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Looking for advice on moving to the US

  • Last Updated:
  • Jul 14th, 2019 5:29 pm
Banned
Nov 21, 2009
2465 posts
1043 upvotes

Looking for advice on moving to the US

Over the last couple years I've thought about leaving Canada and moving to the USA. I feel like I just need a fresh start at life. Been at the same job for 8 years and it's just going no where. There is zero room to expand or move up the ladder and I feel i'm just in that bottomless pit of negativity and depression.

I spent 2 weeks recently in Florida and just thought, why am I not working and living here instead? The smallish town I live in now is just way too stressful. Taxes are the highest in any Ontario city and we basically get nothing for it other than a bunch of politicians who argue on social media all day. It's a sleeper town. Now don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate that my drive to work everyday is less than 10 minutes but that can't be the reason I stay in my current situation when everything else around me just isn't exciting anymore.

I am currently a L2 Technical Support Analyst for a Health Care Center. I have zero education. (dropped out of high school and never went to university or college) but have my GED, A+, some MSCE, and lots of training with VMware and a variety of clinical software. I am extremely good at my job and I think that's why it's bringing me down (nothing challenging). Is the answer to the question "Am I qualified to work in the US, a no?" due to my lack of education on paper? - Looking for advice

If I am qualified, does anyone know if hospitals in the states help work with you to get a green card if you were a successful candidate? Or can you not even apply for a job without a green card?

Does having an uncle count as having a family member in the states qualify for a green card?

If a friend of mine who lives in the states owns his own business and wants to hire me, could something like this work? Would he have to do a ton of paperwork or would it just be easier to get a lawyer?

I'm a little distracted now regarding my thought process (too many people in the house right now)... so I'm just going to end it here.. see what people think and continue the conversation below.

Thanks guys
12 replies
Deal Fanatic
Jul 4, 2004
7430 posts
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Ottawa
Unfortunately, I do not believe you'll qualify for a US work permit.

By far the easiest way for a Canadian to work in the US is with a TN but you don't have a degree so you won't qualify and besides, I think Technical Support Analyst is way too much of a stretch to get one. As far as your uncle, unfortunately, that is not an option as sponsorship is immediate family only (parent, child, sibling). Technically, you could possibly get an H1B but they are hard to get and cost the employee time and money so I don't think you'll be able to find an employer willing to get one for you. Your friend can hire you but you still can't work in the US so that's no help and I don't believe there's anyway he can get you are work permit.

Your best bet is to find an employer in Canada that also has operations in the US (e.g. you mentioned working in Health Care Center so maybe a company like Baxter Healthcare which has offices world wide), work for them for a few years in Canada and then see if you can transfer to a US location with a L1-B visa. One glaring issue is I'm not sure if they will consider your position to be "specialized employees, who have essential specialist skills or knowledge"

The easiest solution is to find a US spouse.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Nov 15, 2004
21786 posts
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Toronto
Move near the border and get a Tinder account. Your best way in is marriage.
Deal Addict
Jan 1, 2013
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Durham
I have done my relentless research on this. I have college but even that does not qualify. You also have the EB3 skilled Visa that only requires 2 years. Based on research it is actually not that hard to get. I would research companies, apply and then discuss. More than likely they will say H1B (which you don't qualify for). Than you go tell them about the EB3 route.

The only other option is EB3 unskilled, but you don't want that. Generally those are contract for min wage skill labour jobs that you cannot get out of for a couple years.

Edit. You have 8 years at the same company but how much years experience in that field do you have? I think if that role qualifies for H1B, you can use 12 years experience in place of a University degree.
Deal Addict
Aug 18, 2018
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Technically a Computer Systems Analyst does not strictly require a bachelor's degree, because post-secondary diploma/certificate + 3 years of work experience will also suffice: https://www.shihabimmigrationfirm.com/e ... s-analyst/

However, given how scrutinized the CSA category is (a lot of programmers try to squeeze in but that's strictly forbidden), I really don't think that's gonna fly. There IS a Scientific Technician/Technologist category that doesn't require any post-secondary education, but unfortunately it doesn't seem like anything to do with IT is allowed. With that out of the way, let me try to address the rest:

flash67 wrote: If I am qualified, does anyone know if hospitals in the states help work with you to get a green card if you were a successful candidate? Or can you not even apply for a job without a green card?

You're getting the order mixed up. You need to be employed first to be eligible for a green card. Most reputable employers with enough resources will sponsor your green card if you have good work performance. But from sponsorship to actually getting the green card is a long and arduous process with no guarantees of anything in between.

Does having an uncle count as having a family member in the states qualify for a green card?

Sadly no. You can find the list of kinship eligible for family-based immigration here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel ... visas.html

If a friend of mine who lives in the states owns his own business and wants to hire me, could something like this work? Would he have to do a ton of paperwork or would it just be easier to get a lawyer?

Makes no difference in terms of the process. Still need a visa that allows you to work (TN or H-1B).

I'm a little distracted now regarding my thought process (too many people in the house right now)... so I'm just going to end it here.. see what people think and continue the conversation below.

Thanks guys

Kkhan15 wrote: I have done my relentless research on this. I have college but even that does not qualify. You also have the EB3 skilled Visa that only requires 2 years. Based on research it is actually not that hard to get. I would research companies, apply and then discuss. More than likely they will say H1B (which you don't qualify for). Than you go tell them about the EB3 route.

The only other option is EB3 unskilled, but you don't want that. Generally those are contract for min wage skill labour jobs that you cannot get out of for a couple years.

Edit. You have 8 years at the same company but how much years experience in that field do you have? I think if that role qualifies for H1B, you can use 12 years experience in place of a University degree.
EB-3 is NOT a visa (not in the traditional sense anyway but a priority preference ranking for when you're applying for your green card. To even get to that stage, you'll first need to have your H-1B, then the company must be willing to sponsor your green card, and finally you'll need to obtain a Labor Certification from the Department of Labor stating that no qualified American workers could be found for your particular position, so you becoming a permanent resident through employment is not displacing US citizens. A very tall order for OP.
Banned
Nov 21, 2009
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Thanks for the information guys. I definitely have a lot of research ahead of me but this gives me a great foundation to start with
Deal Fanatic
Jul 4, 2004
7430 posts
4677 upvotes
Ottawa
siriuskao wrote: If lack of degree is holding you back, maybe you should consider getting one from WGU (https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees.html).

It's accredited and fairly cheap therefore it's popular among IT professionals without degrees.

More info here:
https://community.infosecinstitute.com/ ... es-schools
If the OPs intention is to get a TN, I'm not sure this degree would help. They call it a "B.S." but I'm fairly certain that this would not qualify as a "Bachelor of Science". TN requirements for CSA are quite specific that you need a Bachelor or a Licenciatura or a Post-Secondary Diploma or Certificate plus 3 years experience - this may qualify as a Diploma or Certificate but I suspect it might not.
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Jul 29, 2002
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michelb wrote: >They call it a "B.S." but I'm fairly certain that this would not qualify as a "Bachelor of Science". TN requirements for CSA are quite specific that you need a Bachelor or a Licenciatura or a Post-Secondary Diploma or Certificate plus 3 years experience - this may qualify as a Diploma or Certificate but I suspect it might not.
Granted you won't find this school in the top 100 institutions in the US but it's still accredited. If you want a more well-known option, there's also Georgia Tech (http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/).

In any case, I would still recommend OP talk to an immigration lawyer before commit to any school.

Reference
https://www.nwccu.org/member-institutions/directory/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-in ... .htm#tab-4
Deal Fanatic
Jul 4, 2004
7430 posts
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Ottawa
siriuskao wrote: Granted you won't find this school in the top 100 institutions in the US but it's still accredited. If you want a more well-known option, there's also Georgia Tech (http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/).

In any case, I would still recommend OP talk to an immigration lawyer before commit to any school.

Reference
https://www.nwccu.org/member-institutions/directory/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-in ... .htm#tab-4
Georgia Tech would certainly be a very good education option but it's that's a Master's degree and you need an undergraduate university degree to qualify.

From their Admission Criteria:
Preferred qualifications for admitted OMS CS students are an undergraduate degree in computer science or related field (typically mathematics, computer engineering or electrical engineering) from an accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis; however, work experience will not take the place of an undergraduate degree.

The following are required for admission:

Proof that you have been awarded a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent as determined by Georgia Tech) from a regionally-accredited institution.
Deal Addict
Aug 18, 2018
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michelb wrote: If the OPs intention is to get a TN, I'm not sure this degree would help. They call it a "B.S." but I'm fairly certain that this would not qualify as a "Bachelor of Science". TN requirements for CSA are quite specific that you need a Bachelor or a Licenciatura or a Post-Secondary Diploma or Certificate plus 3 years experience - this may qualify as a Diploma or Certificate but I suspect it might not.
Much easier for OP to just get an associate degree since he already has 8 years experience. Fastest way to be TN eligible. But as always consult with a good lawyer before handing over money for anything.
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Jul 4, 2004
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arkane wrote: Much easier for OP to just get an associate degree since he already has 8 years experience. Fastest way to be TN eligible. But as always consult with a good lawyer before handing over money for anything.
In the first post, he said he has 8 years as a "Technical Support Analyst" - IMO, this will probably count for 0 years for a Computer Systems Analyst TN. If that's the experience he has, he's better off getting a B. Sc. to qualify for a TN.
Deal Addict
Aug 18, 2018
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Maybe, maybe not. All depends on what the job duties entail exactly. The CSA category is (maybe intentionally) vague regarding specific job duties, the one major restriction being prohibiting programming as the main duty (and the one thing that officers love to use to deny applicants). As I previously recommended, a consultation with an experienced lawyer would be very helpful.

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