Need Advice. Go to USA or Canada

[V-G]

Although I understand where you are coming from, I would be hesitant to use the word "simple" and "refugee" in the same sentense.

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English Language Program, which you mentioned Kathy, is very similar to that Work and Study of English Bay College. I just do not know whether they work with foreigners as it needs stiff requirements to a college. I am going to send a request to them and ask them.

V-G, thank you, i understand that i it should be not easy to prove my returning Ukraine after the program. But, such people like me use this program and i will need to pay the whole fee after obtaining a visa. So i risk only with 200 CAD that i need to pay as a registration fee (by the way the same is at English Language Program of Alberta).

As i sad a lot of people use this program, and it is not a new one. And some quit popular companies work with this program. So i hardly think that it is a trick and i will be cheated. But at the same time i cannot make clear that visa issue. Ukraine has different visas as IM-1, B, P, etc. America has different visas as H2B, J, etc. But Canadian ambassy's site does not include such things. It only has "student visas", "working visas" etc. It makes very difficult to clarify anithing.

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Originally Posted by Kathy

I don't think English Bay will cheat you. But Vancouver rental accomodation is very expensive (though food is cheaper), and the job market is not as promising as in Alberta. Also, you will find the people more helpful in Alberta, or Saskatchewan, than in Vancouver.

So you heard something about English Bay College, didn't you? Vancouver is my possible destination only because the college sends there. I do not care about a city in general.

[V-G]

Originally Posted by Kathy

No, I haven't heard anything either way. I was thinking more of the practicalities of money once you arrive - affordable housing, transportation, ease of movement, and even help from locals.

Vancouver and Toronto are both very expensive cities, in Canadian terms. Toronto, at least, has a large Ukrainian diaspora and an excellent transportation system. Vancouver is physically very beautiful, you will be close to a lot of nature, but it is not a "welcoming" city.

In Vancouver expect to make it on your own, I can't speak for Edmonton, or Calgary since I haven't lived there. The majority of immigrants in Vancouver are of Asian origin. There aren't many Ukrainian establishments (but I did see an Orthodox Ukrainian church!).

I didn't mean to imply that you would be cheated of money. The risk is not $200 but the denial of entry, denial of a visa. Once you have been denied a visa, getting one later is signifficantly more challenging. The idea is that if you have significant ties to Ukraine (say a wife, a few kids, a house and a job...) then coming to Canada isn't a problem. But as a young, poor, single guy there is nothing to hold you to your word of coming back.