₦airaland Forum

sabanageorge:
What would you do if you must quit your job in Nigeria to leave for permanent residency in Canada? My salary is seven figures and my career prospects here in Nigeria are bright. I have less than 2 months to leave for Canada or I'll lose my permanent residency. I can't travel to Canada in between jobs; not only because the job itself requires my constant presence in Nigeria, I also won't be able to make the number of days in Canada required for residency renewal. I am extremely comfortable in Nigeria; maybe overcomfortable. No real idea how Canada will be.

what would you do in my shoes?

I'm a pretty smart person, so I have thought about this long and hard. I have probably also arrived at a temporary decision as well. However, I'd like to hear what other smart persons may have to say about this. I'd also like to hear what others have to say who have been in this situation. So, thanks in advance.

Mods, please help push to front page so I can get the best opinions.

Regarding the amount of time you have to finally decide if you want to move to Canada or not without loosing your PR status, you really do not have a problem because if you plan properly you actually still have about 3 (three years) to make that decision. So, how did I come about three years and what do you need to do?

How did I come about three years? Well, as per Canadian Immigration requirement, the condition you have to meet to keep your PR status is that you must be living in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) during the last five years and these 730 days don’t need to be continuous.

What do you need to do now in the next 2 months? Well all you need to do now is to do short landing for some days (maybe say 1 week but the more time the better). So, take short vacation to Canada from your current work just for the purpose of landing. Go back to your work in Nigeria after your short vacation. You now have 3 years (three) from when you depart Canada to return to Canada so as not to loose your PR status. If you decide to move to Canada after spending 3 years in Nigeria, you must now stay live in Canada for 2 years before you can travel out again.

Note, If I was in your shoes and I decide to return to Canada, I will do so after only 2 years (not using all of my 3 years window).

You can read more about all of these here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=727&top=4

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html

https://settlement.org/ontario/immigration-citizenship/permanent-residence/permanent-resident-pr-status/what-are-the-residency-requirements-for-permanent-residents-prs/

https://www.ackahlaw.com/blog/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas/

I hope this helps.

naijaman3:
Regarding the amount of time you have to finally decide if you want to move to Canada or not without loosing your PR status, you really do not have a problem because if you plan properly you actually still have about 3 (three years) to make that decision. So, how did I come about three years and what do you need to do?

How did I come about three years? Well, as per Canadian Immigration requirement, the condition you have to meet to keep your PR status is that you must be living in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) during the last five years and these 730 days don’t need to be continuous.

What do you need to do now in the next 2 months? Well all you need to do now is to do short landing for some days (maybe say 1 week but the more time the better). So, take short vacation to Canada from your current work just for the purpose of landing. Go back to your work in Nigeria after your short vacation. You now have 3 years (three) from when you depart Canada to return to Canada so as not to loose your PR status. If you decide to move to Canada after spending 3 years in Nigeria, you must now stay live in Canada for 2 years before you can travel out again.

Note, If I was in your shoes and I decide to return to Canada, I will do so after only 2 years (not using all of my 3 years window).

You can read more about all of these here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=727&top=4

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html

https://settlement.org/ontario/immigration-citizenship/permanent-residence/permanent-resident-pr-status/what-are-the-residency-requirements-for-permanent-residents-prs/

https://www.ackahlaw.com/blog/how-to-maintain-permanent-residence-in-canada-while-living-overseas/

I hope this helps.

Just what I wanted to type. He should do soft landing and make the decision on where to stay when the pressure of copr expiration is diffused. He has two years to make this decision

naijaman3:
I hope this helps.

@Naijaman3, please I need your input here.

Thanks

https://www.nairaland.com/4857306/monthly-savings-canada/17#79438769

sentra05:
This is what i don't like. People just wasting spaces for others who genuinely want to migrate. Why bother going through the rigors of application process when you don't even know what you want.
The mistake a lot of Nigerians make is just migrating to another country without actually defining for themselves what they really want. Abroad is not for everyone.
From your post, i will advice you to stay back in Nigeria.
The only people i encourage to migrate are people who don't really place money over every other thing. People who don't feel happy about the rot in Nigeria and want to live somewhere where things are working. The truth is that the chances of making that 7 digits in Canada is low and for people who place too much value on money, it is either they go into crime to meet up or they come to nairaland, open a thread and be bad mouthing Cananda, US or other western countries they migrate to as if they country begged them to migrate.

Not everyone appreciate the clean environment, working systems etc that obtains in the western world. In fact, some people enjoy the chaos in Nigeria and will never function properly in the western society. I know some Nigerians over here who keep whining every time that they pay taxes.

@OP, my advice is stay in Nigeria to avoid regrets. It is obvious you did not even do your research very well and you don't seem to know what you really want.

you have said it all

lorenzos1:
Bro I would be honest with you, you may not be able to make or save that much in Canada on the short run, it would take a while for u to get to that level. But a lot of people leaving Nigeria for Canny are also earning well. The question is why are they leaving? The future economic outlook of Nigeria is very uncertain.. Bleak to say the least. Sit down and think about what Nigeria would be like in another 10years. Rising insecurity,inflation, massive exhange rate instability, trade deficits because of reduced demand for oil.Not to talk of infrastructure, Electricity. Etc.. Except something changes drastically.. Nigeria is not a very good option.. You would be very comfortable in Canada but u might not be so wealthy..

exactly

sabanageorge:
What would you do if you must quit your job in Nigeria to leave for permanent residency in Canada? My salary is seven figures and my career prospects here in Nigeria are bright. I have less than 2 months to leave for Canada or I'll lose my permanent residency. I can't travel to Canada in between jobs; not only because the job itself requires my constant presence in Nigeria, I also won't be able to make the number of days in Canada required for residency renewal. I am extremely comfortable in Nigeria; maybe overcomfortable. No real idea how Canada will be.

what would you do in my shoes?

I'm a pretty smart person, so I have thought about this long and hard. I have probably also arrived at a temporary decision as well. However, I'd like to hear what other smart persons may have to say about this. I'd also like to hear what others have to say who have been in this situation. So, thanks in advance.

Mods, please help push to front page so I can get the best opinions.

I am exactly in the same shoes. So confused on what to do.

MrsBee:
I am exactly in the same shoes. So confused on what to do.

You have your PR already?

sabanageorge:
What would you do if you must quit your job in Nigeria to leave for permanent residency in Canada? My salary is seven figures and my career prospects here in Nigeria are bright. I have less than 2 months to leave for Canada or I'll lose my permanent residency. I can't travel to Canada in between jobs; not only because the job itself requires my constant presence in Nigeria, I also won't be able to make the number of days in Canada required for residency renewal. I am extremely comfortable in Nigeria; maybe overcomfortable. No real idea how Canada will be.

what would you do in my shoes?

I'm a pretty smart person, so I have thought about this long and hard. I have probably also arrived at a temporary decision as well. However, I'd like to hear what other smart persons may have to say about this. I'd also like to hear what others have to say who have been in this situation. So, thanks in advance.

Mods, please help push to front page so I can get the best opinions.

My brother or sister. Let me analyze your write up. U have 7gures pay monthly right, you went and started Canadian process and finally got it. I can authoritatively tell u that u aren't earning any 7figures salary. Assuming u are earning 7figures salary, u applied for pr because of job insecurity, in other words, u are afraid of maybe losing the job or ur salary is poor and u need an upgrade or u want a change of lifestyle. See bro, I currently live in canada and I remembered what people told me when I was about leaving but today, all those people that said all manner of things about canada are now in the pool for the past 2yrs without any luck. One even came as a visitors and refused to go back, others has been begging me to help them relocate. The choice of moving to canada was the best thing that happened to me and still happening. I am not encouraging u to come but in just in 2yrs time, u will regret your actions of not moving to Canada. And for people advising u that ur 7figures can train ur kids abroad obviously do not know how much it cost to school overseas as an international student. Choose wisely,

needful:
My brother or sister. Let me analyze your write up. U have 7gures pay monthly right, you went and started Canadian process and finally got it. I can authoritatively tell u that u aren't earning any 7figures salary. Assuming u are earning 7figures salary, u applied for pr because of job insecurity, in other words, u are afraid of maybe losing the job or ur salary is poor and u need an upgrade or u want a change of lifestyle. See bro, I currently live in canada and I remembered what people told me when I was about leaving but today, all those people that said all manner of things about canada are now in the pool for the past 2yrs without any luck. One even came as a visitors and refused to go back, others has been begging me to help them relocate. The choice of moving to canada was the best thing that happened to me and still happening. I am not encouraging u to come but in just in 2yrs time, u will regret your actions of not moving to Canada. And for people advising u that ur 7figures can train ur kids abroad obviously do not know how much it cost to school overseas as an international student. Choose wisely,

when USA Visa was easy to get some folks are advised to move but they are shouting we will move Nigeria forward but look at it now USA Visa is hard ASF right now.........when try sell PHCN to ibedc that they where sacking allot of people they are regretting it right now.... Canada immigration is not really hard now they may tighten it up in d next 2years and I hope OP won't blame himself why he didn't relocate earlier.

Spanishmilf:
when USA Visa was easy to get some folks are advised to move but they are shouting we will move Nigeria forward but look at it now USA Visa is hard ASF right now.........when try sell PHCN to ibedc that they where sacking allot of people they are regretting it right now.... Canada immigration is not really hard now they may tighten it up in d next 2years and I hope OP won't blame himself why he didn't relocate earlier.

you have spoken well

Yes. But I got a fantastic job afterwards.

oluayebenz:
You have your PR already?

123JohnF:
The best you can do it's to progress in your own country and to live around your own people and your culture. You go to Canada or any other country, the life is more comfortable, environment is cleaner, better roads, etc. Jobs? You will need to start from simple jobs and to see how it works, if you are hardworking and well educated, very skilled, you may have a good career in Canada yet it takes time and you will be always an immigrant, a foreigner, even if you adapt well, you will always miss your homeland.
... if you plan is to have kids and to give them better future, go to Canada but chose well the mother of your future kids and remember, your kids growing up in Canada will be more Canadians than Nigerians.

As a man, I personally would prefer to be successful in my own country than to be a 2nd class citizen (new immigrant) in any developed country .

As far as I know, some Nigerians are treated as 2nd, 3rd and even 4th class in Nigeria.

123JohnF:
Not every man adapts easy in the new country. In his country he is a respected professional, the boss at work and at home. In the new country he is nobody, no network, no close friends and contacts , maybe he starts from a low job, some PHD holders are driving taxi or making burgers. It affects many immigrants, specially men. The man needs his own success and I mean not only money and cars, house, also certain position in the society and being respected. More easy to immigrate for a simple man who is nobody in his own country. Men with good position in the homeland, get depressed if the things don't work so fast for to establish well.

I hope you understand.

What about church and communities organizations?

TheCongo2:
As far as I know, some Nigerians are treated as 2nd, 3rd and even 4th class in Nigeria.

who are those being treated as 4th class, by who?

Mizwisdom:
who are those being treated as 4th class, by who?

Hey girl, it has been a long time.

From watching Nollywood movies, I have observed some Nigerian citizens have the "power" to put their fellow Nigerians under arrest. I always laugh whenever I see that.

In Canada not even the prime minister can have such power to tell a police officer "Police, arrest me that man".

Given this fact, one can clearly see the class differences in Nigeria. Whereas in Canada classes aren't that obvious. Everyone have the same rights and responsibilities in Canada.

@123JohnF

TheCongo2:
Hey girl, it has been a long time.

From watching Nollywood movies, I have observed some Nigerian citizens have the "power" to put their fellow Nigerians under arrest. I always laugh whenever I see that.

In Canada not even the prime minister can have such power to tell a police officer "Police, arrest me that man".

Given this fact, one can clearly see the class differences in Nigeria. Whereas in Canada classes aren't that obvious. Everyone have the same rights and responsibilities in Canada.

@123JohnF

that is the unfortunate reality of Nigeria

abusing state institutions

Your age is a determining factor here.

If you are above 40 and earn above 10m, please stay back.

If you don't place value on money,you have kids and you can manage whatever life throws at you then feel free to move to canada.

TheCongo2:
Hey girl, it has been a long time.

From watching Nollywood movies, I have observed some Nigerian citizens have the "power" to put their fellow Nigerians under arrest. I always laugh whenever I see that.

In Canada not even the prime minister can have such power to tell a police officer "Police, arrest me that man".

Given this fact, one can clearly see the class differences in Nigeria. Whereas in Canada classes aren't that obvious. Everyone have the same rights and responsibilities in Canada.

@123JohnF

I am not a Nigerian, visited, short visits only so I can't tell how is your society divided. My writing was generic about many countries.

123JohnF:
I am not a Nigerian, visited, short visits only so I can't tell how is your society divided. My writing was generic about many countries.

Where are you located?
I fail to see how anyone can be treated as a second class citizen in Canada unless the person is an illegal immigrant

TheCongo2:
Where are you located?
I fail to see how anyone can be treated as a second citizen in Canada unless the person is an illegal immigrant

USA

Only a Chief Mumu would stay back in this Volatile Prison of a Country with it's high rate of Insecurity. Very low quality and low standard of Living for most of it's Citizens. A Passport that's not respected even by its African peers.

If you are so smart, as smart as you believe you are, then why can't you go to Canada, a developed Country and Test your smarts with the very best the world has to offer? You want to be a Big fish in this putrid, infested, toxic little pond called Nigeria. Go ahead.

123JohnF:
The best you can do it's to progress in your own country and to live around your own people and your culture. You go to Canada or any other country, the life is more comfortable, environment is cleaner, better roads, etc. Jobs? You will need to start from simple jobs and to see how it works, if you are hardworking and well educated, very skilled, you may have a good career in Canada yet it takes time and you will be always an immigrant, a foreigner, even if you adapt well, you will always miss your homeland.
... if you plan is to have kids and to give them better future, go to Canada but chose well the mother of your future kids and remember, your kids growing up in Canada will be more Canadians than Nigerians.

As a man, I personally would prefer to be successful in my own country than to be a 2nd class citizen (new immigrant) in any developed country .

Smart people would rather be a 2nd class citizen in Heaven than a first class citizen in Hell.

sweetmelanin:
Smart people would rather be a 2nd class citizen in Heaven than a first class citizen in Hell.

There is another saying, what do you prefer to be? Head of the mouse or tail of the lion?

123JohnF:
There is another saying, what do you prefer to be? Head of the mouse or tail of the lion?

I still fail to see how anyone can be a second class citizen in a country like the US or Canada unless the person is illegal. Been in the middle or lower economic class doesn't make someone a second class citizen in those countries.

A tail of a lion is still a lion. You can't touch the tail of a lion without ripping the cost.

TheCongo2:
Hey girl, it has been a long time.

From watching Nollywood movies, I have observed some Nigerian citizens have the "power" to put their fellow Nigerians under arrest. I always laugh whenever I see that.

In Canada not even the prime minister can have such power to tell a police officer "Police, arrest me that man".

Given this fact, one can clearly see the class differences in Nigeria. Whereas in Canada classes aren't that obvious. Everyone have the same rights and responsibilities in Canada.

@123JohnF

Yes, in Nigeria, money talks!


How have you been? haven't seen you around here in a while

The prospect of your job should determine your decision making.think about yourself and your family and am sure u will come up with a good decision for yourself.

sentra05:
This is what i don't like. People just wasting spaces for others who genuinely want to migrate. Why bother going through the rigors of application process when you don't even know what you want.
The mistake a lot of Nigerians make is just migrating to another country without actually defining for themselves what they really want. Abroad is not for everyone.
From your post, i will advice you to stay back in Nigeria.
The only people i encourage to migrate are people who don't really place money over every other thing. People who don't feel happy about the rot in Nigeria and want to live somewhere where things are working. The truth is that the chances of making that 7 digits in Canada is low and for people who place too much value on money, it is either they go into crime to meet up or they come to nairaland, open a thread and be bad mouthing Cananda, US or other western countries they migrate to as if they country begged them to migrate.

Not everyone appreciate the clean environment, working systems etc that obtains in the western world. In fact, some people enjoy the chaos in Nigeria and will never function properly in the western society. I know some Nigerians over here who keep whining every time that they pay taxes.

@OP, my advice is stay in Nigeria to avoid regrets. It is obvious you did not even do your research very well and you don't seem to know what you really want.

I think this is the best advice here

OP just dropped that he earns 7 figures. That could be 1,000,000 per month or ~ $4000.


If you came to Alberta with your upstream work experience you should be able to earn way more than that in a month after taxes.

Forget about money, do you want free health care? Do you have kids? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

The best advice has been given: land and attain PR status. Get your health card, get your PR card and go back to Nigeria with a renewed perspective. You have to spend only 1095 days in Canada out of a 5 year period. Update your linked in location to Canada and see what recruiters are saying.

I doubt you are married with kids cos if you were, you won’t be this confused.

If you don’t land and lose the PR status, you will feel a lot of regret and always ask “What if?”


Good luck

Guys, I need your advice too. I graduated since 2011/2012 and I don't have a masters degree (so no 2nd cert). I really don't feel like doing anything school again as I had 3yrs at home before my admission to do a 5yrs course. I have ventured into business and my success has been moderate. I'm not married now. So with this my profile now, what are my chances of relocating to a better country?

OP, here's my advice to you. Make your decision and don't look back. Whatever your decision may be, don't look back! Stick with it and work hard at it. I know a gentleman who is a finance director for a blue chip company in Nigeria. He is doing very well in Nigeria and earns significant renumeration like you. He sought my advice about emigrating to the U.S. about 8 years ago and I let him know that he will not get the same position in the U.S. as he has in Nigeria, but lots of job opportunities abound and he will probably earn six figure USD salaries after a few years. I said if he is willing to live with that, he should make the move. He decided not to. Last month, he told me on the phone that he regrets not making the move back then. He said back then emigration was all about the allure and dazzle of foreign countries pulling Nigerians to leave. Now, it is the situation in Nigeria pushing people to leave. He is emotionally invested in Nigeria and thus is really depressed that his country is pushing him out. In the last 2 years, he said there have been 3 kidnap attempts on his immediate family and that he has had to pay ransome for 2 extended family members. He is moving his immediate family first to his house in Ghana then he will figure out what to do next. He was lamenting that he really cant live life the way he likes because it attracts negative attention with ill effects.

I am not advocating for you to leave or one way or the other. All I'm saying is make a decision and move on. My friend is clinically depressed because he keeps looking back and regretting his decision. He neglects to see how much God has blessed him in Nigeria since he decided to stay and that he still has options. Anyway, good luck in whatever path you take.

Mancala:
OP, here's my advice to you. Make your decision and don't look back. Whatever your decision may be, don't look back! Stick with it and work hard at it. I know a gentleman who is a finance director for a blue chip company in Nigeria. He is doing very well in Nigeria and earns significant renumeration like you. He sought my advice about emigrating to the U.S. about 8 years ago and I let him know that he will not get the same position in the U.S. as he has in Nigeria, but lots of job opportunities abound and he will probably earn six figure USD salaries after a few years. I said if he is willing to live with that, he should make the move. He decided not to. Last month, he told me on the phone that he regrets not making the move back then. He said back then emigration was all about the allure and dazzle of foreign countries pulling Nigerians to leave. Now, it is the situation in Nigeria pushing people to leave. He is emotionally invested in Nigeria and thus is really depressed that his country is pushing him out. In the last 2 years, he said there have been 3 kidnap attempts on his immediate family and that he has had to pay ransome for 2 extended family members. He is moving his immediate family first to his house in Ghana then he will figure out what to do next. He was lamenting that he really cant live life the way he likes because it attracts negative attention with ill effects.

I am not advocating for you to leave or one way or the other. All I'm saying is make a decision and move on. My friend is clinically depressed because he keeps looking back and regretting his decision. He neglects to see how much God has blessed him in Nigeria since he decided to stay and that he still has options. Anyway, good luck in whatever path you take.

and us Visa is tough right now

Spanishmilf:
and us Visa is tough right now

Yes, it is tough right now, but only for a season. Trust me on this, it will be relatively easier sometime in the future. Nigerians just need to be patient and wait out this "storm in a teacup". That is the beauty of the American political system; it takes a very long time to effect permanent change. Things will swing back in the other direction soon enough.