Burnout, Visa Limits, and a Fresh Start: Why He Moved to Canada

A senior machine learning engineer who spent six of his eight U.S. working years on an H‑1B visa walked away from a prized FAANG job and an almost‑finished EB‑2 green card process to start over in Toronto. He cited severe burnout, visa limits that locked him into one path, and a need to protect his health. Three months into life in Canada, he says the pressure that once felt constant has eased, and he finally has room to plan his life on his own terms.

His decision, described in a Reddit post cited by Financial Express, captures a rising tension in high‑skilled immigration: when certainty requires standing still, some workers choose to leave — even if it means giving up a near‑term green card and higher pay.

Background: the engineer’s situation and decision

• The engineer is originally from China and estimated he needed only “1–3 more years” to complete permanent residency under EB‑2.
• His priority date was less than a year away from the current cutoff dates.
• Colleagues and family urged him to stay. “All my friends and family thought I was crazy quitting such a good job and walking away from the green card when I was so close,” he wrote.
• He reported being completely burned out and that his health was suffering. Because he was on H‑1B + EB‑2 through PERM (non‑NIW), he felt he couldn’t change jobs or switch roles without risking his green card process.

“I desperately wanted to pursue something beyond software engineering, however, my situation (H1B + EB2 through PERM, non‑NIW) meant I couldn’t change jobs or switch roles without risking my green card process.”

How the H‑1B / EB‑2 (PERM) path ties workers to jobs

• The employer‑sponsored EB‑2 track built around PERM labor certification provides a path to permanent residency, but each step ties the worker to a specific job and role for long stretches.
• Job changes can trigger do‑overs; career breaks can jeopardize a carefully built case.
• Applicants from large “non‑ROW” chargeability countries (commonly China and India) often face much longer waits than peers from other regions.
• He noted: “The non‑ROW H‑1B journey is really brutal,” and contrasted his case with a European coworker who began the green card process at the same time and “had already obtained theirs.”

Life in Toronto: tradeoffs and gains

• Within months in Toronto, the engineer reported that the constant pressure lifted and his quality of life significantly improved.
• He regained freedom to:
  • travel,
  • explore interests outside coding,
  • consider new roles without worrying about starting an EB‑2 file from scratch.
• Compensation in Canada is lower than his U.S. salary, but he judged the trade‑off worth it for dignity, autonomy, and peace of mind.
• He also mentioned a possible future path back to the U.S.: after Canadian citizenship, a TN visa could be an option — “feels better than H‑1B.”

Structural problems highlighted by his account

• Burnout here is more than long hours; it’s the loss of control — every career choice carries hidden immigration risks.
• The EB‑2 PERM process requires a chain of filings that often begin with the Department of Labor’s labor certification and then an employer-filed I‑140. That employer‑first design leaves little room to reshape careers without costs.
• The Reddit post contrasted PERM with the National Interest Waiver (NIW), which can provide more flexibility since it allows certain applicants to self‑petition — though NIW is not available to everyone.

Policy and systemic context

• Workers from China and India often wait far longer for EB‑2 than peers from Europe or the Americas, creating unequal clocks for otherwise similar employees.
• Concerns about the H‑1B system include:
  • an annual cap and lottery that leave many applicants without a spot (the source material cited roughly 20% of new H‑1B registrations securing a place under the annual 85,000 cap),
  • changing guidance and compliance checks,
  • extensions and uncertainty that keep long‑term plans on hold.
• Recent policy discussion in the source material referenced:
  • a reported $100,000 H‑1B petition fee for new applicants beginning September 2025 (not applying to current holders or renewals), and
  • a proposed wage‑based allocation approach for H‑1B selection, favoring higher‑paid roles and larger employers.

Supporters argue such changes protect U.S. workers and reduce abuse; critics say they shut out early‑career talent and smaller firms.

The mechanics of EB‑2 (PERM) and H‑1B — why moves can reset clocks

The typical filings in this path:
1. Employer files nonimmigrant petition: Form I‑129 (H‑1B).
2. Department of Labor: ETA‑9089 (PERM labor certification) — employer conducts labor market test.
3. Employer files immigrant petition: Form I‑140 (EB‑2).
4. When priority date is current, eligible applicants file Form I‑485 to adjust status.

• A promotion, title change, or job duties shift can require new filings.
• Repeating the labor market test can add months or years.
• For someone near the finish line, the risk of resetting the clock can discourage helpful moves like changing teams, taking a sabbatical, or switching fields.

Employer environment and retention risk

• The engineer emphasized the employer was not abusive: pay was generous, brand and team were prestigious.
• Still, the visa scenario left little margin to heal or explore; even lateral moves could invite risk.
• Practical consequences for employers:
  • Losing trained talent and institutional memory when workers choose to leave to regain mobility.
  • Some firms front‑load PERM, align roles to visa needs, or sponsor concurrent categories to increase flexibility — but tensions remain between visa stability and career mobility.

Why Canada appeals to tech workers

• Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests Canada’s appeal rests on more stable routes to permanent status and greater job mobility.
• Federal and provincial programs have clearer criteria and more predictable timelines, making Canadian PR feel like a reset button for those who’ve invested years in another country.
• For many, long‑term stability and improved well‑being can outweigh short‑term pay differences.

Practical takeaways for workers considering H‑1B / EB‑2 choices

• If your employer is starting PERM, ask about timing and how role changes could affect ETA‑9089.
• Track your priority date and visa bulletin movements carefully — near‑term progress can justify different choices, but resets are real risks.
• If you’re experiencing burnout, document what you need to recover and consult counsel about internal moves that might preserve your job code.
• When exploring new employers, clarify whether they will carry over Form I‑140 priority date retention if eligible, and the implications for Form I‑485 timing.
• If you need travel flexibility, plan ahead for visa stamping and consular backlogs; build buffers for delays.

Considering Canada: what to weigh

• Salaries may be lower, but work‑life balance and mobility for career changes can be stronger.
• A future TN visa (after Canadian citizenship) can be a way to return to the U.S. with fewer constraints than H‑1B — though it has its own rules and is not suitable for everyone.

Important disclaimer about the story

• This account is based on a Reddit post cited by Financial Express. The quotes are the poster’s words and have not been independently verified.
• Broader policy descriptions reflect facts and assertions presented in the source material, including references to H‑1B caps, selection approaches, and proposed fee changes.

“It’s okay to pick quality of life over prestige.” — the engineer’s simple message to others in similar positions.

Key official resources

• Official H‑1B program overview: see the U.S. government’s page for employers and workers on eligibility, caps, and petition steps. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services – H-1B
• Employer petition for an H‑1B worker: Form I‑129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) USCIS Form I-129
• Employment‑based immigrant petition: Form I‑140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers) USCIS Form I-140
• Adjustment of status for permanent residence: Form I‑485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) USCIS Form I-485
• Labor certification for EB‑2 via PERM: ETA‑9089 (Application for Permanent Employment Certification) U.S. Department of Labor ETA-9089

Final reflections

The engineer’s story is not a universal verdict on the U.S. or Canada. It is a human example of how immigration rules intersect with career and health. When policy ties success to staying still, the cost can be a person’s health — and sometimes, people will choose to leave lucrative opportunities for the chance to live fully.

Policymakers and employers can respond by creating clearer ladders to permanent status, more portable sponsorship options, and predictable processing. Workers benefit from early planning and counsel, but those measures cannot fully eliminate the risk that fuels tough personal choices like the one described here.