So, you want to move to the States eh?

[Reba]

When do you plan to come back? You will have to take into consideration the time you have already spent this year here, and if they deem that you are attempting to become a "defacto resident" without benefit of applying for the proper visa/status, they can, and do quite frequently, turn you around.

[Mandy]

HELP ME!!!

I fall in the "Love" category and am sooooo confuzzled by all this legal jargon I'm finding on these sights!!!

I currently live in Ontario, Canada and was born and raised here and want to move to North Carolina where my man is. Unfortunately for reasons I'm not discussing it isn't an option to do it the other way and I like NC better anyways haha.

The Fiance Visa is the quickest thing I've found so far...however definately not an option right now and I'm not sure that marriage is something I want to rush anyways...we want to take our time and do things the way we want to do them.

I have been reading the USCIS website and am so lost!!! I don't understand all this family based sponsorship (not that I have any family that live there anyways!) and all that stuff. I have no idea where to go or what to do and it's frustrating me to no end...I feel like I'll never get to be there permanently!!

I have no degree so I don't think I can do Employment Visa, I can't do it the school way because I wouldn't be able to work and PAY for it...I'm feeling like this is never going to work and it's depressing me.

What do I do?? Any insight? Hints or tips???

Please help!!

Thanks,
Mandy

[Reba]

Not unless you're willing to get married, no. Unfortunately, if you have no employment qualifications, and no immediate family (ie: parent or sibling) your only option is marriage based.

For easy to understand info on the marriage based options go to http://www.visajourney.com

[canuck2009]

When do you plan to come back? You will have to take into consideration the time you have already spent this year here, and if they deem that you are attempting to become a "defacto resident" without benefit of applying for the proper visa/status, they can, and do quite frequently, turn you around.

I left Canada on Nov 6 and have up until Apri 6. I'm looking to work in the states, what is the proper visa to apply for? I have heard something about a HB-1 Lotto visa. Anyone have more information?

[Reba]

H1B is not a lotto visa. Although the chances of getting one are probably less than winning the powerball jackpot.

Which ever visa you can apply for depends on your qualifications. There is tonnes of info here in the forum, poke around a while, I'm sure you'll find it.

[axolotl]

I left Canada on Nov 6 and have up until Apri 6. I'm looking to work in the states, what is the proper visa to apply for? I have heard something about a HB-1 Lotto visa. Anyone have more information?

Most Canadians work in the US under a TN visa, H1-B visa, J visa or L1 visa.

TN visa is perhaps the most popular because it's the easiest to get. The visa is for a professional position that in most cases requires at least a bachelor's degree. Simply show up at your nearest POE with a job offer letter, your university diploma and $50 ($56 by land) and, in many cases, you'll have a work permit in a few minutes. However, these visas are only available to a select few in specific occupations and must be re-obtained every 1-3 years. Also, they are obtained for a specific employer meaning you can only work for the company/organization for which you are authorized.

H1-B is for for people coming to the US to work for an employer in a professional position (or as a fashion model). Again, you need at least a bachelor's degree. The range of occupations is more broad than for the TN, but the application process is more involved (and more costly). Also, there are only 65,000 available every year (and another 20,000 if you have a master's from a US university). However, there is no cap on the number of visas available if you are applying to a job at a university.

The J visa is a "visitor exchange" visa reserved largely for foreign academics, but in some cases it allows you to work in the US (depending on the program). Look into SWAP in Canada if you want to obtain a J visa. There are some restrictions and, at least for SWAP, you can only work in the US for up to one year.

The L1 visa is for intra-company transferees and probably does not apply to you unless the company you currently work for has an office in the US and you have worked for your company for at least one year.

[alie]

Reba,


Like many. I have reviewed and browsed many sites and this seems to have the best response. I was hoping you could answer a question(s) for me to the best of your ability.

My fiance is here visiting me in Saskatchewan right now(has been for the past two months) from Texas, and is planing to stay until the six month date, not working, just visiting with money he had saved. Anyway, we want to get married in a church in July and would both prefer to move back after we get married. We are aware that I will have to apply for a greencard ASAP. So, we were thinking that within this week we would go to the courts to get married so we have the offical papers and can start the process sooner rather than later.
What I am really wondering is, is it possible for me to cross the border with him and for me to stay in the US not working, but, just living with him until the process and finished and I am(HOPEFULLY)approved of a greencard and then once that is done I can work(whether that takes six months or a year or so)?

[Reba]

No, not entirely legal.

http://www.visajourney.com