Houston or Toronto or Dubai - Italian expat just moved to Houston (apartments, rent)
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1 months is passed by since my relocating to Houston and all is going great!! (read my posto on the houstonian section)
Now, i am writing to listen to your suggestions because there might be an opportunity to stay in Houston with my current employer or move up to Toronto. The position is exactly the same.
You must know that the reason why I moved here in houston is because I am training on different subjects and I was supposed to relocate to Dubai as an expat after this period of time.
We (me and my wife) made some evaluation about pro's and con's of living in a place rather than another.
Dubai would be fine as far as money goes. I will continue being an expat with all the expenses like housing ecc paid for by the company, but my wife will have difficult time finding a job (he's a lawyer in Italy). Dubai is good for 2.3 years. Not good for 10.
Houston is fine, my company's HQ is in Houston. The center of power is in Houston. But y'all know about the difficulties for an immigrant to get the Green Card and stuff like that. Cost of living is relatively cheap, housing prices in places like The Woodlands is simply great. Personalyl I don't like hot summer.
Toronto and Canada always sounded great to me, I like winter (but it's also true that i've never experienced 4 months of non stop snowing). I am a bit scared about cost of living but am attracted by the easier Visa process and PR request later on. Yet there is a big citalian community in Toronto which might be advantageus for my wife and his job...(am guessing)... Toronto sounds more like a European city, very multicultural (and so is Houston).
I have read many posts about this topic (USA vs Canada) and since I have to take a decision on which position I intend to be included in the recruiting process...I am looking for advices....
1 months is passed by since my relocating to Houston and all is going great!! (read my posto on the houstonian section)
Now, i am writing to listen to your suggestions because there might be an opportunity to stay in Houston with my current employer or move up to Toronto. The position is exactly the same.
You must know that the reason why I moved here in houston is because I am training on different subjects and I was supposed to relocate to Dubai as an expat after this period of time.
We (me and my wife) made some evaluation about pro's and con's of living in a place rather than another.
Dubai would be fine as far as money goes. I will continue being an expat with all the expenses like housing ecc paid for by the company, but my wife will have difficult time finding a job (he's a lawyer in Italy). Dubai is good for 2.3 years. Not good for 10.
Houston is fine, my company's HQ is in Houston. The center of power is in Houston. But y'all know about the difficulties for an immigrant to get the Green Card and stuff like that. Cost of living is relatively cheap, housing prices in places like The Woodlands is simply great. Personalyl I don't like hot summer.
Toronto and Canada always sounded great to me, I like winter (but it's also true that i've never experienced 4 months of non stop snowing). I am a bit scared about cost of living but am attracted by the easier Visa process and PR request later on. Yet there is a big citalian community in Toronto which might be advantageus for my wife and his job...(am guessing)... Toronto sounds more like a European city, very multicultural (and so is Houston).
I have read many posts about this topic (USA vs Canada) and since I have to take a decision on which position I intend to be included in the recruiting process...I am looking for advices....
Thank you Guys
Toronto does not get 4 months of non stop snow... that's Boston and Montreal... It will be cold, but you won't get a lot of snow in Toronto (I recently moved to Toronto from Boston, and I have yet to experience a day when I'm "snowed in")
Cost of living will be higher than Houston. Mostly you will notice somewhat higher prices on basic goods and alcohol (about 15-30% higher than the U.S.). However, if you are coming from Europe, prices in Canada will be on par or lower than most EU countries. The biggest cost advantage for Toronto is the cost of rent - my roommate and I are renting a brand new high rise 2-bed condo for $1600 about 15 min drive from downtown (or 30 minute by train, door to door) - parking, gym, indoor pool, all inclusive. Rent in Toronto is significantly lower than major U.S. cities like Boston, NYC, SF, LA, etc.
Yes big Italian community. During the first 2 months after I moved to Toronto, I had nothing but Italian meals every single day (not exaggerating...), because there are so many Italian restaurants and options in grocery stores.
Last edited by bostonkid123; 03-04-2015 at 09:14 AM..
1 months is passed by since my relocating to Houston and all is going great!! (read my posto on the houstonian section)
Now, i am writing to listen to your suggestions because there might be an opportunity to stay in Houston with my current employer or move up to Toronto. The position is exactly the same.
You must know that the reason why I moved here in houston is because I am training on different subjects and I was supposed to relocate to Dubai as an expat after this period of time.
We (me and my wife) made some evaluation about pro's and con's of living in a place rather than another.
Dubai would be fine as far as money goes. I will continue being an expat with all the expenses like housing ecc paid for by the company, but my wife will have difficult time finding a job (he's a lawyer in Italy). Dubai is good for 2.3 years. Not good for 10.
Houston is fine, my company's HQ is in Houston. The center of power is in Houston. But y'all know about the difficulties for an immigrant to get the Green Card and stuff like that. Cost of living is relatively cheap, housing prices in places like The Woodlands is simply great. Personalyl I don't like hot summer.
Toronto and Canada always sounded great to me, I like winter (but it's also true that i've never experienced 4 months of non stop snowing). I am a bit scared about cost of living but am attracted by the easier Visa process and PR request later on. Yet there is a big citalian community in Toronto which might be advantageus for my wife and his job...(am guessing)... Toronto sounds more like a European city, very multicultural (and so is Houston).
I have read many posts about this topic (USA vs Canada) and since I have to take a decision on which position I intend to be included in the recruiting process...I am looking for advices....
Thank you Guys
Bostonkid hit on alot of good points already. Just a few additional questions.
What type of Visa are you currently working on in Houston? The path towards a GC can vary depending on your current status. I agree the US immigration system is severely damaged and no matter what you are facing a challenge, but in the end you may find certain paths to a GC and "easier" than others.
Would the move to Toronto be a lateral move? If so are the advancement and earning opportunities greater in Toronto or Houston?
Toronto does not really remind me of a European city at all, but you will run into quite a bit of Italians as mentioned, so accessing your community will not be difficult at all.
I have spent alot of time in the Emirates for work and would agree it is a short term type of experience. Of the 3 cities Dubai may be my last choice. Houston is a place I have hardly spent any time in, so hard to comment, but based on your check list it seems like Toronto may be the best fit of the bunch. With that said you seem to be enjoying Houston and you are only 1 month in (which is typically the hardest month after a move) So there also may be a strong enough reason to stick it out a bit longer to see if that love for the city grows stronger.
You really cant go wrong, as its wonderful to have options in three different countries. Good luck on your final decision.
Historically Toronto and Boston receive the same amount of snow (110-120cm annually), so neither city has 4 months of non-stop snow! But I guess with "global warming" Toronto will be more prone to cold snaps and Boston will see more snow than usual.
The three options are vastly different and you need to know what's important for you. What I heard is the US greencard is taking less time than before (4 of my friends got it recently), but you still need to be patient and it takes at least 3, more likely 5 years.
The two big disadvantages of Toronto is the cost of living and long winters (we don't have 4 months of snow, but definitely 4 months of winter, conservatively speaking), but the city is more happening than Houston. Please dispel any illusion about Toronto being more like a European city - it is a typical North American city with a somewhat busy and growing urban core and large sprawling suburbs with nothing.
If you plan to stay long, be prepared to spend big bucks on housing if you plan to buy. The medium detached single family house costs $950k, and including semi probably $700k, compared with maybe 40% of that in Houston. Toronto has lower property tax though at 0.72% compared with 2+% in Texas. And everything is more expensive and you pay more taxes (Texas has no state income tax). Like Bostonkid said, rent is surprisingly low in Toronto (something I never understood), much lower than even cities like Seattle or DC, not to mention bigger American cities. Even lower than a low cost city such as Houston.
Weather wise, despite the heat Houston has the edge, No questions. Like some wise man said, I don't need to shovel the sunshine. But it is definitely a less urban and more car-centric than Toronto.
Can't common on Dubai. If you want something different experience for a short term, go for it. If you want to settle down, forget it. Like you said, you will lead an expat life there and can't expect to be part of Dubai.
Bostonkid hit on alot of good points already. Just a few additional questions.
What type of Visa are you currently working on in Houston? The path towards a GC can vary depending on your current status. I agree the US immigration system is severely damaged and no matter what you are facing a challenge, but in the end you may find certain paths to a GC and "easier" than others.
Would the move to Toronto be a lateral move? If so are the advancement and earning opportunities greater in Toronto or Houston?
Toronto does not really remind me of a European city at all, but you will run into quite a bit of Italians as mentioned, so accessing your community will not be difficult at all.
I have spent alot of time in the Emirates for work and would agree it is a short term type of experience. Of the 3 cities Dubai may be my last choice. Houston is a place I have hardly spent any time in, so hard to comment, but based on your check list it seems like Toronto may be the best fit of the bunch. With that said you seem to be enjoying Houston and you are only 1 month in (which is typically the hardest month after a move) So there also may be a strong enough reason to stick it out a bit longer to see if that love for the city grows stronger.
You really cant go wrong, as its wonderful to have options in three different countries. Good luck on your final decision.
I believe the OP may be using the L1 Intra-Company Transfer visa status, if I'm not mistaken. He said that this will be an internal transfer from his company's Dubai office to HQ in Houston. The great advantage of L1 is that there is no quota limit, unlike the H1B (and good luck to all H1s in April... this year's lottery will be tough). The biggest downside to L1 is that you are only allowed to work in the U.S. so long as you are with the SAME employer, unlike the H1B which is easily transferable between different employers.
But I'll let the OP enlighten us on this.
As edward said, GC may be easier or harder, depending on which kind of path you decide to take. I remember my parents got their GC years ago relatively fast because they applied as "senior executive/manager" position within their sponsoring company, which tends to be a lot faster than your average skilled professional route. Either way, GC will be a pain in the *** given the absolutely immigration stalemate mess the U.S. is in right now (and no hope of reform in sight until earliest 2017 after the next presidential election).
Historically Toronto and Boston receive the same amount of snow (110-120cm annually), so neither city has 4 months of non-stop snow! But I guess with "global warming" Toronto will be more prone to cold snaps and Boston will see more snow than usual.
Coming from Boston, I can tell you that you have to deal with snow a lot more often in Boston than you have to in Toronto. Last year in Boston we got a snow storm about every 2 weeks (sometimes twice in one single week), to the point where I couldn't drive out my car in the entire month of January and most of my colleagues worked from home for 1 entire week. The fact that most apartments in Boston only have street parking makes it even worse, because you have to dig out a new parking spot every single day after work... good daily exercise.
Coming from Boston, I can tell you that you have to deal with snow a lot more often in Boston than you have to in Toronto. Last year in Boston we got a snow storm about every 2 weeks (sometimes twice in one single week), to the point where I couldn't drive out my car in the entire month of January and most of my colleagues worked from home for 1 entire week. The fact that most apartments in Boston only have street parking makes it even worse, because you have to dig out a new parking spot every single day after work... good daily exercise.
Its depressing. Honestly I'm actually thinking about other options after this winter. Its been that bad. But after many winters in Toronto, I will say its not exactly pleasant in the least and I find it less sunny and a bit colder than Boston. They both suck though.
I believe the OP may be using the L1 Intra-Company Transfer visa status, if I'm not mistaken. He said that this will be an internal transfer from his company's Dubai office to HQ in Houston. The great advantage of L1 is that there is no quota limit, unlike the H1B (and good luck to all H1s in April... this year's lottery will be tough). The biggest downside to L1 is that you are only allowed to work in the U.S. so long as you are with the SAME employer, unlike the H1B which is easily transferable between different employers.
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Good info and if it is an L1 the path to a GC is slightly easier if you are executive level or possess a specialized skill. As you said though the drawback is that you are tied to one employer, which somewhat holds you hostage for an amount of time.
Toronto does not get 4 months of non stop snow... that's Boston and Montreal... It will be cold, but you won't get a lot of snow in Toronto (I recently moved to Toronto from Boston, and I have yet to experience a day when I'm "snowed in")
Cost of living will be higher than Houston. Mostly you will notice somewhat higher prices on basic goods and alcohol (about 15-30% higher than the U.S.). However, if you are coming from Europe, prices in Canada will be on par or lower than most EU countries. The biggest cost advantage for Toronto is the cost of rent - my roommate and I are renting a brand new high rise 2-bed condo for $1600 about 15 min drive from downtown (or 30 minute by train, door to door) - parking, gym, indoor pool, all inclusive. Rent in Toronto is significantly lower than major U.S. cities like Boston, NYC, SF, LA, etc.
Yes big Italian community. During the first 2 months after I moved to Toronto, I had nothing but Italian meals every single day (not exaggerating...), because there are so many Italian restaurants and options in grocery stores.
agree on the parts about basic goods being 30% higher in Toronto
Here's what I know about these 2 places
Housing: Houston would be much cheaper to own a home. A friend of mine just moved there and bought a house of 3000+ sqft with about $500K, you will only get a 900 sqft condo in Toronto with that price. The property tax is high there, they will pay 12K a year for that house. But Texas has no state income tax, so it offsets most of the property tax one has to pay. Sounds like you won't be there for long, so you will most likely be renting.
Immigration: Yes, Canada is way easier if you have a decent paying job from a reputable employer, since you can do it yourself right away, and the whole thing can be done within a year from sending out application to receiving approval, as opposed in the US you need to be sponsored by an employer, with one hoop to jump through after another, with potential audit every step of the way, which could get your application stuck somewhere for a long time.
Based on what you described, you will be in Dubai for a while after training in Houston, then why not make your decision around the time you are ready to leave Dubai? You will be able to save quite a bit of money to buy a place in either Toronto or Huston - once that is taken care of, your quality of life would be much better in Toronto than in Huston.
If you are thinking about moving your training from Huston to Toronto, the immigration issue shouldn't be of any concern, since once you get your PR, you will need to stay in Canada for more than 2 out of 5 years , otherwise you will lose your PR status.
Its depressing. Honestly I'm actually thinking about other options after this winter. Its been that bad. But after many winters in Toronto, I will say its not exactly pleasant in the least and I find it less sunny and a bit colder than Boston. They both suck though.
Maybe somewhere south like DC or B'more area? I did my uni in Baltimore (JHU) and we hardly got any snow every winter (with exception of winter 2010). There were days in January when average temperature in Baltimore was approaching high 60s/70.
Yes, snow in Boston was really so so painful. I don't really mind the snow as much as the parking situation in Cambridge which was horrendous. Not to mention street closures during snow days when people had to somehow find another spot to park their cars, and the constant street cleaning and towing game...
Both TO and Boston's weathers suck in the winter. Big time. The only positive I can say about Toronto is that I don't have to deal with as much snow due to indoor parking and relatively efficient snow plowing. And the fact that I can conduct most of my daily activities without ever stepping outside (food, gym, etc), while in Boston, I had to do a 25 min walk every time I want to use the gym at the Charles in Cambridge - a big deterrence when there's a already a foot of snow outside...
I do love both cities in the summer and fall.
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