Is it better to move to Canada as a Permanent Resident instead of staying in US on H1B?
I took this route and I’m very happy with my choice. Toronto is a great city and I love having all the peace of mind and freedoms that come with PR. I’ve spent a years on work visa’s in Singapore and the US. As for lower salaries, etc its hard to compare tax rates are lower in Toronto then in US+California also you get so much more back in terms of healthcare, great schools, parks, safety, a very positive government and a young and fast growing tech scene. In terms of the tech scene Toronto has companies like Google, Slack, Shopify, Wattpad, Ecobee and so many more. And you are always free to launch your own startup.I wrote about my experience the move and how to get Canadian PR here on the MovNorth siteI love having the freedom of PR and living in this city. After so many years it’s amazing to know that I’m free to change jobs easily, build my own startup or take a break from working. No more stamping, restrictions and visa paperwork. Our kids love being surrounded by so many parks filled with their friends. The neighborhood school is amazing and my kid will be starting the french immersion program this year. Me and my wife love our week long trips to Montreal and the food choices around here are pretty great. Also 2 year super-visa’s for my parents to come and stay.And in a couple more years we’ll apply for citizenship of our new home country. I get a lot of mail from people in the valley asking about Salaries etc. I think its more important to take a pause and list your priorities and think about how you want the next 10 years of your life to be.I wrote about my experience the move and how to get Canadian PR here on the MovNorth siteMov North
Does a misdemeanor go away? How long does it take?
How long do you have to list it might be a better question. They don't go away. After a certain period of time they are simply not relevant. A misdemeanor a year ago is certainly more ‘serious' than that exact same misdemeanor ten years ago.How long does it need to keep being brought up? That depends on a particular job and its requirements and how the question is asked. But it's always there unless dismissed or expunged or pardoned if someone wants to dig that far and deep into the past.
Can a foreigner buy a gun in the United States?
I am Canadian, but this story might amuse you all. In the early 1960s when I was in my teens I flew into Philadelphia from Montreal to visit my relatives. I also wanted to buy a surplus .30-06, Enfield, (not Lee Enfield) bolt action military rifle, which I did at a Philadelphia army surplus store. When it came time to fly home I removed the stock, which I put in my luggage and carried the barreled action onto the plane with the intention of restocking and refinishing the rifle at home. After we took off the stewardess asked me if I wanted a sandwich and “is that a rifle?” “Yes, I’m going to refinish it and restock it.” “Oh, that is nice.” And off the stewardess went to get me a sandwich. Try that now and see what happens.
Is the USA safe to visit - especially in relation to gun crime - on a British tourist perspective?
Yes, of course. I'm 44 years old, have lived in the US my whole life, and I've never been victim of a crime and have only seen guns on police officers' holsters and in sporting goods stores. If you wanted to seek out violence, could you find it? Sure, you could go to the worst of our inner-city neighborhoods and do something stupid and get a reaction. As a tourist in general tourist areas (it would help if you named where you were going; this is a pretty big country, you know), are you in danger of being a victim of gun crime? No, not in any significant sense. It's a bit like asking if you're in danger of a plane crash as you cross the Atlantic. Sure, it's a hypothetical possibility, but it's very, very unlikely.