New US Immigration Forum!

[axolotl]

There was a thread about this not too long ago. Basically, under current US immigration law this is not permissible but it's pretty hard for them to know obviously (unless you tell them). Read the thread for more details.

web-designer-in-usa-need-a-visa-to-telecommute-vt3922.html

[ONtoNY]

Hi all,
I am a Canadian Citizen looking to immigrate to the U.S (NY state) when I complete school. I have a Bachelor Degree in Biology and I am enrolled in Chiropractic College. I have a couple years to go before I finish. I intend to immigrate to the U.S as a chiropractor with my girlfriend who will be a Pharmacist. So she wont have a problem with NAFTA but I have no clue about my situation. Chiropractors dont seem to be mentioned anywhere I have looked.
Should I try to get an employment sponsorship from an associate position? I have no family in U.S or enough money to go on the basis of an entreprenuer. I am very lost and have no clue if I even have a chance of getting in, I really would like to move to the U.S but have no clue about how to get in? Any help and info is appreciated.

thanks all

[nurse jilly]

Hi I am moving to Texas to work at the end of the month. I am nervous about going through the border in New York state. what paperwork should I have ready to make it a smooth transition? Any suggestions as to the best border crossing? I am thinking of the Buffalo area. Maybe windsor? Also I want to take my car into the states with me. What should I do to prepare for this? Any helpful ideas would be welcomed!!

[Reba]

What status will you have to allow you to work in the US?

[usacancuk]

Hi..I am an Albertan married for 2 yrs. to an American...we r in our middle 50's..I do not know the legal ins and outs of Immigration I can only tell you what we have experienced and what we were told to do..

I arrived here in Feb. 2009 for a visit and my husband convinced me to stay...he does not want to deal with Canadian winters and has strong ties to the VFW and veterans issues..we met in 2003 and travelled back and forth over the years to see each other...

When the decision was made that I would stay we got our lawyer to start the immigration process...

I do recommend getting an Immigration Lawyer and this process is expensive, slow and stressful..I have heard so many horror stories from Canadians dealing with this process...in particuliar the 'interview'.. (the INTERVIEWERS can be down right nasty)..many of the women I talked to said they broke down crying, felt totally humiliated and were made to feel like criminals and that if it were not for their husbands they would've headed back to Canada...I thought at first this was just isolated or exaggerated but unfortunately way too many people said the same thing...

Be prepared...get photo albums of your time together, trips, receipts, letters, cards from both sides of the families, any and all evidence that shows you are truly a couple...have bills in both your names, bank accounts (joint account), car loan/ins. in both your names, loans, house rental or ownership in both of your names...just realize this is no guarantee that you will get your green card to be able to stay with your spouse...

Also one aspect my husband and I did not prepare for...The American Health Care system...if you want a logistical nightmare this is the biggy...I ended up very sick and hospitalized for 5 days and if Alberta Health Care refuses to pay my bill we will owe $74,000.00...And, I cannot leave to go see my GP to see if I am healing the way I should..I have no Dr. here other than the eye Specialist I have to see due to the illness and each visit is very expensive...

Know this, that you can get insurance but no matter what you pay monthly you will not be completely covered...unless you are rich and can pay cash..or there is a top notch plan through your spouses work place...

Eg. Car accident..you pay $210. per month...your hospital bill $80,000...

Under this particuliar plan we checked into we would have to pay 30% of that bill...your ambulance bill may not be covered, certain treatments, if you are put under, etc.etc...we are not rich so we would not be able to pay the 30%...

This particuliar insurance agent told us to be totally thorough when you research what company you chose to deal with and what you will be covered for...AND there are so many ins. companies/carriers, so many different plans and the prices well they are all over the place...

As a Canadian I have found the Health Care System here both frightening, frustrating, and I constantly worry about getting sick again...

My husband is a Vietnam Vet on 80% disability and his VA plan does not cover me...

So please be very aware and educate yourself in this area...

Another possible consequence of not being able to leave the country is a death in the family...which happened to me...I was unable to be at my cousins side before she passed away..she asked for me to be there...we were very tight and this has been devastating...if I had left we would have had to start the whole process over and there was the risk of not being allowed back in...

And make sure you both have saved alot of money for the unexpected...have a back up plan should you be denied a green card..

I do hope this has been of some help...scary maybe but I think important to know...

I do have a question...I was told that after so many months of being outside of Canada that your health care benefits are suspended...I checked with Alberta Health Care and mine end Jan. 2010...is there any program within Canadian Health Care that allows one to make pymts. even if you are going to be living in the States...have had no luck finding out if you can do this...I would definitely be willing to pay for the privilege of keeping my Canadian Health Care...

I will be checking in frequently to read others info...our interview has been cancelled and we are basically in limbo at this point...

Sincerely
An Albertan in Sacramento

[Reba]

Once you have taken up permanent residency in another country, you are no longer eligible for Canadian healthcare benefits. You will have to buy insurance in the US, or move back to Canada.

[agnelson]

As reba sez, there is no way to "pay into" any Prov health system if you are otherwise disqualified.

Besides, Cdn coverage falls far short of what you may require if something happens to you in US (ie. they will not cover nearly enough of the costs), so focus on getting US sytem coverage. This may be difficult now that you have a pre-existing condition. See why reform of the sysytem is needed?

Note that Even if Alta does accept your claim now (you'd be lucky, most provs stop coverage the day you leave the country permanently like you seem to have done), you can bet that it will be far short of the $74K you were charged.

[usacancuk]

Hi

I hope I have done this right and sent it to the appropriate site...

Thank-you Reba and agnelson for the info...

We will be buying insurance here in the US as soon as we can figure out which is the right one for me...

It does look like AHC and my Blue Cross will be paying the bill but until the receipts are in my hand saying PAID I will not rest easy...

Thanks again...

Albertan in Sacramento