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Old 08-04-2010, 03:10 PM
 
3 posts, read 13,337 times
Reputation: 10

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Hi All!

I'm from a small city in the middle of Canda with all four seasons. I love the sunshine and I love beaches even more. I've been living in Vancouver, BC for the past 2 years with my boyfriend and I can no longer take the rain!

I have been trying to convince my boyfriend to head down south with me but he has said that getting work visas and trying to get a job there is impossible right now.

I read a few other threads that said the unemployment rate is twice the average. Is that true? Any signs of that improving in the next few years? Any specific jobs or industries to look in to if I want to relocate to San Diego in the next few years?

Also, if anyone has lived in Vancouver and San Diego - how does it compare in terms of cost of living?

I don't mind waiting in the rain as long as I know I can move to the sun soon. Any advice/help is appreciated. =)
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Old 08-04-2010, 03:11 PM
 
Location: Hookerville, formerly in Tweakerville
15,128 posts, read 32,307,461 times
Reputation: 9714
Listen to your boyfriend.
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Old 08-04-2010, 03:28 PM
 
Location: La Jolla Ca
129 posts, read 340,614 times
Reputation: 55
The economy is having problems at the moment. But 87.8% have jobs here....glass is more than half full. If I were you, I would lock down a job before moving. Vancouver is beautiful. I go through on my way to Whistler and have always thought it looked like a great place to be. And tons of beautiful momen.....or so I'm told....I'm married.
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Old 08-04-2010, 03:39 PM
 
Location: Calgary, AB
241 posts, read 712,980 times
Reputation: 141
I am Canadian, but have worked in the US. If you are not on the TN list of professions then you need an employer to sponsor you to work in the US, which is probably nearly impossible today unless you have some special skills. If you are on the TN list then it is a simple process to work in the US. The cost of living in Vancouver BC is higher than San Diego when you consider everything from food to housing -- Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in North America. I would tend to compare Vancouver to San Fransisco if you want a starting point.
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Old 08-04-2010, 09:37 PM
 
12 posts, read 78,261 times
Reputation: 13
Default Another Vancouver girl

I am also living in Vancouver right now, and am hopefully moving to SD within the month. My employer is sponsering me and dealing with all the paper work, plus paying the $5000 in lawyer fees. It has been a long process - over 3 months, but tomorrow is the deadline when the govt is supposed to give us an answer.
Unless you have a job lined up it would be impossible to get a visa.

From my research I think you get more bang for you buck in SD. Housing is simular depending where you live in Van. I currently live in Kits, and it is more expensive than SD. Food and booze is cheaper too - thank god for happy hour!!!
Moving to the states is not an easy process - your credit doesn't come with you, your car needs to be registered, new drivers licence etc..
I am thinking it will be well worth it in the end though....good luck if you decide to try for it.
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Old 08-04-2010, 09:54 PM
 
Location: San Diego, CA
4,897 posts, read 8,315,282 times
Reputation: 1911
Short of marrying an American or qualifying for an H1-B you're not going to get a visa.
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Old 08-04-2010, 10:51 PM
 
Location: SoCal
681 posts, read 2,799,675 times
Reputation: 496
I just moved from Winnipeg last year and quite frankly think that the cost of living in Winnipeg is actually higher than in San Diego ... except for home rental prices. Back in Winnipeg I was working as an Engineer and my wife was also working in marketing.

Down here the wife cannot work so it's just me supporting us to in an engineering position, but we are actually saving more down here on my income than we were up in Winnipeg on two incomes. And no, I don't make more here than our combined income in Canada.

I came on a TN visa but the company I work for has changed it to an H1B and will be sponsoring me for a greencard so I think I landed a good job with a good company that is still willing to sponsor.

That being said, I don't recommend coming to San Diego without a job lined up. You will find great difficulty unless you can really sell yourself and are able to explain the visa process to a prospective employer without scaring them off. The visa process is not complicated at all ... but some employers just refuse to even listen.
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Old 08-05-2010, 12:09 AM
 
Location: Hollywood North
428 posts, read 1,184,172 times
Reputation: 732
I replied to your post in the Vancouver forum misslexie. TN visa is the way to go...also I think L.A would have better employment opportunities.
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Old 08-05-2010, 03:28 AM
 
3 posts, read 15,341 times
Reputation: 10
im from vancouver and live in Sd now, though I frequently travel between the two. Unemployment is really bad here, if your from Vancouver your used to getting a lot of job interviews but the competition is 100x worse here and the lack of jobs is just as bad. Right now isnt the time to move, wait untill the economy perks up. Also, you miss the snow and mountains real quick...
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Old 08-05-2010, 06:44 AM
 
Location: Ca2Mo2Ga2Va!
2,735 posts, read 6,733,397 times
Reputation: 1813
Wow, look at all these immigrants coming in LEGALLY! Love reading this! So, it can be done! Good luck to you!
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