A Reddit post has sparked debate after an Indian professional working in the US shared their struggle in choosing between staying on an H-1B visa in America or moving to Canada to make use of an already approved permanent residency.
The user explained that they have been in the US for years with an approved I-140, but the green card backlog for Indian nationals remains painfully long. Meanwhile, they also hold a valid Canadian PR that has not been utilized yet. Their partner has already been living and working in Canada on PR and will be eligible for citizenship in about two years.
The Dilemma: Career Upside in US vs Stability in Canada
According to the Redditor, the choice is difficult. If they move to Canada, the path to citizenship is faster and more stable, while also keeping the family together. However, the drawback is lower salaries compared to the US. On the other hand, staying in the US offers higher earnings and stronger career opportunities but leaves them stuck in long-term immigration uncertainty.
The poster added that one option was to live long-distance until their partner secures Canadian citizenship, after which they could reunite in the US. But this carries the risk of losing their own job on H-1B in the meantime, which could jeopardize both options.
Reddit Users Weigh In
The thread drew a wave of responses, with many emphasizing the risks tied to H1B status. One commenter cautioned:
“Too much risk with H-1B right now. Let’s say you get laid off in a year — you risk both the work visa and the Canadian PR. Let’s say you end up hating the job — you’ll be stuck. And you have to assume that you will never get PR in the US, so you’ll always be on a work visa. You’ll always have this sword hanging over your head as long as you are in the US.”
Others pointed out that the decision ultimately comes down to personal priorities. As one user put it:
“You already know the bottom-line question: What matters more to you — better salaries and opportunities at the cost of stability, or an average salary with limited opportunities but the benefit of long-term stability?”