Where to begin???

[SH1983 0]

I am a Canadian citizen. My boyfriend is an American. I would like to move over to Michigan and start a life with him and potentially get married. But right now I would just like to get over there and move into a place with him. Im not sure where to even begin. Any websites or suggestions into finding a job over there. I have a Bachelors degree in Sociology and Criminology and I could use all the help to begin my process. Also how hard is it to find a company willing to sponsor a Canadian?

[rsn 135]

I am a Canadian citizen. My boyfriend is an American. I would like to move over to Michigan and start a life with him and potentially get married. But right now I would just like to get over there and move into a place with him. Im not sure where to even begin. Any websites or suggestions into finding a job over there. I have a Bachelors degree in Sociology and Criminology and I could use all the help to begin my process. Also how hard is it to find a company willing to sponsor a Canadian?

This is definitely not a US Citizenship topic, so I will move this to the K1 forum unless this heads more in the direction of a work or spousal visa. If your intent is marriage, you should either pursue a K1 (fiance) visa or a CR-1 (spousal) visa. See the "Guides" at the top of every page for more info. I don't think your best bet will be a work visa. 10+% of Americans are also looking for work in this country.

Edited January 19, 2010 by rsn

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Unfortunately, there is no 'girlfriend/boyfriend' visa. Everyone who wishes to live in the US needs to have permission of the US government to do so. This permission is given through a certain type of visa. Without a visa you are only allowed to visit the US - you cannot live here. It is the same for Canada - US citizens need permission to live in Canada as well and apply for specific visas.

If you intend to marry, you can pursue a Fiance visa. If you get married, you can pursue a CR-1 visa. If you are qualified to work under terms of the NAFTA you can investigate a NAFTA visa - that is initiated by a US employer who agrees to hire you. There are other work visas that might be appropriate but again, the US employer has to initiate the process. Such visas are difficult to get right now and do require experience as well as education.

If you wish to further your education you can check into student visas. Again, the University has to accept you first and you have to prove you have sufficient money (in the thousands of dollars) to pay for the very expensive tuition as well as to cover living expenses.

The best advice is to try and plan for multiple visits of varying lengths to get to know each other better and decide if you do wish to pursue a fiancee visa or a spousal visa. In any case, prepare a package of information that you can carry with you every time you cross the border proving your ties to Canada - letter from your employer, lease or mortgage, ongoing bills for utilities, insurance, etc.,. If the border guard thinks you are going to try and live in the US or if you cannot prove you have stronger ties to Canada than to the US you stand a good chance of being denied entry to the US.

We all wish there was an easy way to just pick up and move in with our loved ones, but there isn't.