The path to immigration to Canada: experiences and advice from a practicing instructor

My journey to Canada turned out to be long and full of difficulties, because before that I had to stop in the United States. I am originally from Chelyabinsk, but my journey to Canada did not start from my hometown.

The beginning of the American Journey

In 2006, I had an exceptional opportunity to go to the USA under the Fulbright program. I studied for two years and then worked as a translator for another year.

Education and Work

My education in Russia is related to teaching English. I worked at Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University in the Department of Foreign Languages, while writing a PhD thesis in philosophy and participating in various competitions, which was very welcome.

• First, I managed to get a university grant;
• then Russian;
• and finally, a Fulbright scholarship.

This program is intended for scholars in the humanities, social sciences, natural and exact sciences, as well as for cultural workers. Through the grant, I had the opportunity to study and work in the United States with the support of government agencies.

Objectives of the Fulbright Program

The main goal of the program is to exchange scientific knowledge between scientists from the United States and graduate students representing other countries. I gladly accepted the offer to travel. I had originally planned to stay for only two years, but my expedition ended up taking three years.

Why did I stay longer?

Everything new and unusual fascinated me so much that I was in no hurry to return. Moreover, after graduation, I was offered a job in a translation agency.

Comparison of Education

Education in America is certainly different from Russian education. I cannot claim that education in the USA is worse or better - it is simply a different approach to learning.

In Chelyabinsk, we had many different academic subjects: from economics to valeology, which, in fact, had nothing to do with language training. Of course, we studied English and French, and the level of teaching was quite high. Therefore, having found myself in a country where English is spoken, I continued my language teaching.

Getting a Degree in the USA

In Texas, I was able to earn my master's degree in philosophy while studying at the University of Houston. The professors were top-notch professionals from all over the country, and the students were a mix from a wide variety of regions. Within the education system in the United States, there is a practice of transferring between institutions, which also adds to the uniqueness.

Philosophy and the Learning Process

If we compare the Russian and American educational systems, we can notice that the American system more often focuses on narrow specialization. The classes focused on philosophical disciplines:

• Contemporary American philosophy;
• philosophy of ancient Greece;
• philosophy of language and reason.

It was an interesting and enriching experience that greatly broadened my understanding of philosophy and enriched my horizons.

Educational system

I like the Russian educational system. I have a variety of knowledge, which at first glance may not be relevant to my main specialty. Nevertheless, I am sure that understanding the basics ofeconomics,historiesandsociologieswill prove useful in any professional field.

While this information may not seem necessary for teaching a foreign language, it still plays an important role in developing a deep understanding of life and broadening worldviews. In contrast, the higher education system inU.S.focuses on training more specialized specialists with in-depth knowledge in their field. These two educational models complement each other perfectly, which contributes to my development as a professional.

Financing of education

When it comes to financing my studies, over the years I have never been able to understand its complexities. My study in the US was made possible by a grant, which is quite rare, becausepaid educationis as common in this country as in most others.

The degree of tuition can vary depending on the type of institution and its location: generally, private colleges are more costly than public colleges.

• To get up-to-date information on prices, I always advise you to check the official websites of the institutions.

Moving to Canada

If you are planning to move to Canada, all the necessary information can be found on the official resource of the government of this country. In my opinion, the whole process of registration is quite simple and does not require any additional effort.

All transactions can be completed online and you will not need to bring any documents to the office. However, it is worth paying special attention to the wording of your application, especially if you want to participate in the immigration program under the schemeFederal Skilled Worker.

• As part of this program, a list of occupations and their descriptions are posted on the website to help you properly specify your job duties.

Assessing the chances of immigration

It is also possible to assess your chances of successfully obtaining a visa. This is done using a scoring system that takes into account many factors such as:

• Level of language competence
• Age
• Marital status
• Presence of children

In my case, my education and language skills were at a high level, although I did not have a job offer. They say that having such an offer significantly increases your chances by adding extra points to your grades.

Nevertheless, I went through all the steps without difficulties, and ten months after submitting my documents I received a positive answer. The only step left was to undergo a medical examination and visit the consulate in Moscow to obtain a migration visa.

Obtaining a visa

This visa is usually issued for a period of six months, and the immigrant has the option of crossing the border during this time. In essence, the visa is only needed for entry, as once you arrive in Canada you receive a permanent resident card, which entitles you to legally live and work in the country as if it were your home country.

So every step of the process becomes easier and with proper preparation, immigration is hassle-free.

Definitely, an immigrant in this status receives almost all privileges except for the ability to participate in elections. The process of renewing a permanent resident card generally needs to be done every four years, although there are no strict legislative norms regarding this. Additionally, the immigrant has the opportunity to obtain citizenship, which will allow them to apply for a Canadian passport.

It is important to remember that if a permanent resident is not in the country for two years, they may be denied the renewal of their card. However, if an immigrant spends three out of the last four years in Canada, the renewal process is significantly easier and without unnecessary obstacles. For example, a friend of mine from Ukraine is facing difficulties in obtaining a Canadian passport because her home country has strict rules regarding dual citizenship. She does not want to give up her Ukrainian passport, so she has to constantly renew her permanent resident status.

As for me, I lived in Canada for three years out of four and decided to apply for citizenship.

Famous places in the USA

This text talks about places that are already well-known to many, so I won't include them in my list, but they definitely deserve a mention! New Mexico is a wonderful state where you can experience Spanish cultural heritage in its architecture, enjoy stunning natural landscapes, and visit a museum dedicated to aliens in Roswell. Additionally, this region is home to a nuclear energy museum, as it was here, alongside Nevada and Texas, that the first nuclear experiments were conducted.

Texas: a state of pride

Now about Texas. It is truly an impressive and proud state worth mentioning — it was once an independent republic. Don't miss the chance to visit San Antonio!

• This city is associated with a famous battle that the locals remember with pride, despite the defeat.
• Texas has many interesting places: from arid deserts with giant cacti to the humid Atlantic coast, which often suffers from tropical storms.
• Rodeo is popular here and lasts not just a few days, but sometimes even a whole week.
• An important element of this event is the demonstration of livestock handling skills, and in the evenings, concerts featuring stars from various genres—pop, rock, and country—take place.

It is also worth noting that Austin is a city that combines history, music, and a unique opportunity to observe colonies of bats.

Philadelphia and Boston

Philadelphia is one of the most historically significant cities in the country. You can easily reach it by bus from Washington. It's also a great way to travel between New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, and Chicago, especially if you don't have a car.

Boston, in turn, is considered one of the most "European" cities in the United States. It is a hub of culture, science, and history, and the locals are known for their friendly nature.

Louisiana and New Orleans

We shouldn't forget about Louisiana, which has its own unique atmosphere preserved since the time of French colonial influence. New Orleans is known not only for its jazz and blues music but also for its recovery projects after Hurricane Katrina.

• Celebrities, includingBrad PittThey participated in the restoration of the destroyed houses.
• In the past, the city had entire ghost districts filled with abandoned buildings and vacant shops, but the situation is gradually improving.
• In addition, the local cuisine surprises with exotic dishes, including alligator tails and frog legs — this is another distinctive feature of the city's culture.

Key West and its charm

It's also worth noting the key islands around Miami, connected by narrow bridges. The most remote of them is Key West.

• The house is located here.Ernest Hemingway...where the descendants of his beloved cats still live to this day, some of which even have six toes.
• This tropical paradise offers a wealth of delights with its beautiful beaches and diverse natural attractions.

This amazing state is definitely worth a visit, as it is full of unexpected discoveries and interesting stories that surround it.

The path to a new life

Every path to a new life is full of surprises and discoveries, and my move to Canada was no exception. This experience became not only an adventure for me but also an opportunity to understand myself and my goals more deeply. Moving from Chelyabinsk to America through the Fulbright program opened doors to a world where I was able to not only improve my language skills but also immerse myself in a culture that was unfamiliar to me.

Education in the USA

Living in the USA became the foundation for obtaining a new education, which, although specialized, allowed me to become a more competent professional. Therefore, when I took the step to immigrate to Canada, I was already prepared for new challenges.

Comparison of educational systems

Unlike my experience in Chelyabinsk, which was defined by the breadth of Russian educational courses, the Canadian experience, based on a specific specialization, has been a true discovery for me. Both of these educational systems complemented each other, creating a unique and valuable experience that I am happy to bring into my teaching practice.

The process of immigration to Canada

Thanks to a fairly simple immigration process, I was able to start a new life in Canada without any significant difficulties. I just needed to carefully prepare the documents and follow the established rules. Fortunately, I had all the necessary knowledge and experience to make this process more comfortable for myself.

Conclusion

Thus, a kind of excursion into my journey serves as a reminder that changes, even the biggest ones, should not be feared. Life is full of opportunities, and every step along this path can open up new horizons.

I remind everyone who is just thinking about changes: don't be afraid to try, move forward, and open yourself up to new experiences. Your dream of a new life can become a reality if you are ready to follow your heart.ambitions.