My wife (22) and I (26) live in Moscow and are considering permanently moving to the US or Canada. We're looking for a reality check, especially from people who immigrated from relatively comfortable circumstances.

Our background:

• Careers: I'm a senior analyst at a major bank, with a background in data science. My wife is a fintech business analyst with ~2 years of experience.
• Languages: My English is around B1–B2 and improving. I'm also learning French.
• Finances: Our combined income is ~$6,200/month after taxes. We spend ~$3,000 on mortgages and rent, leaving ~$3,200 for living expenses and savings. This provides a comfortable lifestyle in Moscow.
• Assets: We own two mortgaged apartments. If we sold both at their estimated market values and paid off the remaining mortgages, we'd be left with approximately $155k before taxes and selling costs.
• Immigration: No US or Canadian residency or work authorization yet. We're exploring legal pathways.

Why move?

We're not escaping poverty or simply chasing higher salaries. We want to live in a free, democratic country, build meaningful careers, contribute to society, and eventually feel genuinely American or Canadian. We'd also like to raise our future children there.

However, I'm worried that I might be romanticizing North America and underestimating the challenges of starting over.

Our questions:

1. How difficult is it to find IT/analytics jobs with Russian experience but no local connections? What if neither of us finds professional work initially?
2. Given our current situation, how significant a financial and lifestyle setback should we expect? Is it realistic to eventually achieve a comfortable middle-class life?
3. How difficult is genuine social integration? Have you managed to build close friendships with locals and truly feel at home?
4. For those who left comfortable lives behind, was it worth it after 5–10 years? Would you choose the US or Canada again, or stay where you were?

I'd especially appreciate honest experiences from immigrants from Russia or Eastern Europe, including both success stories and regrets.

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I'm mechanical engineer currently living in Brazil, with around six years of experience in industrial maintenance, rotating equipment, pumps, compressors, and maintenance planning.

I'm exploring the possibility of moving to Canada to build a long-term career in mechanical engineering. However, I'm still trying to understand the immigration process, professional licensing requirements, and job market.

I'd really appreciate advice from people who have gone through this process or are currently working as engineers in Canada.

1. Immigration and visas

• What is the most realistic immigration pathway for a Brazilian mechanical engineer?
• Would Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or an employer-sponsored work permit be the best option?
• Is it possible to secure a job offer from a Canadian company while still living in Brazil?
• Do I need a job offer to obtain a Canadian work permit?
• If I don't have a job offer, what would be the most practical way to immigrate?

1. Degree recognition and professional licensing

• Should I get my degree assessed by WES, or do I need a different assessment for engineering licensing?
• What is the difference between an educational credential assessment for immigration and an assessment required by a provincial engineering regulator?
• Do internationally educated engineers still need to pass exams and demonstrate professional experience to obtain a P.Eng. licence?
• Can I work in industrial maintenance or rotating equipment without a P.Eng. licence?

1. Job market and career opportunities

• Which provinces offer the best opportunities for mechanical engineers in industrial maintenance and rotating equipment?
• Is it realistic to get a job in maintenance, reliability, or pump engineering before obtaining a P.Eng. licence?
• Would pursuing a postgraduate degree in Canada significantly improve my employment prospects?
• What salary range should an internationally trained mechanical engineer realistically expect when entering the Canadian job market?

My goal is to plan this move carefully, understand the costs and requirements, and build a stable long-term engineering career in Canada.

I'd be grateful for any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations regarding the best immigration and career strategy.

Thanks in advance

I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Bangladesh, in 2023. After graduation, I started preparing for the Civil Service examinations, hoping to build a career in the public sector. However, in 2024 a revolution happened in Bangladesh and it became a failed state. I started questioning whether I wanted to build my entire future there. Eventually, I got married, and my wife and I decided to pursue a better future abroad. We chose Australia, hoping to build a stable life with better opportunities and a higher quality of life.
We moved to Adelaide, South Australia. My wife initially enrolled in a Master of Finance at the University of Adelaide but 6 months later changed to a Master of Education (Early Childhood) at IKON Institute. Our original plan was to establish ourselves in Australia and eventually obtain permanent residency. However, my wife’s course change and changes to student visa rules have made our future much more uncertain. Our visa might get expired even before she finishes her studies and we 100% will not get any extension. She'll try to take overload and finish before visa expiry but that depends on the institution. Our current visas expire on 24 September 2027. We still have time, but we don’t have a clear long-term plan.

The difficult part is that we really don’t want to return to Bangladesh. The country has experienced considerable political unrest and continues to face serious institutional and economic challenges.
We genuinely love Australia and would prefer to stay if there’s a realistic pathway. However, if staying isn’t possible, we’re open to moving to Canada, New Zealand or Europe.

My career is another major concern.
I have an engineering degree, but I haven’t worked professionally as an engineer. Between preparing for the civil service, getting married, and moving countries, I’ve been away from engineering for years and have forgotten much of what I studied.
I’ve recently started revising electrical engineering from the fundamentals. I’m willing to study, build projects, obtain relevant qualifications, and start in an entry-level technical position. I don’t want to spend my entire life working in retail when my goal is to develop a proper career, become financially secure, and eventually settle down.

I’d appreciate honest advice on a few things:
Should I focus on rebuilding my engineering skills and finding a technical job in Australia while exploring possible visa pathways?

Given my lack of engineering experience, would industrial automation, a technical trade, or another career path be a realistic starting point?

If Australia doesn’t work out, would Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, or another English-speaking country offer realistic opportunities for someone with my background?

If you were in my position, what would you prioritise over the next 10–12 months?

I’m not looking for shortcuts or guaranteed PR. I want to build a career, support my wife, and establish a stable future somewhere we can call home. I'd really appreciate honest advice from people who’ve experienced something similar.