>I think going to Canada is the most rational thing for tech workers and people without papers too. I keep wondering why it hasn't been happening more.
Because you can easily double your salary working in the US. That and the fact that Canadian winter can be brutal for months out of the year.
What's the point if you live under a threat of deportation all your life!
Do you know how much paper work has to be done to file a petition. I have around 20 pounds in weight of past paperwork!. Every petition is 100s of pages. Even if you have an approved petition, you have to go for Visa stamping where there is a 8-10 page questionnaire, waiting in line on 2 separate days and answer questions.
It's all really fucked it. You can do it for maybe 1-2 years. Not for decades.
There are many Indians in US, who would be screwed if they lost their jobs in US. They work for the outsourcing companies and if they have to move to to India - their quality of life will take a big dive. There if they make 80k USD, they will make 20-30k USD in India and have a much worse quality of life. These people wouldn't go back unless they are forced to. And they save every penny they can, because they are trying to be ready for the worst case scenario.
However, anyone who is highly skilled - they can get a job anywhere.
Being in US is like being in a decades long dating relationship where you counterpart raises questions on the relationship and threatens to throw you out every few years. However, some people want to get married and settle and it makes sense for them to move on!
Because you can easily double your salary working in the US. That and the fact that Canadian winter can be brutal for months out of the year.