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Montreal is already well known to be a hotbed for excellent machine learning talent. Google already has their own Montreal AI lab, and they have also made a do

Montreal is already well known to be a hotbed for excellent machine learning talent. Google already has their own Montreal AI lab, and they have also made a donation to the Montreal Institute for Learning Algorithms (MILA)[1]. I'm less familiar with the exact details of this, but Montreal might also be a nice place to relocate researchers that cannot get work authorization in the United States. [1]: https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-snag-scarce-global-talent/ https://www.wired.com/2016/11/google-opens-montreal-ai-lab-s...

richerlariviere 9y ago
I live in downtown montreal and I can assure it's also a great place to live. Far more cheaper than a Bay area location and it's pretty peaceful.
- dataisfun 9y ago
  You mean except in the winter.
  - ant6n 9y ago
    Heating isn't that expensive
- chiefalchemist 9y ago
  And while I haven't met all of them, Canadians in general are quite friendly.
chiefalchemist 9y ago
Good / interesting point about work visas. Makes sense. Also creates some political clout in that a small team easily becomes "Look!! FB prefers Canada over the USA. We need to adjust..." You know how politicians are. Champions of hyperbole. And FB knows this ;)
- t1o5 9y ago
  Quebec likes to do things differently when it comes to immigration and work visas than the rest of Canada. I can explain it a bit here though IANAL. To get a work visa in Quebec, the employer have to apply to MIDI (Quebec's Immigration dept.) Your application will undergo a review process called LMIA, Labor Market Impact Assessment. The employer have to prove that you are not replacing a worker here and the employer finds it hard to recruit a local talent. Once thats done, the work visa should be applied in Federal Level, which will grant you 2 years closed work permit. The closed work permit means you cannot work for anyone else. This entire process will take around 5-6 months. You will get CAQ(Quebec acceptance certificate) and a work visa stamped in your passport with which you can land and start working for the employer. In order to continue working after 2 years, you have to get something called CSQ (Quebec Selection Certificate) , which will be based on your work experience,education,age,language skills on a points based system. You will have to satisfy a minimum cut off points. If you speak and understand excellent French, you will get CSQ within 1 month under the PEQ priority category. If you don't, CSQ will take around 6 - 8 months in the Regular in land applicant priority. You can then use this CSQ to keep extending your work permit. Usually its good to apply for Permanent Residence after obtaining CSQ. Permanent Residence should be applied to Federal govt after CSQ which will take around 1 year to be approved. To summarize, if you know French, things will be faster for getting a CSQ. Federal will take 1 year. If you have family, you will have to think about the school system in Quebec and the language laws and read more about Quebec Bill 101. The health system in Quebec lacks a lot of doctors. So finding one will be little bit difficult for a new comer. There are more quirks about living in Quebec than the rest of Canada. https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/temporary-workers/index.html https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settl...
  - flamedoge 9y ago
    that seems like a faster track to citizenship than just federal system.. Do you know how it compares? I've only looked at it briefly, but it seems similar with lesser requirement (not french specific) and longer duration.
    - 9y ago

richerlariviere 9y ago

I live in downtown montreal and I can assure it's also a great place to live. Far more cheaper than a Bay area location and it's pretty peaceful.

dataisfun 9y ago
You mean except in the winter.
- ant6n 9y ago
  Heating isn't that expensive
chiefalchemist 9y ago
And while I haven't met all of them, Canadians in general are quite friendly.

chiefalchemist 9y ago

Good / interesting point about work visas. Makes sense. Also creates some political clout in that a small team easily becomes "Look!! FB prefers Canada over the USA. We need to adjust..." You know how politicians are. Champions of hyperbole. And FB knows this ;)

t1o5 9y ago
Quebec likes to do things differently when it comes to immigration and work visas than the rest of Canada. I can explain it a bit here though IANAL. To get a work visa in Quebec, the employer have to apply to MIDI (Quebec's Immigration dept.) Your application will undergo a review process called LMIA, Labor Market Impact Assessment. The employer have to prove that you are not replacing a worker here and the employer finds it hard to recruit a local talent. Once thats done, the work visa should be applied in Federal Level, which will grant you 2 years closed work permit. The closed work permit means you cannot work for anyone else. This entire process will take around 5-6 months. You will get CAQ(Quebec acceptance certificate) and a work visa stamped in your passport with which you can land and start working for the employer. In order to continue working after 2 years, you have to get something called CSQ (Quebec Selection Certificate) , which will be based on your work experience,education,age,language skills on a points based system. You will have to satisfy a minimum cut off points. If you speak and understand excellent French, you will get CSQ within 1 month under the PEQ priority category. If you don't, CSQ will take around 6 - 8 months in the Regular in land applicant priority. You can then use this CSQ to keep extending your work permit. Usually its good to apply for Permanent Residence after obtaining CSQ. Permanent Residence should be applied to Federal govt after CSQ which will take around 1 year to be approved. To summarize, if you know French, things will be faster for getting a CSQ. Federal will take 1 year. If you have family, you will have to think about the school system in Quebec and the language laws and read more about Quebec Bill 101. The health system in Quebec lacks a lot of doctors. So finding one will be little bit difficult for a new comer. There are more quirks about living in Quebec than the rest of Canada. https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settle/temporary-workers/index.html https://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/immigrate-settl...
- flamedoge 9y ago
  that seems like a faster track to citizenship than just federal system.. Do you know how it compares? I've only looked at it briefly, but it seems similar with lesser requirement (not french specific) and longer duration.
  - 9y ago