Canadian on TN: can I bring my wife from 3rd country to US?

Hi all,

I'd greatly appreciate any help with the following question.

I am (naturalized) Canadian citizen, living in Canada. Last year I got married in my first country, Belarus. My wife still lives there (I'm going to sponsor her to immigrate to Canada, but haven't prepared the whole paperwork yet).

Now, I've just recently received a job offer from a US company and they will also prepare an employer letter and whatnot so that I could obtain TN status, move to the US and start with new job.

So, here comes my biggest concern. Suppose I've got TN and moved to US, then will I be able to somehow bring my wife from Belarus directly to USA, and in reasonable time, too? Mind you, she doesn't currently have any Canadian or US status, and never had, for that matter.

I know that in theory that should be possible. But realistically, how long could it take? What are the chances for the positive outcome?

I'd like to get that job in US, but if I realize that I won't be able to bring my wife over then I'll just have to pass...

Thanks for any insight.

[also posted in forums.immigration.com, hope it's ok]

She can come to US and live with you by getting a TD visa at a US consulate abroad. She will need proof of your TN and proof of marriage, along with other normal US visa requirements. As sson as she can get an appointment, she will have TD within days.

Thanks a lot, agnelson. Much appreciated.

-- Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:21 pm --

If you don't mind, there is something else I'd like to ask, still speaking about the situation described above.

Suppose I move to work in the US on TN status, and my wife comes from Belarus and joins me, too, as you explained, so she'll be on TD visa. Then at some point I apply for Green Card through my employer sponsorship. My question is, what would happen to my wife's TD status at that point? Will she be included kind of automatically in my GC application? If not, will she be able to continue her stay in the US and maybe somehow get GC after & because I got it?

Also, what might be a reasonable expectation of how long the TN -> Green Card process takes? Just a ballpark figure?..

Pardon my ignorance and incoherent questions... Basically I am worried about the situation when I apply for, wait for, and then get GC, but my wife would have to return to Belarus because of some government rules that I know pretty much nothing about.

Thank you for your time.