H-1B visa: A Reddit user recently shared their personal experience of leaving the US after eight years, including six on an H-1B visa, to move to Canada. The individual, a Chinese citizen and senior machine learning engineer at a FAANG company in the Bay Area, had an EB2 green card priority date less than a year away. Despite a lucrative job and the proximity to permanent residency, they decided to quit and relocate to Toronto.
“This was honestly the hardest decision of my life. My job was actually good and paying a lot, and my EB2 priority date was less than a year away, so realistically 1-3 years wait to get the green card. All my friends and family thought I was crazy quitting such a good job and walking away from the green card when I was so close”, the user said.
“But I was completely burned out and my health was suffering. I desperately wanted to pursue something beyond software engineering, however, my situation (H1B + EB2 through PERM, non-NIW) meant I couldn’t change jobs or switch roles without risking my green card process”, the user added.
Canadian PR Brings Freedom and Personal Growth
Reflecting on their move, they added, “Three months after moving to Toronto, my quality of life has significantly improved! I didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying on H-1B until it was gone.” The engineer highlighted the freedom to travel, improved health, and opportunities to rediscover personal passions as key benefits.
They also shared thoughts on career flexibility and future options: “Besides, there’s still the option to return back to the US on TN visa once you get the citizenship, and I feel TN is much better than H-1B.” While acknowledging lower salaries in Canada compared to the US, they emphasized that their decision was about reclaiming life and pursuing personal growth rather than financial gain.
Challenges of Non-ROW H1B and Alternative Paths
The Reddit post underscores the challenges faced by non-ROW H-1B holders, particularly the disparities in green card processing times. “The non-ROW H-1B journey is really brutal,” they wrote, explaining how a European coworker started the green card process at the same time but received theirs years earlier. The story serves as a reminder that alternative paths exist to build a fulfilling career and life beyond the traditional H-1B route.
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