A decade+ ago I won the lottery on my third year trying. I got the winning notice the same month I got the Canadian immigrant visa (obtained as Skilled Worker) stamped in my passport. We chose to go to Vancouver.

I don't know about survivor bias but I think the movies were right. The odds are ever in you favor, and you can't see past the choices you don't understand ;)

haha, my GF had exactly same situation, fortunately for me she chose US!

I knew them when they were on their previous respective visas too.