Job Offer In America

[axolotl]

Sadly, there aren't many options available to you. Almost all US work permits require at least a bachelor's degree, including the H-1B and most TN classifications.

[Steven]

Do the work from Canada, register as self-employed and invoice them. You can go in as a business visitor in the regular B-1 NAFTA category to accept orders, go to meetings, do training and various other things.

[axolotl]

Do the work from Canada, register as self-employed and invoice them. You can go in as a business visitor in the regular B-1 NAFTA category to accept orders, go to meetings, do training and various other things.

I wish I could do that with my job. Then I could live anywhere!

[MC]

Many years ago, this might have been possible under the Scientific Technician Category but not any longer unfortunately. Back in 2002, the existing INS Director, Johnny Williams, issued an internal memo to the Regional Directors specifying a mandatory educational requirement for this category.

The language used is somewhat vague and does not necessarily specify a 2-year diploma but applicants must present a certificate or diploma for the Scientific Technician Category. Even an MCSE might be possible according to the language used in the memo but you must present an education for this category now whereas approximately 7 or 8 years ago, this was not the case.

Something to keep in mind just in case they ever offered you an opportunity physically in Nebraska.

[Steven]

I wish I could do that with my job. Then I could live anywhere!

Honestly I look at all the jobs at head office and wonder why hardly any of those people need to be there. So many people sit in front of computers pressing buttons nowadays.

Phones can be re-directed at the switchboard to a home phone and a decent internet connection doesn't cost much.

The only argument against it really is the head office can need huge bandwidth depending on how good the software being used is, but compare the rental/lease cost of an office and parking lot compared to that connection. Just the overhead on heating alone would probably cover the cost for most businesses. Employees love it because they save on commuting time and cost.

[hawksley]

okay so how would i register as self employed? and would i just invoice them for whatever hours i worked?

when going across the border, would i just state that i'm going in for business, a prove that i am going in to train or whatever?

[Steven]

You can register self-employed on the CRA website and get a Business Number. You also need to register for GST and you may have to do installment payments on your income tax as well.

Basically you have to do the employer's and employee's CPP deductions as well as income tax but not EI.

You invoice them and they pay you, foreign services are GST zero-rated, so you just put down GST: 0% on your invoices with your GST number.

Depending on how much money you earn (I can never get a straight answer from the IRS, but certainly if you are earning over $100,000) you need to file a 1040NR and an 8833 every year as well, this is merely an informational return and you don't owe any tax as none of the work is done in the US. If you do actually do work in the US you have to give them a completed 8233 as well. Meetings, training and things like that aren't "work" unless for some strange reason they pay you for them, you can claim the travel expenses in Canada.

If you want to be more sophisticated, you can set up a CCPC and do it that way and issue yourself a T4 every year, this usually has tax advantages if you're earning a lot, however it has the big downside that it exposes you quite badly to departure tax so bear that in mind if an accountant says to you you'd be better off setting up a corporation.

As with an individual, it also has to file informational returns with the IRS, except in the case of a corporation it's an 1120-F and an 8833.

If you enter for meetings, taking orders and so on, just print up some business cards so you have something to show CBP when you enter, it's not normally a problem.

Do a web search for "B-1 NAFTA entry" if you want to read the regs.

[hawksley]

wow, thanks steven, you've really cleared up a whole lot of things for me. i really really appreciate your efforts.