Don't know where to start

[Hsforhelmet 0]

Im wanting to move to America and live with my boyfriend, but how does that all work? I want to be able to work while I'm there and eventually hopefully become an American citizen. Everything I've read is so confusing and it seems like there a ton of different visas so I don't know which to chose from or which one that I would need. Any help on where to start would be greatly appreciated. I'm a Health Care Aide by the way, if that makes a difference.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Unfortunately there are no visas to live with boyfriends; you would need to either get engaged and file for a fiancée visa (K-1), or get married and file for a CR-1 spousal visa.

[Hsforhelmet 0]

Well that's discouraging, how about a work visa? Can I file for a work visa, then go to the states and find a job or do I need to find a job first? I feel like a potential employee wouldn't want to go through the hassle of waiting for me to be approved. Does it take awhile usually or is it all dependant on the work someone does?

[canadian_wife 1,791]

You wouldn't - the employer would.

I understand how you feel, I always took for granted the US/Canada relationship until I tried to move here

good luck

[Hsforhelmet 0]

Well I guess this explains the "90 day fiancé " TV show.

Thanks for the help though!

So if I apply for jobs and I get one of them, what happens? Does the employer send me forms and stuff to fill out to be approved or should I be trying to find a work visa form to get started on myself?

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

If you wanna live with him, why not get engaged, move here and then get married? Gloria and I lived together for 2 years before getting engaged and our relationship now being married is just how it was as when we were dating and living together.

[Hsforhelmet 0]

It's that easy to do? Just get engaged and they'll let me move?

[canadian_wife 1,791]

It's all about the visa. No visa is immediate.

A work visa is petitioned for by the employer, very little for you to do except accept the job offer.

A fiancé visa may be petitioned for after the engagement by the US citizen.

I suggest you begin reading, start with the guides at the top of the page.

good luck

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

It's that easy to do? Just get engaged and they'll let me move?

Well, you'll have to apply for a k-1 visa, once you have that you can move, get married in 90 days and then apply for your work permit, advance parole and greencard.

[Hsforhelmet 0]

See Id rather go the work visa route so I don't have the pressure of needing to be married in 90 days. Plus we've never lived together other than the week at a time I spend when I fly out there to see him which is also becoming very expensive.

So just to quickly recap, I can just start applying for jobs and if I'm offered one the employee will do most of the paper work required? Sorry for the dumb questions, I feel like I've been reading and reading and getting to definite or clear answers. Most of the stuff I've found online has me running in circles.

[vicks5721 18]

to live permanently in America you will need to apply for a fiance visa or spouse visa

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

See Id rather go the work visa route so I don't have the pressure of needing to be married in 90 days. Plus we've never lived together other than the week at a time I spend when I fly out there to see him which is also becoming very expensive.

So just to quickly recap, I can just start applying for jobs and if I'm offered one the employee will do most of the paper work required? Sorry for the dumb questions, I feel like I've been reading and reading and getting to definite or clear answers. Most of the stuff I've found online has me running in circles.

I'm not sure about applying for jobs, what i DO know is that the employer needs to prove USCIS that there's nobody in the US that can do the job that you'd be applying to. Not easy but not impossible.

[vicks5721 18]

I'm not sure about applying for jobs, what i DO know is that the employer needs to prove USCIS that there's nobody in the US that can do the job that you'd be applying to. Not easy but not impossible.

Yep the US embassy will need proof that no American can do the job you apply for and that you are specialised in the career field you choose, I have heard work visas can be hard to get.

If you don't want to feel like the 90 days to get married is too much, the fiance visa is actually good for 6 months before you even enter the US so that is one way to feel it isn't rushed.

From my knowledge short term stay in America and then leave afterwards is possible to do but the US immigration would need proof that you won't try to stay illegally.

[Boiler 43,433]

You are not going to get a visa as a Health Care Aide.

The most common visa category for Canadians is TN.

You can look up what professions qualify, you are going to have to think of this as a long term plan.

In the mean time now about him moving to Canada?

[CdnRN 40]

Yup, TN Is a very common visa for Canadians, but not all jobs qualify. In health care RN qualifies, but not a care aide.

http://canada.usembassy.gov/mobile/visas/doing-business-in-america/professions-covered-by-nafta.html

Have you thought of extended vacations? Revert to casual at your employment and take vacations longer than a week at a time so you can better answer the marriage question?