As the US job market remains increasingly competitive for foreign workers on H-1B visas, a 34-year-old Indian professional based in Chicago has turned to Reddit to seek urgent career advice. With an open work permit for Canada in hand and limited employment options in the US due to his H-1B visa status, the tech worker is facing a crucial life decision that may reshape his family’s future.
The Reddit user, a .NET full stack developer, revealed that his current US employer has only limited projects available—mostly in Canada. With his current US project ending and labor market conditions tightening, especially for visa-sponsored candidates, he is considering relocating to Canada within the next week. His PERM application in the US is still pending, though he holds an approved I-140 from a previous employer.
“I’m very confused,” he wrote, outlining concerns about job switching challenges in Canada and whether spending the next 5–6 years there would help eventually secure permanent residency or even smoothen a return to the US with a green card.
The user’s dilemma is reflective of a broader trend among skilled immigrants who are increasingly exploring Canadian immigration pathways due to rising US visa unpredictability. Canada’s comparatively accessible work permits, streamlined permanent residency processes, and multicultural cities have made it an appealing alternative.
However, the user remains uncertain about Canada’s job market flexibility and long-term impact on his US green card prospects. With a young family to support, the stakes are high.
In the comments, many fellow immigrants urged the Redditor to consider Canada’s family-friendly immigration policies, universal healthcare, and long-term stability over the temporary and often unstable nature of H-1B employment.