Where do I start?!

I am a Canadian citizen, currently attending college in the US with an F-1 visa. I am pursuing an applied science degree in Colorado and have already obtained my bachelors from West Virginia University. I am graduating in May 2012 and I want to live and work in the Us. I am trying to figure out how to go about becoming eligible to work in the US...getting my work authorization and eventually becoming a permanent resident. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks

First find a job in US.

Ok, and what do I need after that? I have been reading about the OPT and H1B. As well as finding an employer to sponsor me who would then need to fill out an I-9 and file form I-140, and I would have to file forms I-485 and I-765? I'm just not sure which avenue to take..

Your employer does everything after that.

How about going on an immigration site and reading about all these things. You are YEARS away from any of this.

Don't forget to factor in labor certification that is the BULK of the process during the filing of an H1B or better I-40 - I-485. Your company would have to prove they are not displacing potential American workers in order for them to file your GC... So AGN is right, it is a lengthy process. Took a friend of mine 7 years ( A Canadian) to finally get her GC...

I have been reading on the immigration sites. I realize getting my green card can take years. I'm not after my green card right away. What I am looking to get is my work authorization. And the government site said that I have to prove to my potential employer that I have been authorized to work in the US, then they can file whatever papers they need to. I will just contact the phone number on the government site to figure it out...

OK, good luck with that

Don't forget to factor in labor certification that is the BULK of the process during the filing of an H1B or better I-40 - I-485. Your company would have to prove they are not displacing potential American workers in order for them to file your GC...

Just to dispel any misconceptions.

For H1, and LCA (Labor Conditions application) is required, which merely sets out the terms under which you will work. There is NO requirement to prove anything about displcing a US worker, since it is a temporary authorization. This take a few days to process

It is the LC (Labor Certification) process, now know as PERM, for which the employer must demonstrate that in hiring the foreign worker seeking permanent employment, that no suitable US worker could be found. This process can take several months.