TN Visa - North American Free Trade Agreement for Canadians
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Canadians Moving To The Us To Work And Live.
Tens of thousands of Canadian citizens move to the United States each year for employment and or retirement. However, as a Canadian, you do need a valid visa in order to lawfully live in the US whether you’re retired or employed.
“D’Alessio Law Group provided phenomenal client service while delivering successful results during the approval of both my O-1 Visa and Green Card (immigration from Canada to the United States of America).
Leslie, Lorraine, and Kelly are notable for their vast range of experience and reliable response times during the lengthy and often daunting immigration process.”
Joseph Procopio – Google Review
As immigrants ourselves to the United States we understand the issues that Canadians encounter when crossing the border, applying for visas, finding employment in a new country, and relocating. It is a stressful time in your life and having your visa matters go smoothly is extremely important.
Thankfully there are several categories of U.S. visas that Canadians are eligible for so they may live and work in the United States.
Listed below you will find some of the common Visas available to Canadians:
Tn Visas For Canadian Professionals
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified and Canadian citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level.
Among the types of professionals who are eligible to seek admission as TN nonimmigrants are accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.
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Entertainment Visas That Qualify Under The TN Visa
O-1 Visa: Individuals Of Extraordinary Ability Or Achievement
The O-1 nonimmigrant visa is for individuals who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry.
The O visa is separated into different categories and has slightly different criteria and requirements depending on the type of extraordinary ability and work to be performed. The O-1A visa is intended for those individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics (not including those working in the arts, motion pictures or television industry).
Benefits Of The “O” Visa
You can enter the U.S. and accept employment in a position which requires people of extraordinary ability.
You do not have to maintain a foreign residence and show intent to return to your home country while applying for the visa.
Your dependents can stay with you as long as you maintain your O1 status. They can also attend school.
You can freely travel in and out of the U.S. provided you have a valid visa.
The L-1A nonimmigrant classification enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States.
This classification also enables a foreign company which does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the United States with the purpose of establishing one.
The P-1B visa applies to those foreign nationals who are coming to the United States temporarily to perform with or is an integral part of an entertainment group that is internationally recognized as outstanding for a sustained and substantial period of time. P-1B beneficiaries must show:
The group has been internationally recognized for a sustained and substantial period of time;
That 75% of the group members have had a sustained and substantial relationship with the group for one year.
Benefits Of The “P” Visa
Your dependents can stay with you as long as you maintain your P1 status. They can also attend school. You can freely travel in and out of the U.S. provided you have a valid visa.
CEO and Founder of D’Alessio Law Group, Lorraine D’Alessio was named the 2017 Leader in Law by the Los Angeles Business Journal and is the recipient of the 2018 Enterprising Woman Award.
Ready to Expand Your Business Horizons? Explore E-1 Treaty Trader Visas Now
Are you ready to seize international business opportunities and expand your trade ventures? Our experienced team at D'Alessio Law is here to guide you through the intricacies of E-1 Treaty Trader Visas. Let's work together to unlock the potential of global markets, streamline your visa application, and help your business flourish. Reach out to us now and take the first step towards a world of trade possibilities!
Are you ready to seize international business opportunities and expand your trade ventures? Our experienced team at D'Alessio Law is here to guide you through the intricacies of E-1 Treaty Trader Visas.
Work & Investor Visas That Qualify Under The TN Visa
E-2 Treaty Investor
To qualify for E-2 classification, the treaty investor must:
Be a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation
Have invested, or be actively in the process of investing, a substantial amount of capital in a bona fide enterprise in the United States
Be seeking to enter the United States solely to develop and direct the investment enterprise. This is established by showing at least 50% ownership of the enterprise or possession of operational control through a managerial position or other corporate device.
An investment is the treaty investor’s placing of capital, including funds and/or other assets, at risk in the commercial sense with the objective of generating a profit. The capital must be subject to partial or total loss if the investment fails. The treaty investor must show that the funds have not been obtained, directly or indirectly, from criminal activity.
The Eb-5 visa allows you to live permanently in the United States.
For foreign investors seeking the freedom and flexibility to live and work in the United States, the EB-5 Visa Program provides an excellent opportunity to obtain Green Cards.
Benefits Of The Eb-5 Visa
A direct route to a Green Card
No day-to-day business management
Permanent residency in the United States for you, your partner and any children under 21 (this is especially helpful when children are planning on attending a US university, allowing them to obtain a Green Card during their studies)
Live, work and retire anywhere in the United States
Become a U.S Citizen after 5 years of being a green card holder
No Quota Backlogs – There are many delays and backlogs for employment and family based green card categories but there is no backlog for the EB-5 Visa Investor category.
No Sponsor Needed – Foreign investors use their own personal funds and do not require sponsorship from either an employer or a family member.
The Different Eb-5 Visa Options
There are two main EB-5 programs – the Basic EB-5 Visa Program and the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot Program.
Option 1 – Basic Eb-5 Visa Program
This involves a passive investment of at least $1,000,000
In order for an applicant to qualify under the Basic EB-5 Visa program, they must meet the following requirements:
Make an investment in a new commercial enterprise.
Make an investment of at least $1 million into that enterprise.
Lead to the creation of employment for at least 10 full-time U.S. workers.
Direct job creation only
The investment may consist of the contribution of various forms of capital, including cash, equipment, inventory, property, and other tangible equivalents. An investment amount of $1 million is generally the minimum.
Option 2 – Eb-5 Regional Center Pilot Program
This involves a passive investment of at least $500,000 made in a ‘Targeted Employment Area’ (TEA) within a Designated Regional Center.
The EB-5 policy management requirement is minimal in that the investor can be a limited partner and still qualify as long as the limited partners have a policy-making role. Thus, for those who are not interested in day-to-day management or running an active business, Regional Center programs offer a more acceptable inactive form of investment.
The investor is not required to live in the place of investment; rather, he or she can live wherever he/she wishes in the United States.
The EB-5 Regional Center program is ideal for the retiree or inactive investor due in large part to the “indirect employment” feature of this program. The Regional Center Program removes the employee requirement of the Regular program and replaces it with a less restrictive “indirect employment creation,” which allows the investor to qualify by proving a combination of 10 direct and/or indirect employees.
“I’ve been working on my visa and renewing 3 times already and this is the first time I had no problems. I could call to my Lowyer immediately, I could send an email even on weekends and they answered, everything was fast and super professional!!! I couldn’t recommend any firm more than them. The team is just beyond!
Btw got my visa after 2 weeks that they send my paperwork!”
Canadians enjoy several benefits of Canadian citizenship when entering the United States. They can enter the United States in visitor/tourist status for temporary periods of time without the need for a visa or interview at a U.S. Consulate.
In addition to entering the US as a visitor, Canadians are visa exempt for many temporary worker categories. Canadians can enter the US pursuant to an approved USCIS petition in several categories including: H-1b Specialty Occupation Employee, E-2 Investor, O Alien of Extraordinary Ability/Achievement, and P Performing Groups/Athletes/Culturally Unique.
Canadians can also apply for some visas at a US port of entry with no need for a pre-approved USCIS petition or US Consulate visa interview. Those visas include the TN visa for certain professionals, F-1 Student visa (if the school has provided the required USCIS documentation); L-1 Intracompany Transferees/Managers or Executives, and the B-1 visa for Business Visitors.
Although Canadians travel to the United States with relative ease compared to many other countries, Canadians should be careful to comply with all USCIS requirements both at the border and after entry to the United States. Canadians, like other foreign nationals, must take care to remain in valid status by fulfilling the duties of their employment or other visa category requirements.
Canadians and other foreign nationals must avoid activities that violate their status such as accepting unauthorized employment; overstaying visa time limitations or taking any other action that would otherwise violate their status. The result of violating your status may be severe, such as triggering a 5 or10 year bar on your admission to the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to explore the exciting possibilities of working in the United States as a Canadian professional? Our FAQ section provides answers to your most pressing questions about the TN Visa. Whether you’re wondering about eligibility, application documents, or family options, we’ve got you covered.
Eligibility for the TN Visa is generally for Canadian citizens with specific professional qualifications and job offers in the United States. Understanding whether your profession qualifies is essential.
The TN Visa application typically requires a valid job offer letter from a U.S. employer, proof of Canadian citizenship, and supporting documentation related to your profession. Details on the specific documents vary by profession.
TN Visa holders can change employers, but they must ensure that the new job remains in the same professional category and obtain a new job offer letter. The process for transferring the visa between employers can vary.
TN Visa holders can bring their spouses and unmarried children under 21 as dependents. Spouses can apply for a derivative TD visa, but they cannot work in the U.S.
If your TN Visa status expires, you must either leave the United States or seek an extension or change of status. Overstaying a visa can have serious consequences for future travel to the U.S.
