So why did you choose America and not Canada?

[kytwell 179]

If you want to ask about Canadians; there's a regional section where you could post this to Canadian - American couples.

If you're asking about why some couples chose America over their spouse's country. I am sure every couple has their own "unique" set of circumstances that ultimately led to the decision to do it here. Main ones probably being language barrier of going to a foreign country while the spouse can speak some English, job prospects and family considerations (IE kids from a previous relationship). For my wife and I, we chose America over Greece, because I ( the USC) only need 5 more years to reach 20 yrs with my work to be able to collect a full pension when I turn 55, I have custody of my 3 kids from a previous marriage and they know 0 Greek. On her side, she being from Greece has already reached puberty so she can collect her gov't pension. Just kidding about that of her, but some on here always break the Greeks balls about early retirement age. She and her brother own a solar company, so she will be able to still run it from here and may need to fly there 3-4 times a year to do some things in regards to the business.

[Kajikit 65]

Because my husband was born (and still lives) in Miami! And he had a job that could support us both, and I couldn't even support myself let alone an immigrant husband.

[Married2009 32]

Actually, when we got engaged, I told my love that I would move to Canada for 10 years. He came down here for the wedding (we decide to go CR1). After he got down here, for one of our Christmas presents, my son and his wife let us know we (both of us) were going to be grandparents. I was still willing to honor my word and move to Alberta, but my love said "No, you would move up here, but you would never be truly happy." Now we have twin granddaughters! Some day, (after he gets citizenship) we might move to Canada. But that is for the future.

Edited December 20, 2011 by Married2009

[BlueBonnet 84]

Im from Canada, and now living in the USA.

Like most couples here, we had the discussion of whom should move to whom. Canada doesnt offer a K1 visa, you must be married, they do have one for same sex couples but I dont know much about that one as I didnt read up on it. So the USA offered a visa that worked for us, getting quicker to my partner apposed to waiting a year or more. He made it clear that he didnt like the snow so the weather was a factor. But our biggest decision maker was family. I wasnt born in Canada, only grew up there, I was raised as an only child, no grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, no one. My husband has grandparents, parents, siblings, cousins, nieces, newfews, aunts, uncles, you get the point. I had a great job, now I cant find one, I didnt need to worry about healthcare, thank goodness Im healthy, but still.

Any couple who is international has to have a fair discussion on whom moves to whom, and you as a couple must decide what works better for you both.

I dont miss Canada the country, I do miss my paycheque, friends, the mountains, things like that. But I moved to be with my husband, and I am, and I dont care where I live, I didnt move to live in the USA, I moved to be with him.

It is funny though, alot of people that Ive met, when they hear Im from Canada, they say they want to live there, socialised healthcare, more jobs, better economy, ect. But they usualy also mention how cold it is and that they arnt sure they could deal with that. lol.

So I guess to answer your question about why the USA and not Canada, it was family related. I was taken from my family as a child and hated always being alone that way, and I didnt want to take him away from his.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Canada is a wonderful country and i do miss living there. Our decision, however, about where to live was a totally pragmatic one. He had a stable job that paid more than 4 times my salary, he owned a home and had elderly parents and a daughter living in the US. My job, while I loved it, was only going to last a few more years at the most, I rented an apartment and have no children. My father and brother already lived 7 and 9 hours away. It seemed much more practical for me to move to the US rather than for him to move to Canada. As retirement comes closer, those same pragmatic realities may make it more practical for us to move to Canada. As a dual citizen, I can do that and sponsor my husband to Canada. Love is only one thing that allows a relationship to survive; common sense in another.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

How about "because they could" You can't. The only place you can currently live legally is Canada.

How many would choose the USA over Canada IF they had to live here as illegals? Are you serious? The people here had a choice to live as legal residents of Canada OR the USA (Canada IS part of "America" also) They also has loved ones they were married to or were going to marry, you have stated you do not want to do that.

I lived in Canada for a year, in Montreal, and to be honest where I chose to live in the USA had a LOT to do with its proximity to Montreal. If you told me I HAD to live in Montreal, I would say "D'accord pour moi!" But I am a USA citizen so when my work authorization expired (actually before but the project was done) I WENT BACK TO MY HOME! (43 km south) I am NOT a Canadian citizen and I do not wish to live there illegally because I can live BETTER here, but only because I am LEGAL here. My "quality of life" was at least equal in Montreal

Now I will not pass up an opportunity to tell a good Canadian joke or tease them when I can but to be honest, it is a great country, we go there a LOT we want to live CLOSE to it (I can enjoy Montreal all I want and not have to immigrate)

[Ban Hammer 12,879]

i miss canada too. send timbits!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Canada is a wonderful country and i do miss living there. Our decision, however, about where to live was a totally pragmatic one. He had a stable job that paid more than 4 times my salary, he owned a home and had elderly parents and a daughter living in the US. My job, while I loved it, was only going to last a few more years at the most, I rented an apartment and have no children. My father and brother already lived 7 and 9 hours away. It seemed much more practical for me to move to the US rather than for him to move to Canada. As retirement comes closer, those same pragmatic realities may make it more practical for us to move to Canada. As a dual citizen, I can do that and sponsor my husband to Canada. Love is only one thing that allows a relationship to survive; common sense in another.

And FWIW we have kept our flat in Ukraine and one day we may spend a good portion of the year there. Canada is better than Ukraine. But I love Ukraine for its own merits and I would be pleased to live at least part of the year there. As having been married to a Ukrainian for more than two years I am eligible for the Ukrainian equivilent of "permanent resident"

I highly doubt, Katherine, your decision (or your husbands) would have been the same if you had to live here illegally.

It is simply not a comparison to be made.

the question is being asked, in fact, in a forum dominated by people that did a lot to be here LEGALLY. It simply is an irrelevent question

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I was not looking at the question in terms of legal vs no legal status, rather just why, as a Canadian I am living in the US rather than Canada if Canada is so wonderful.

"Wonderful" isn't the only consideration when you are involved in a relationship. Relationships bring other factors into the equation and other circumstances that need to be considered that are in the best interest of the couple.

There is no way I would want to live in the US without legal status. That is an incredibly hard life. It is tough enough to live here with legal status! For some, such as the 'economic immigrants' who cross into the US from poorer countries south of the border, I can sympathize that even living and working here illegally offers them more opportunities for a better life than they have back home. I don't condone illegal 'immigration', but I can understand what motivates it and have sympathy for those caught up in that bind. When the other country is Canada, however, there is no way that being out of status in the US is going to be better than being a legal resident in Canada. The weather may be rough for part of the year, but many people actually enjoy Canadian winters - and the opportunities and benefits far outweigh the weather. To be very honest, the only reason I am living in the US is because of my husband. Before I became involved with an American, I never considered or even wanted to live in the US, and if he were not in the picture, I would happily still be living in Canada with no desire to live in the US. It is just that relationships do have a way of changing, well, everything !

Edited December 21, 2011 by Kathryn41

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I'm no longer allowed in Canada

BC rocks though with YT being a very close second.

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

You don't just pick a country, any country.

I moved here because my husband is American. We lived in Scotland for a few years, now we're here. If there's ever an opportunity to live in Canada, we'd definitely take it! Especially if it was in BC or YT! I'd move almost anywhere in the world if the opportunity arose. Life is an adventure.

If I had no legal status here, I'd leave. Simple.

[hikergirl 277]

For us we are choosing the US over Canada because my future hubby has a great job that is long term. I have had enough of my current job and am ready for a change.

I won't go down other than the completely above board legal way (CR-1 was our choice) because I don't want to be down there out-of-status or illegally in any way, shape or form.

However, we have already decided that on the off-chance something goes wrong with this process, I will move to BC where it's warmer and sponsor him up to Canada. He's afraid of the bitter cold of a prairie winter.

I know I'm going to miss the mountains, the healthcare system and my family. There is a security to living here that I won't ever get living in the US.

The jist of it is though, we want to be together. If we can't live in the US together, he will leave the US and come up to Canada to be with me.

[tmma 467]

I'm no longer allowed in Canada

.....

Why?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Why?

The same reason my dad can't...felonies. Whenever he brought his Harley up for the summer to go riding he had to take a ferry. He finally broke down and bought one up here to go riding and leaves it at my mom and step dads for the winter.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Why?

Canada will not allow anyone in that has felony convictions OR a drunk driving charge, and they no-sh*t mean it!

I went up there with a friend and one of his friends. His friend had a DUI 7 years ago and they flat out said "you two can go in but HE stays out!" Simple as that. We had to take him back to my house to cool his heels while we took care of our business in Montreal. Fortunately I lived about 10 minutes from there at the time.