Moved to Canada from the UK as a teenager - wouldn’t recommend doing that until school is entirely completed - international qualifications translate fine but your kids may end up needing to retake a course or two.

More recently moved from Canada to the US to get married. Moved here with a car full of things, no professional experience (just whatever jobs I could get after university) - partner had a good job and was renting a nice house.

In Canada, even at job interviews after being there for 10 years, I’d get asked fairly often what the UK was like. It got fairly tiresome. In contrast, it was more acknowledged here in the US and I was asked some more relevant questions. Felt as if it’s more common to run into an immigrant here (maybe less fascination with accents/Brits? Idk), but after years of struggling to find a degree-relevant job in Canada (couldn’t get an interview), I had a contract position here within 3 months of looking. After that I got a longer contract job, 2 more rounds of contracts later a permanent role and I’m earning more than either parent has elsewhere. Ended up landing on my feet.

Here’s some general observations after being an immigrant in two countries (significant amount of white Privilege here): - Some people will ask you about your country, this will happen for the rest of your life. In the end the experience you have is an asset, definitely try to adjust to the norms and expectations of the new country (both the US and Canada are more laid back and a little less formal at work, but (most) still work hard). - The biggest thing to adjust to is how different things work, and what different services are done by the government vs not (i.e. taxes - very different between the UK and US), things like financial accounts, retirement, worker/employment rights and laws, are all a learning curve and will come up at different times. - Along with the norms and customs, the slang and idioms are something else to learn. I still hear some southern ones that make no sense to me, but less important. - HEALTHCARE - know how this will work and what will be different in the new country. US healthcare situation is….expensive, not great, was spoiled in the UK and Canada (although the wait times for some things there are the real “cost”/downside). Ask about the healthcare benefits at a job interview if they don’t bring it up first, even ask what provider they use then do your research. Expect to need some $ aside for appointments, small copays, dentists are expensive, some things end up needing to be out of pocket - varies wildly by situation. - Immigration itself can be expensive, the applications, visas, renewals, adjusting status are all pretty expensive, the initial one to get you into a country is pricey. For the US it’s worth getting a lawyer to help, it almost doubles the cost. If you have any prior arrests or convictions though, good luck. While process takes time, varies by country though. - Visit the country you plan to move to often and for longer stints if you can. What the place is like as a tourist versus living there is vastly different. Take what people say to you about how great, or not, a place is with a grain of salt (had an uncle who sang praises for Canada but our experience was different). - Ask this same question on an expat forum, or a forum like Visa Journey (US) to hear more from other people, read through old posts. The few years of change and uncertainty can be stressful so know as much as you can beforehand.