The Canadian Immigration Taboo: Those Who Go Back Home
Gatineau, February 2012
Each year, about 250,000 immigrants from all around the world are granted permanent residence in Canada. For most of these newcomers, it’s the beginning of a new life after a several month-long or even several year-long wait.
And each year, an undisclosed number of permanent residents decide to go back home. Each immigrant has its own reason for kissing the “Canadian dream” goodbye, and these reasons are sometimes hard to express. Some immigrants are ashamed of going home, some are bullied into thinking that they didn’t try hard enough, and other are so resentful that nothing constructive comes out of their comments.
All immigrants go through a phase in which they hate Canada. Sometimes it happens during the lengthy immigration process: it’s hard to keep faith when you have to deal with so many administrative requirements, and when your life is pretty much put on hold waiting for someone to take a decision about your future. When I was into the process, I clearly remembered thinking that if my application was sent back to me again, I was heading back to France because I was sick and tired of that nonsense.
The rejection stage can also occur after the “honeymoon period”, when reality kicks in. Yes, Canada is fucking cold (or fucking humid, depending on the season). Yes, some Canadians don’t like immigrants. Yes, some employers are narrow-minded. Yes, the food may have been better back home. But most people eventually overcome this phase and settle down into a routine in their new country, as they become more familiar with it.
But for some immigrants, life Canada doesn’t turn out as good as expected. Life happens.
As a French, I was lucky to be able to spend almost two years in Canada before deciding to apply for permanent residence. During these two years, I “tested out” the country, started working, made friends, etc. But a lot of people from the so-called “developing countries” aren’t that lucky and can’t even get a tourist visa to visit the country they plan to immigrate to.
This can lead to a lot of issues because no matter how much you read about Canada and how prepared you are, you won’t know if the country is right for you until you actually experience it yourself.
So what can you do if you don’t see any other solution but going back home?
- Take a deep breath and talk to other immigrants. Most will have experienced what you are going through. Try to see whether you are simply going through a “rejection phase” or whether the issues are deeper.
- Consider moving to another province, or another city. Provinces each have their own culture and “vibe”, and as a permanent resident, you can live anywhere in Canada. Even if you apply for permanent residence through the Quebec program, you do not have to stay in Quebec if it doesn’t work out for you.
- Remember that you can lose your permanent residence if you do not meet the residency requirements, i.e. being physically present in Canada for at least two years in every five-year period. You may not think much of it if you are sure you don’t want to live in Canada anymore, but I do know immigrants who regretted losing their permanent residence status. And if you do lose it, you have to start the immigration process from scratch.
- Consider how long you have to wait until being eligible for citizenship. Of course, becoming a Canadian citizen may not be your goal if you do not want to live in Canada anymore. But it’s still a major milestone and can offer you new opportunities. If you are a few months’ short of meeting the requirements, keep that in mind before heading home.
- Talk about your experience. It may be hard to be objective at first but sharing the “lessons learned” will help other immigrants deciding whether Canada is right for them.
Have you ever considered going back home? Did you go through a “rejection phase” in your new country?
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I am probably a bit late to write something on here, but I will get my 10 cents as they say. This is a personal opinion of course, and does not apply to everyone. The immigration process was very long, too long, and the incompetency and bureaucratic nature of the immigration and other government officials was staggering.
I don’t find the part of the country I live in particularly friendly, people are rude, selfish and obnoxious in some sort of ‘self important’ way. The weather is awful all year around and the cost of everything is much higher than where I moved from. Nearly every Government or other ‘official’ person I have met here so far appears to be on some huge self important power trip.
I have no right to be in Canada, but then considering most Canadians are of immigrant stock it’s hard to see why anyone has any less right to be here? Canada did not have to have me but I never wanted Canada so perhaps this is my issue; I came here because of a Canadian partner and the hole ‘Canadian dream’ has stretched our relationship and our finances to breaking point and for what?
For me now the prospects are of a worst pay that back home, and a life in poverty living in sub standard cramped apartment block; so after I have decided it simple is not worth staying here for. I would not advise anyone to immigrate here unless you do come from some war torn place where it could really be no worse where ever you go. I can see a huge amount of promise for many people immigrating to Canada, but for most it seems to be worse or no better; I agree with poster Geli on many points to numerous to list.
I’m sorry you are having such a hard time and that Canada didn’t meet your expectations. Where do you live in Canada and where did you move from?
Hi
I am from India & planning to apply for a PR. I am a qualified accountant & not sure if i can get a job in canada.
I know some of my fellow accountants who made it to Canada on a PR but had to come back to India. We at least get a job here IN India is the common reply.
Not sure if i can come to canada on a tourist visa. What do you suggest.
Regards
sachin
You could apply for a tourist visa to scout opportunities, but tourist visas can be hard to get and of course, it’s expensive to travel to Canada. You ca try to connect with other immigrants in your field and check out local work opportunities on website such as jobbank.ca.
There is never a guarantee that your life will be better abroad, it’s a very personal decision to make.
This series may interest you: http://correresmidestino.com/tag/how-to-find-a-job-in-canada/.
I just want to add that there is no perfect country on earth. It’s a “give and take” choice really. If what’s more important for you is financial and material security, then go for it, Canada is the place to be! On the other hand, if you love to eat fresh fruits, stroll around wearing only a t-shirt and stay out in your backyard all-year round, then you should probably move to (or stay!) in a warmer climate!
Amen (no pun intended!) to that!
I’m planning to go to Canada but I’m not even sure if I’ll get accepted.
I’m from Mexico and studied Computer Science, I would like to go there, but I’ve seen a lot of websites that says it’s extremely difficult to get the visa…you know if really is that hard?
:S
Hard or easy… well this is all relative. Long, mostly! You should check http://www.cic.gc.ca to see if you are eligible, that’s the first step.