Diploma in Accounting Program and TN visa

[Ashabash 0]

I have a 4-year bachelor of arts degree in Psychology, and have recently decided to go back to school and study accounting. I am currently enrolled in a Diploma in Accounting Program at UBC in Vancouver. The program is designed to prepare people with non-accounting degrees for a professional accounting designation, and fulfills all requirements for the Canadian designations, as well as for the US CPA designation. After graduating from the program, I hope to move down to the US, and am looking into my options. TN status seems like the easiest route; however, because my bachelor's degree and my accounting diploma are seperate, i don't know if i will qualify. Any thoughts??? If i were to pass the CPA exam, do you think this would help my case? (I can't actually get a CPA license until I've worked for a year in the States, which I can't do without a work visa... catch 22).

[Harsh_77 716]

Simple question should be is there a shortage of CPA in US?

If you answer no then TN visa would make sense, if not then TN is going to be difficult.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I think you are at a disadvantage having a Bachelor's degree that isn't specific to accounting. I have friends who have gone through it and they put a lot of weight into relevent degrees. A diploma also isn't as valuable in the US, so that is also something to consider.

I personally don't think the TN Visa is as easy as it looks. I know someone who had theirs rejected 3 times!

You may want to consider getting a job at one of the Big 4 firms, getting some work experience and then trying for a transfer. I know that KPMG offers a really great transfer programs and have a few friends who have participated.

[Boiler 43,598]

My Brother did that, but he is a Chartered Accountant

[Dakine10 5,452]

I have a 4-year bachelor of arts degree in Psychology, and have recently decided to go back to school and study accounting. I am currently enrolled in a Diploma in Accounting Program at UBC in Vancouver. The program is designed to prepare people with non-accounting degrees for a professional accounting designation, and fulfills all requirements for the Canadian designations, as well as for the US CPA designation. After graduating from the program, I hope to move down to the US, and am looking into my options. TN status seems like the easiest route; however, because my bachelor's degree and my accounting diploma are seperate, i don't know if i will qualify. Any thoughts??? If i were to pass the CPA exam, do you think this would help my case? (I can't actually get a CPA license until I've worked for a year in the States, which I can't do without a work visa... catch 22).

Correct - by design, it is a catch 22. You need either an accounting degree OR the CPA to be able to get Tn status.