Canadian wanting to work in/move to USA (website, Mexicans, marriage)

[NikkiKiKi]

I'm a 23 year old woman who is almost done taking a Hearing Instrument Specialist course (3 year course). I am in my final year and I am working in a hearing clinic as a receptionist right now, gaining some experience and networking in the field already. The school I go to is recognized as one of the best for this profession in North America, it is a health service profession and when I am finished I will have a license to practice in Ontario and an Ontario college advanced diploma. After I complete my placement and internship I will have almost 1.5 years of hands on experience in the field. I really want to work in the states for at least a year (or maybe get a work visa that can be renewed year after year). I have a boyfriend who lives in the states, he's a year older than me. I love where he is from and I would like to move down there and work and be a part of his life. I am aware that I may need to gain some more work experience in Canada before I potentially move there to work. I know that getting a work visa may take a while. Marriage is no option for us right now, as we want to enjoy dating each other before ever going down that route... Is there any kind of work visa I would be able to get? I wish I could get the TN but my profession isn't on "the list"... I was looking at the E visa as a possible option but I heard there's a backlog on that. I don't know what to do? My teacher at school told me several students from my course decided to work down in the U.S. instead of Canada, so it can't be impossible... The licensing exam we take here is also recognized in the states and I know I would have to take another licensing exam down in the U.S. according to which state I work in... Starting my own business instead of working for an employer is also an option down the road... But after that, where do I go? I am very confused! I think I kind of have an idea of the things I need to go through, but I am lost on where to start or where to begin. I've looked at the U.S. immigration sites and they confuse me a lot. Any help would be greatly appreciated

[iceshots]

There are a bunch of links in the sticky thread at the top of the page. They may be a little easier to understand than the US website.

The alphabet soup of visas for the US is hard to figure out, but unfortunately you have to wade through it. TN would be the best, but you have already looked at that. The H1 type visas may be your only outlet, but you would need to get a US employer to sponsor you. You may want to start job hunting from Canada and identify potential US employers. The H1 visas are supposed to be for specialized fields and require a bachelors or Masters degree. Not sure if your field falls into that category.

Talk to your teacher again and try to find out how the other students got their authorization to work in the US.

There is one thing you have to take note of to avoid some confusion. Everyone will talk about needing a work visa, and this is true for the rest of the world except Canada. Canadians do not need a visa to travel to the US so they are not issued work visas. However, you still need to be authorized with a proper work status. That is where the TN, H1 and other "visas" come in. The rest of the world will get a formal work visa permit with the proper type printed on it. Canadians just get a slip of paper stapled into their passport that gives you permission to re-enter the US unlimited number of times in a given period. It works out to the same thing, but gets confusing when people are expecting to see a formal visa. We had a hard time explaining to banks, the DMV and others that we did not have a formal visa. They had to keep looking up the "special" rules for Canadians authorized to work in the US.

So don't get confused if you read somewhere that Canadians don't need a visa. It does not mean you can just waltz into the US and start to work.

Good Luck

[NikkiKiKi]

Thanks for the help, not sure if my advanced diploma is equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the U.S... Probably not. I may have to go to university in Canada or the U.S. and get a degree in Audiology, something I was hoping I wouldn't need to do. I am not sure how other students from my course were able to get authorized to work in the U.S... I know that in the area that I live in, there are many hearing aid manufacturers that also have U.S. divisions... I guess I will have to ask my teacher for some info but I imagine that she doesn't know all the details, I am really lost right now. I fear that if I am not able to work in the U.S. that my boyfriend may one day get fed up with waiting and leave me. I wouldn't blame him, I guess. He doesn't want to move to Canada and I don't really care for staying here either because I want to go somewhere new. Hearing Instrument Specialist is a specialized skill but unfortunately no bachelor's degree... I will just have my advanced diploma and license to practice and membership of AHIP... I really do fear having to go to university and get that degree in Audiology. I wanted to be totally done with school and just work & make money & live!

[iceshots]

Originally Posted by NikkiKiKi

... I know that in the area that I live in, there are many hearing aid manufacturers that also have U.S. divisions.....

That may be your best route. Get a job with one of them in Canada, preferably work up to a management position, then get a transfer to the US under an L type visa. They have different levels of L visas for manager/executive and for individual contributors. The management ones seem to get processed faster. That is the type my wife and I are currently under. It took about 6 months for the company to get the L1 approval, but I had over 18 years with the company by that time.

If your field is in high demand, the processing will go smoother. Its easier for the company to show the need and lack of US based applicants.

[NikkiKiKi]

Yeah I suppose either do that, or go to school down where he lives... I was considering becoming an Audiologist in the future anyways. One of my teachers went to school in New York for Audiology but decided to work in Canada (she practices as an Audiologist, not an H.I.S.). I am not really too keen on having to do even more schooling but if it will get me to where I need to be then why not? I imagine with my educational background it won't be hard for me to get into an Audiology degree program in the U.S. and I will stand out from the other applicants with no experience in the industry.

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by NikkiKiKi

Yeah I suppose either do that, or go to school down where he lives... I was considering becoming an Audiologist in the future anyways. One of my teachers went to school in New York for Audiology but decided to work in Canada (she practices as an Audiologist, not an H.I.S.). I am not really too keen on having to do even more schooling but if it will get me to where I need to be then why not? I imagine with my educational background it won't be hard for me to get into an Audiology degree program in the U.S. and I will stand out from the other applicants with no experience in the industry.

You need to find a school, get accepted and go through the student visa process. Unless there are exceptions for Canadians proof of the first year's tuition and cost of living is part of the visa application.

First you say you do not want to go to school then you say you wanted to go to school for audiology anyway. Decision issues:>) Audiology goes from Associate which is probably close to what you are working on to MD. Where this leaves the boyfriend issue is up to you.

[NikkiKiKi]

I don't want to go back to school for a long time after being in college for so long, I wanted to be an Audiologist at some point in my life but I didn't expect to have to go back to school so soon. In this case it seems that it may be the best route to go ahead and do it sooner than later.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by monkeypony

I wish i could say that you cant move to the USA and get a job but our illegal immigration problem will illustrate that you can move here and set up shop, no problem. We dont have 'rules' like other industrialized nations have.
Its truly embarressing here. That in part is why you are 'confused' about our immigration laws..because there are none...

Er...well we have them but they are not ENFORCED. If you dont believe me, look around, you will notice that nearly every laborer job is occupied by mexicans, and most illegals that employers lie about their status to keep them on the payroll.

Born in the UK, now US Citizen.

I too was born in the UK and have lived in the US for over 40 years now as a Resident Alien and, frankly, I take umbrage at your post.

Of course there are rules and if you want to take a swipe at illegal immigrants then maybe you should go to that specific CD forum. The "Illegal Immigration" forum boasts many wonderful posts.

If you live in CA then maybe you DO feel that as a new US citizen you have a problem with all those dreadful illegal Mexican immigrants who work for basic pay and mow your lawn and labor (yes, actually LABOR) for minimal wage. You might want to rethink that thought.

There are many areas throughout the US and its territories where disenfranchised aliens land illegally. Many are sent back via due process but many others are allowed to stay here legally until such time as they prove themselves "just" good members of society. It's not always black and white and there are many shades of grey.

Cheers, dear!

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by NikkiKiKi

I don't want to go back to school for a long time after being in college for so long, I wanted to be an Audiologist at some point in my life but I didn't expect to have to go back to school so soon. In this case it seems that it may be the best route to go ahead and do it sooner than later.

As confusing as it might seem, you need to to go to the first "sticky" at the top of this page to investigate your options. The linked sites are quite easily navigable.

Perhaps you should concentrate on what's good for YOU where your career is concerned rather than trying to fit it in with the current love? You're 23, he's 24.

No doubt you're all excited about the prospect of finding the man of your dreams and you're pretty much head over heels? You say that marriage isn't an option. Think about your future in terms of yourself and forge ahead with solely that in mind. Cheers!