bordering the U.S. and benefitting from the North American Free Trade Agreement, Canadians can legally conduct business, study, and seek employment in the U.S. This alone is a major reason many find Canada irresistible.
Due to these factors, Indian immigrants and many Chinese students, who would have to wait decades for permanent residency status in the U.S. via the H1b to EB2/3 route, have in recent years turned their sights to Canada.
In the last five years, the number of Indian immigrants has far exceeded that of the Chinese, reaching more than triple the number of Chinese immigrants in 2021.
Possibly spurred by this, Canada has been making significant investments and advancements in the IT sector in recent years. With the overflow of talent from the U.S., it’s not outlandish to say that Canada could potentially carve out a new niche in the IT field in the future.
By that time, will Canada still be as accessible as it is now?
How to plan Canadian residency as a stepping-stone to the U.S.
Importantly, if the U.S. is truly your ultimate dream, Canada is the nearest channel for U.S. immigration;
Whether it’s in terms of physical location or cultural, linguistic, economic ties, and various other political associations, Canada is the best springboard for indirect U.S. immigration and the most worry-free choice.
If the correct channels and paths are chosen, one could live and work in Canada, apply for a Maple Leaf Card, while waiting for a U.S. Green Card.
The cost required might not even be enough to buy a decent car. It’s entirely possible to get Canadian residency for 1 million RMB.
In essence, Canada is certainly a defensive and aggressive immigration option.
However, it’s also worth reminding everyone:
Everything has its window of opportunity. If you’ve missed the best window for the U.S., it’s time to seriously consider Canada—
On Saturday, May 13, at 10 a.m. Beijing time, we have invited the founder & CEO of Bi’an International, Zhan Huimin, the Director of Immigration Services at Bi’an International, Nick, and the founder & managing attorney of Hu Xiaomin Law Firm, Hu Xiaomin, to join us in the live broadcast room. They will provide a detailed explanation of current U.S. immigration policies, how to avoid various risks, and how to use Canadian residency as a “stepping-stone” to the U.S. from a professional perspective.
If you want to understand U.S./Canadian immigration policies,
Or if you want to consult online based on your personal situation,
Scan the QR code below to reserve a spot for the live broadcast!
