Looking for information on moving to the USA...

Hey everyone.

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to move to San Francisco, and after visiting California last year, I'm really seriously considering it now. My problem? I honestly don't even know where to begin! I've looked up all of the information on the different visa's and everything, but my problem is that I don't really fit into any of the categories. I don't have a college education (something I wanted to figure out when I got down there) so I don't even qualify for the TN visa. I also don't want to get a student visa, because I want to look around at schools while down there. I know that I can go down there and live for up to six months without a visa, so I figured if I did that I could actively search for employment and then hopefully find an employer willing to deal with all of the hassle of taking me on. However, after reading through some of the posts on here, someone mentioned that you still have to have a professional occupation to get the visa allowing you to stay. Is this true? Right now all I'm feeling is frustration and it's slowly starting to turn into disappointment, so I was wondering if there is anyone who has experience in this area or if someone can even just suggest something. Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Please!

David Ingram's US / Canada Services
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Yes, it is true that Canadians can visit the US for up to 6 months at a time, you CANNOT work during that time. At all. You're here as a visitor, and that's it. There is no equivalent of the UK holidaymaker visa.

At the border you'd have to show proof of funds and how you're going to support yourself for the 6 months of your planned trip. Where are you going to stay, how are you going to pay for food and rent? Remember, you're unemployed, and not eligible for employment.

If you come to the US to search for a job with a company who would sponsor you, good luck with that! By law, the companies here are required to recruit within the US first and foremost. IF they cannot find ANY American, or someone within the US authorized for work, THEN they can start looking outside the US. But they have to show that they were unable to find anyone qualified to do the job.

If you do not have any type of university degree or special knowledge or skills that makes you more qualified than any other American to do a job, then finding a job sponsor is highly unlikely. Not to mention of course the company would have to pay the processing fees to USCIS to get you your visa, and not too many are willing to do that unless you're an expert with a degree.

Here's the USCIS page on employment visas and who is eligible

All people who want to become immigrants based on employment must wait for an immigrant visa number to become available according to the following preferences:

First Preference: Priority Workers including aliens with extraordinary abilities, outstanding professors and researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers.

Second Preference: Members of Professions Holding Advanced Degrees or Persons of Exceptional Ability.
Third Preference: Skilled Workers, professionals and other qualified workers.

Fourth: Certain special immigrants including those in religious vocations.

Fifth: Employment Creation Immigrants.

Fortunately the numerical limit of employment based visas is by country and Canada never reaches the limit.

I didn't have to wait for my "priority date" to become available because as I said Canada never uses up the numerical limit of employment based visas.

However, If you do not have a degree(the equivalent of a U.S. 4 year degree) you will need 3 years of experience for each year of university that you lack. So if you have no post secondary education you will need 12 years of work experience and you will need affidavits from employers proving your work experience. It's a hassle and you will need an immigration attorney.

Your best bet is to obtain either a University degree, or a collage diploma that will satisfy the Nafta visa requirements.

Good luck.