Hello y’all (yes, that’s intentional),
I am getting to the point where I don’t see a path forward for Canada. Overpriced real estate, high taxation and the weather sucks. If I am going to be miserable I might as well do it some where sunny and taxes are lower. I do recognize how lucky I am to live in Canada, but I want to take one final chance. I am currently in CRE for a small developer. I have my hands in everything: acquisition DD, financial modeling, debt procurement, insurance, etc. which is great experience. However, I probably don’t have the conventional knowledge most PE firms look for. That being said, I am a CPA and always enjoyed finance on my own time (reading, trading, etc.). I would love to move to Miami and get a PE or CRE job there. I know this is a pretty vague ask, but does anyone have any advice on how to get started? I tried applying for jobs on LinkedIn but haven’t gotten a single response. I normally select that I require sponsorship, so perhaps that is an instant deterrent? Like I said, it’s more likely that my skill set is not up to par, but I was expecting at least some sort of a reply. Any thoughts or advice are welcome. Happy to hear about lifestyle, resume tips, cross border, etc.
Thanks in advance good people :)
bump.
Job market sucks right now and Miami isn't a huge market like NYC/LA/SF. I'd suggest opening it up to further cities and then looking to MIA once you are a citizen and the market is a bit better. Not saying to give up but needing sponsorship in this shitty market is tough enough. I'd cast a wider net.
Good call. Thanks.
Are you kidding? Why wouldn't you want to live in a city with Olivia Chow at the helm and her (their?) indoctrinated disciplines running around spreading the good word?
In all seriousness though, hoping this thread gains some traction as I'm in a similar situation with wanting to move to the states, preferably South Florida. Goodluck mate
Did you end up moving down south?
lol… painful times
Made this move a couple years back - it isn't easy. Happy to help over PM though!
Move to Houston or Dallas for a few years, they both have more opportunities than Miami. Those are both big cities with lots of finance jobs (especially Houston for the energy sector) and low cost of living as well as warmer weather. Save up for a few years, then make the move to Miami if you still want to.
Also a Canadian looking to move state side. It is SUCH A PAIN explaining your visa situation. Find a firm like a pension that has US offices and lateral. Might be your best bet until immigration laws change...
Hi which pensions sponsor in the U.S. ? What kind of visa is it ?
Fellow Canadian here who has worked state side for 5 to 10 years now.
Easiest route is to go in on TN as an Accountant given you have your CPA. Toughest part is getting the first US role. Just take the first role in some type of accounting role in the real estate field, then you should be good to lateral to whatever other role you want if you get sponsorship. There's an accountant shortage here.
If you apply online don't select require sponsorship - as HR will most likely automatically reject your application. The key is to get in front of the hiring decision-maker (not HR), make them want to hire you, then explain you need letter of recommendation / hiring letter for TN under the Accountant occupation. TN is not a visa but more of a work permit anyway.
Most US firms don't want to bother with sponsorship on the initial hire, especially since real estate is geographically bound and preference is to hire locals.
Nothing beats networking, especially in-person -- just show up and try to connect with as many industry people in your target market. There's always young professionals happy to connect.
Recruiters tend to follow path of least resistance and being Canadian is just another hurdle they have to deal with, so they will not go out of their way to help you.
Hope everything works out.
Also get NEXUS - highest ROI based on time and pain saved crossing the border.
You still have to pay your Canadian income taxes unless you cut ties which is easier if you don't own Canadian assets. I'd consult an immigration lawyer but worry about after you get your job.
Pretty sure you wouldn't want to renounce Canadian citizenship until you get citizenship in the US, even if you have residency. Better safe than sorry to avoid the nightmare of somehow becoming stateless
I moved from Toronto to Florida a couple of years ago, and yeah, the TN route as a CPA was a smoother entry point than most other options. I didn’t need full visa sponsorship right away, just had to get that offer letter that matched the TN criteria. I had a better response when I networked in person, especially in cities like Dallas where RE and finance hiring are more active.
One thing that really caught me off guard was how much moving actually cost across the border. I underestimated everything from packing to cross-border transport, and the quotes were very different depending on the company. Later I found these insights about moving costs that helped me budget better and compare legit moving options without getting burned.
Update?
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