I wish I could continue in the States, but lack of US citizenship is almost an impossible hurdle to go over.
Fair enough. What you can imagine is not available to you, don't torture yourself about it, work with what you've got.
I have flown all over the world (including 48 of the states). That opportunity to see the world has made me feel the most lucky of people that I was born in Canada. The freedom that we have here to plot and execute our own success in general is really good in the context of much of the world - being a pilot in particular! So many countries I have visited, private aviation hardly exists at all, and for what it does, it's profoundly expensive and difficult, and there's hardly anywhere to go. Our freedom to fly here in Canada is amazing!
So plot your path to pilot advancement, and circulate among the people of our industry - it's the connections which make it work! I have worked in aviation my entire life, and I have never applied for a job! And remind yourself that the people who hire most like to surround themselves with positive people who are focused on their job to be done, and advancing their own skills and experience safely. Being in someone's office for a job interview, and explaining why you prefer the system of another nation, is probably not going to work to your benefit!