Multi-country
US vs Canada: Which Is Easier to Immigrate To?
Jun 12, 2026
Canada is significantly easier to immigrate to than the US for generalist skilled workers — Express Entry can deliver PR in 8-14 months without a job offer if your CRS clears the cutoff (typically 470-540). The US is harder due to the H-1B lottery (~25-30% selection) and multi-decade green card backlogs for India-born and China-born applicants. The US becomes faster only for top-of-field profiles eligible for EB-1A or EB-2 NIW.
Who this applies to
You are weighing the US and Canada as immigration destinations. This guide compares the actual systems on hard metrics — eligibility, timeline, cost, and approval likelihood — and shows which profiles fit each.
Head-to-head comparison
| Factor | US | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| System type | Mostly criteria-based + employer-sponsored | Mostly points-based |
| PR entry path (most common) | EB-2 / EB-3 via PERM | Express Entry (FSW / CEC) |
| Job offer required for PR? | Yes (PERM) or No (EB-1A, NIW) | No |
| Lottery in pipeline? | Yes (H-1B for work visa) | No |
| Time to work authorisation | 6-12 months (if H-1B selected) | 4-8 months (work permit) |
| Time to PR (generalist) | 3-15+ years | 8-14 months |
| Time to PR (top profile, ROW) | 12-24 months (EB-1A / NIW) | 8-14 months |
| Cost (USD, all-in) | $10,000-$25,000+ | $2,500-$5,000 |
| Per-country backlog? | Yes (heavily impacts India / China) | No |
| Citizenship eligibility | 5 years as PR | 3 of last 5 years as PR |
Where Canada wins
1. No lottery
Canada Express Entry is points-based and runs draws roughly weekly. If you clear the cutoff, you receive an Invitation to Apply. The US H-1B is a lottery with ~25-30% selection — there's no merit-based recourse for being unselected.
2. No employer dependency
Express Entry doesn't require a job offer. You file as a self-sponsored applicant. The US equivalent (EB-1A / NIW) demands extraordinary-ability evidence that most generalists can't produce.
3. No per-country caps
Indian and Chinese applicants face decades-long EB-2 / EB-3 waits in the US. Canada has no per-country caps in Express Entry. Indian and Chinese applicants make up the largest share of recent Canadian PR.
4. Cheaper
All-in Canadian PR costs typically run $2,500-$5,000 USD (ECA, language test, government fees, optional consultant). US EB-2 PERM with employer support typically runs $10,000-$25,000+ in legal fees alone.
5. Faster
Express Entry: 8-14 months profile-to-PR. US EB-2 PERM: 3-5 years for ROW nationals; 15-30 years for India.
Where the US wins
1. For top-of-field profiles
EB-1A and EB-2 NIW are self-petitioned. For ROW nationals, end-to-end timelines run 12-24 months. For top researchers, founders with traction, or senior executives with awards / publications / press, the US is competitive on timeline and offers higher post-PR income.
2. For Canadians, Mexicans, Australians, and treaty country nationals
TN, E-3, and E-2 bypass H-1B entirely. Canadian engineers can get TN status same-day at the border with a job offer. Australians get E-3 with no effective lottery. E-2 treaty country nationals can self-fund a US business and run it indefinitely.
3. For founders with traction
O-1A, L-1A new office, and International Entrepreneur Parole each work for founders. Canada Start-up Visa is the equivalent but has a small annual processing capacity and longer total timelines.
4. Income and stock comp
US tech salaries materially exceed Canadian equivalents at every seniority level. Even after accounting for tax, healthcare, and exchange rates, senior engineers, researchers, and founders typically earn 30-100% more in the US than in Canada.
Profile-based recommendations
Profile A: Master's grad, 2 years of work, no extraordinary record, India-born
Canada wins decisively. Express Entry CRS likely 460-500; achievable cutoff with category-based draws. US EB-2 PERM would be 20+ years.
Profile B: PhD with publications, US H-1B, ROW
Roughly tied. US EB-2 NIW can finish in 12-24 months for ROW; Canada Express Entry can finish in 8-14 months. If you want US tech salary, stay; if you want speed and lower stress, move to Canada.
Profile C: Senior engineer at top US company, 2 forbes-30-under-30s and 5 publications
US wins. EB-1A is self-petitioned and approval is realistic; you keep US salary.
Profile D: Indian senior engineer, currently on H-1B, 5+ years in, no EB-1 eligibility
Move to Canada. Express Entry with strong CRS (likely 500+ given experience and English) is dramatically faster than the 20+ year EB-2 wait.
Profile E: Canadian software engineer, currently in Canada
Get TN for US work. You don't need to choose — TN is fast, renewable, and lets you live in the US. Pursue US green card via EB-1A / NIW or EB-2 PERM if it makes sense.
Profile F: Australian engineer with US job offer
Get E-3. Faster and easier than H-1B, no lottery.
Cost breakdown
Canada Express Entry (typical)
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| Educational Credential Assessment | $200-$300 |
| Language test (IELTS / CELPIP / TEF) | $300 |
| Government fees (principal applicant) | $1,200 |
| Government fees (spouse, child) | $800-$1,500 |
| Biometrics | $85 |
| Medical exams | $200-$400 |
| Police clearance | $50-$200 |
| Total (single applicant) | $2,500-$3,500 |
| Total (family of 3) | $4,000-$6,000 |
US EB-2 PERM (typical, employer-paid + self-paid)
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| PERM legal fees (employer-paid) | $4,000-$8,000 |
| I-140 filing fee | $715 |
| Premium processing (optional) | $2,805 |
| I-485 fees per person | $1,440 |
| Adjustment-of-status legal fees | $3,000-$6,000 |
| Medical exam | $300-$500 |
| Total (single) | $10,000-$18,000 |
| Total (family of 3) | $15,000-$25,000 |
Common mistakes
Comparing on H-1B vs work permit, not PR vs PR. A US H-1B is temporary. A Canadian PR is permanent. The end states are not the same.
Ignoring per-country backlogs. "EB-2 takes 18-36 months" is true for ROW. For India, it's 15-30 years. The right comparison depends on your country of birth.
Underweighting cost. Multiplying $20k by a family of 4 vs $5k Canadian total is a material consideration for most candidates.
Ignoring stress and predictability. US immigration involves lotteries, RFEs, NTAs, and policy whiplash. Canada is comparatively predictable.
Choosing on salary alone. A higher salary spent on health insurance, schools, and rent in SF / NYC can net less than a lower salary in Toronto / Vancouver.
FAQ
Can I keep working in the US while applying to Canada?
Yes. Filing an Express Entry profile doesn't affect US status. Many H-1B holders maintain US employment while their Canadian PR processes.
Will Canada accept US work experience?
Yes. US work experience counts toward FSW and CEC categories. Skilled work in any country can count toward FSW if the role meets NOC requirements.
Is US citizenship easier than Canadian?
Canadian citizenship requires being a PR for 3 of the last 5 years. US citizenship requires being a green-card holder for 5 years (3 if married to a US citizen). Canada is faster at the citizenship step, but US is faster at the work step (assuming you can clear H-1B).
What if I want both?
Many people get Canadian PR first (faster), then move to the US later via L-1 (after working at a multinational), TN-like equivalents, or EB-1A / NIW once their record supports it.
Which is easier for founders?
Mixed. Canada Start-up Visa requires a Designated Organization investment ($75k-$200k typical) — slower than US O-1A for traction founders. US E-2 (treaty country only) is fast for self-funded founders.
Not sure which applies to you? Find every visa you qualify for across the US, UK, Australia, and Canada in 2 minutes — free.
