I am an american citizen, my girlfriend is canadian...

Without the obvious "marriage" option, are there any other ways for her to come here? She has a marketing degree which i don't see as one of the specified TN visa qualifications. We we...

Canadian Expatriate and Travellers Forum Index -> Canadians in the USA -> US Visas and Immigration

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publicdnb
New Member

Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 2

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 8:31 pm

Without the obvious "marriage" option, are there any other ways for her to come here?

She has a marketing degree which i don't see as one of the specified TN visa qualifications.

We were common law in Canada up until the 30Th of last month i suppose because I moved back to the US.

I really am not sure what else to consider. I have check about online but am really becoming discouraged.

I'm sure this has come up before but i can't seem to find the definitive answer.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:09 am

Unless she can get a work visa of some sort if about your only option. You are not eligible to sponsor her for any type of family based visa as you are not married. The US does not recognized common-law relationships.
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flames9
Senior Member

Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Posts: 113
Location: Falls Church VA

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:17 am

Well one could do the k1 --Fiance visa, BUT one has to get married 90 days after you activate the visa. Guess you get a 90 day trail run,lol Pretty expensive way to figure out if it is going to work or not.

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1589
Location: Calgary

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:19 am

Well you don't need to do that, she can come in as a visitor for up to six months, but obviously she can't work during a visit.
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Steve.

publicdnb
New Member

Joined: 05 Dec 2007
Posts: 2

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:21 pm

Damn.

Well yeah, its the working status I need to figure out.

She has a minimum that she needs to make a month before she can eat: debt, etc.

Now, is it possible for her to get a visa even though marketing isn't on the list?
Can she come in under another title that doesn't match her diploma?

Thanks for the responses folks.

Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1589
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:37 am

If she doesn't qualify for a TN-1, she can get an H-1B, but they're a pig to get. Two problems: requires a fair bit of effort by the employer, which means most employers won't bother unless you work for less than an American would (or unless you have some skill they deperately need that they can't find locally), and the second problem is that there is a quota. However, being December now would be the time to apply as you might be able to get one.
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Steve.

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1451
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:56 am

2008 H1Bs are already all gone AFAIK (saw it posted somewhere). You'd have a wait of over a year for a 2009 H1B.
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Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Location: Red Bank, NJ USA

Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 7:39 am

She can apply for a new H-1B as early as April 1, 2008, but only with a start date of October 1, 2008, unless the employer is cap exempt (e.g. college or university employment), in which case she could apply now.
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