TPS in the US or PR in Canada: A Ukrainian Woman's Real Dilemma at the Crossroads of Two Statuses

In early October, TPS status in the US expires, requiring either moving to America to extend it or staying in Canada, where the status is valid until 2028 with an extension already applied for. The difference is fundamental: with TPS, if automatically renewed for six months, you cannot leave the US during that period, whereas with Canadian status, you can leave the country unlimited times.

Two Different Mobility Systems

In this scenario, TPS status in the US expires in early October. To extend it, one needs to physically be in America — and it’s uncertain whether the extension will happen at all. If the status is automatically renewed for another six months, this means you cannot leave the US during that period.

Canadian status, on the other hand, remains valid until 2028, and an extension application has already been submitted. With Canadian status, you can leave Canada unlimited times — for example, visiting the US on a tourist visa while maintaining your Canadian base.

Family Ties as the Primary Factor

The main reason to stay near Seattle is family: a son and his father live there. Geographically, you’re tied to this region: even if staying in the US, you’d still need to travel there from Hawaii or another state.

At the same time, there’s family in Vancouver — a sister and her child, a sense of family connection. If staying in Seattle, you won’t be able to visit them as freely as now, when the drive between Vancouver and Seattle takes just a few hours.

US or Canada: Which Weighs More

On the US side — a sense of home after three years living there, familiarity with daily life, and a long-held dream of living in the country. On the Canada side — novelty: after six months in Vancouver, you haven’t really gotten to know the country well, you’ve lacked your own car, and had to live in a dependent situation.

However, it’s acknowledged that part of the US advantage stems from an imposed stereotype that it’s better than Canada, while both countries are very similar. In Vancouver, nature — the ocean, mountains — is closer and valued more than in Seattle.