caring for family across the border...

hi everyone! I'm new to the board and thought I would ask a burning question:

My father is ill and now needing care in the US, where he's been a resident for the past 20 years (married to an American for 18 years). I am Canadian with Canadian citizenship only and plan on moving to the US for an indefinite amount of time to help him sort out affairs and keep up with day-to-day care.

I cannot get a L1 or TN, as I do not have specialized training in the selected professions, but of course I need to work. How can I get to the US and work legally while caring for my Dad?

any help would be appreciated

thanks

No easy answer to this one if you don't qualify under some employment-based category. If he's a US citizen he can file an I-130 to sponsor you for permanent residency, or if you're unmarried and he's only a permanent resident he can also sponsor you for permanent residency. However it takes a long time to be approved in either of those categories, slightly quicker if he's a US citizen.

If you can believe the AILA it's about two and a half years if he's a citizen, a month or two longer if he's not. That's for the visa number to come up, you still have to do the interview etc. so figure nearly three years.

I suggest he file an application for citizenship if he's not one, makes the medicare paperwork slightly simpler if nothing else (because otherwise as an LPR you have to show an employment history totalling at least ten years).

thanks for the reply. I've been having a really hard time finding resources. if I was able to find work, and sponsorship that way. should I still have him sponsor me (I'm over 30) so in a few years I will have what I need, no matter what? or will it nullify my work visa? I know these things can be touchy.

You can adjust status from whatever work permit you're on (although TN-1 is pretty tricky). From the sounds of it you're looking at some sort of H visa if you can get one, once your petition is approved you can adjust status from that to LPR.

However your first problem is getting a work visa, there is a quota on H-1B (which you need a BA for), although there is no quota if you're working for an "academic institution". If you don't qualify for that or TN-1 or L-1 your options are pretty limited, the only other thing I can think of is H-2B which is only valid for a year, assuming you can get it (it can be renewed).

hello everyone,

this is richard edward.

work here in london in insurance firm.