NAFTA visa

[Canadian_in_USA 0]

Hello all,

I am a Canadian citizen and a recently qualified CGA ( certified general accountant ). I got married in September and moved to the US on a K-1 visa. I have now applied for an Employment authorization document and had my biometrics testing on the 17th of October 2008. Waiting for the EAD is becoming very frustrating and I believe that it can take up to 6 months to recieve it.

I was wondering if anybody had information on just applying for work based on a NAFTA visa. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Sprailenes 47]

You have to have a valid job offer from a US employer in order to obtain a NAFTA visa.

I also don't know if you can apply for another visa now that you're here already on a K1. Since you're already married you're adjusting status right? I have no clue but it doesn't sound right to me.

Someone else may be able to help you.

You're already frustrated about waiting and its only been two months since you've arrived? Did your actual visa process go relatively quickly and are you not used to waiting? I mean most of us don't start complaining until the 4th or 5th month.

[payxibka 10,044]

Hello all,

I am a Canadian citizen and a recently qualified CGA ( certified general accountant ). I got married in September and moved to the US on a K-1 visa. I have now applied for an Employment authorization document and had my biometrics testing on the 17th of October 2008. Waiting for the EAD is becoming very frustrating and I believe that it can take up to 6 months to recieve it.

I was wondering if anybody had information on just applying for work based on a NAFTA visa. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Getting employment authorization based on another "work" class will only serve to begin the process all over again from the beginning...

[jedinite 0]

NAFTA Visa or TN visa is a temporary visa that is only granted to foreign workers that do no intend on immigrating to the US. Since you have or have applied for a K-1 you have disqualified yourself from the TN.

In order to receive a TN visa you must fit certain criteria

1) Are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or Mexico to qualify for a TN visa

2) Have a 4 year degree or 5 years of experience in the field in which you are trying to obtain the visa for

3) You have a job offer letter from the potential employer which includes your occupational title, salary, term of employment (the new maximum for a TN visa is now 3 years), should have at least some details about what the employer's business entails and how long they have been in operation

4) Your job offer must be for a position which is considered to be on the high demand list, a professional, or specialty. Examples, IT Analyst, Accountant, Physician, Nurse, Engineer, a particular specialty which there is a shortage or lack of US workers that are able to fill the role.

5) Do NOT intend on becoming a permanent resident of the US

The last condition will get you no matter what. My suggestion for anyone currently on a TN visa, get it renewed prior to applying for K1/K3, or CR-1 immigration visas. Do not mention that you intend to marry or apply for a permanent resident visa at the POE (point of entry). Once you have a TN Visa, that is valid for a long enough time for you to continue working, you should submit your application for K1/K3 or CR1 and apply for a change of status. This will allow you to continue working while in the country and it speed up the process of your application. Trust me on this one, I was no allowed entry a year ago because I didn't know that you cannot apply for a TN and be married to a USC with intent to immigrated in the future.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Hello all,

I am a Canadian citizen and a recently qualified CGA ( certified general accountant ). I got married in September and moved to the US on a K-1 visa. I have now applied for an Employment authorization document and had my biometrics testing on the 17th of October 2008. Waiting for the EAD is becoming very frustrating and I believe that it can take up to 6 months to recieve it.

I was wondering if anybody had information on just applying for work based on a NAFTA visa. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

It also doesn't take 6 months to get your EAD...more like 3 months and under.

[Canadian_in_USA 0]

NAFTA Visa or TN visa is a temporary visa that is only granted to foreign workers that do no intend on immigrating to the US. Since you have or have applied for a K-1 you have disqualified yourself from the TN.

In order to receive a TN visa you must fit certain criteria

1) Are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or Mexico to qualify for a TN visa

2) Have a 4 year degree or 5 years of experience in the field in which you are trying to obtain the visa for

3) You have a job offer letter from the potential employer which includes your occupational title, salary, term of employment (the new maximum for a TN visa is now 3 years), should have at least some details about what the employer's business entails and how long they have been in operation

4) Your job offer must be for a position which is considered to be on the high demand list, a professional, or specialty. Examples, IT Analyst, Accountant, Physician, Nurse, Engineer, a particular specialty which there is a shortage or lack of US workers that are able to fill the role.

5) Do NOT intend on becoming a permanent resident of the US

The last condition will get you no matter what. My suggestion for anyone currently on a TN visa, get it renewed prior to applying for K1/K3, or CR-1 immigration visas. Do not mention that you intend to marry or apply for a permanent resident visa at the POE (point of entry). Once you have a TN Visa, that is valid for a long enough time for you to continue working, you should submit your application for K1/K3 or CR1 and apply for a change of status. This will allow you to continue working while in the country and it speed up the process of your application. Trust me on this one, I was no allowed entry a year ago because I didn't know that you cannot apply for a TN and be married to a USC with intent to immigrated in the future.

Thank you so much for your quick reply. It helped me immensely.

[Canadian_in_USA 0]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input and invaluable advise on my immigration issue.

I really appreciate it.

I am really gonna miss Christmas in Canada this year.

[Carlawarla 1]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input and invaluable advise on my immigration issue.

I really appreciate it.

I am really gonna miss Christmas in Canada this year.

Aren't we all.

[thetreble 19]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input and invaluable advise on my immigration issue.

I really appreciate it.

I am really gonna miss Christmas in Canada this year.

Aren't we all.

:(

Wait...I'm going home!

[jedinite 0]

Thank you so much for your quick reply. It helped me immensely.

You're welcome. I was hoping that my experience would at least save a few people from making the same mistake I did.

[warlord 72]

Yes a lot of people have gotten in trouble using a TN status and marrying a USC without fully knowing the process in it. I was lucky and researched it quite abit while I was on a TN status. I acutally timed it so I applied for my 8th new TN a month before getting married (when you were able to apply my mail 6 months in advance when my current TN would expire). So got the notification note, got married and then filed AOS and luckily got my EAD/AP docs a few weeks later. Then I just wrote back cancelling my future TN which I no longer needed and just left my current TN to expire as it was now replaced by the EAD.

Many others do not time then new TN status's and find out while on them after getting married that their status is running out and yet they still had not recieved their EAD and had to go without working (some lost their jobs) when they were in this prediciment.

And others had gotten married, attempted to apply for a new TN status after and then left the country on vacations which of course comming across the border and found to have applied for AOS boom another bombshell hits them.

So it's a good thing you found out from here about the rules of the TN status and saved yourself from potential disaster...

Edited November 24, 2008 by warlord