Question about L1A Visa

[Coco8 1,054]

19 hours ago, Momys said:

There is an option to apply for a Green Card almost immediately after arriving on an L1A (at least from my beginning-stage research).    With that, obviously, they can take part-time jobs   
 

 

A work based green card can take 5 years, unless you have a PhD. But even with a PhD it can take almost 2 years due bureaucracy. 

 

I guess they could go back to Canada or South Africa during the summer to work. 

 

But if they are also saving to pay for university, doing extra curricular activities like learning a new language or taking computer programming classes, can help them get a scholarship. That could be a better strategy than trying to pay for university shoveling snow. Just an idea. 

 

 

[Momys 3]

Thank you!   So, this is what I found about the L1A and the Green Card (adjustment of status?) but I'm sure that pretty much anyone who has ever done any immigration stuff would know that expected time lines are certainly NOT always the way things go
https://www.***removed***/l1-visa/l1-visa-based-greencard.html

"The entire process usually takes less than 1 year"
http://www.immi-usa.com/l1-visa/l1a-to-eb1-green-card/\

 

The more we think about this and talk about it, we feel that this option is probably not right for us.  It feels stupid to spend all that money (there will be 8 of us, so adds up, for sure!) when we know we're not planning on settling in the US long term.   Then we may as well just invest that money for the kids - or pay them well for chores done around the house.... hAHAHAHAHAHA
I don't think we could justify it to the company to pay for that application simply for our teens to be able to work part time   

I sat down with our 16 year old today and discussed options and we have come up with quite a few.   He also was shocked that minimum wage was lower in the US.  LOL!   

I really appreciate all the information!  Thank you so much, guys!

[Boiler 47,487]

I would want to come on an  Immigrant Visa, gives you maximum flexibility, you never know what will happen. Everybody gets to work etc.

 

THe Visa fees are small beer when looking at the total costs.

[CEE53147 559]

Your children can always do volunteer work.  There are many agencies that welcome student volunteers.

 

They may qualify to attend a local community college university as "concurrrent enrollment" students. There will likely be tuition since they would not be enrolled in public high schools which often offer the courses on campus during the normal school day. The advanced university level work will count towards a US degree.

Edited March 2, 2018 by CEE53147

[CEE53147 559]

If you do not intend to live permanently in the US. filing for green cards is not a good option. You become liable for taxes on your world wide income no matter where you reside as green card holders or citizens.

[Coco8 1,054]

1 hour ago, Momys said:

So, this is what I found about the L1A and the Green Card (adjustment of status?) 

...

"The entire process usually takes less than 1 year"

 

Well, the advantage of L1A is that you don't have to go through the Department of Labor process, but that only saves you 6 months. 

 

Then, how long your green card takes depends on whether your qualifications fall under EB1, EB2, EB3. The website you found says that to qualify for an L1A then you probably fall under EB1 as long as you have worked for 1 year in the preceding 3 years as a manager/executive. As a result, it could take a year to get the green card, which would be fast in comparison to other paths to the green card. The only issue is that now USCIS is starting to do interviews for everyone applying (they used not to do that, it is a Trump regulation) so I'd put the process closer to 1 year.

 

I don't know how much you have to pay for dependents. The application for your family is considered as a package so I don't think you have to multiply the cost for one person times (kids+spouse).

 

I guess you have to think about whether your kids will want to study in the US or in Canada, or where they would want to live. The job itself gives you a good opportunity to get a green card for them which can open opportunities for scholarships or to get lower tuition at state schools (e.g. some competitive state schools have pretty low tuition if you have a green card/citizenship and live in the state for a year to get in-state tuition; though tuition in Canada is probably lower). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Boiler 47,487]

They are going to be tax resident on a L.

Edited March 3, 2018 by Boiler

[Momys 3]

Thank you so much, everyone!  

 

[Momys 3]

I'm grateful for everyone's input, suggestions, and for reminding me that sometimes you can get in a frenzy when you start researching thing

We discussed it as a family and decided that the eldest teen that will go with us could do extra courses (not only academic), could do lots of volunteer work, could learn new skills, could choose to work as a camp counselor in another country (or could even apply from Canada to do it in the US if he likes).   He could get involved in mission work.  He could come back to Canada and work here and start saving up for whatever he wants to do next (university or travel). 

PLENTY of options that doesn't complicate life

 

[Momys 3]

14 minutes ago, Boiler said:

They are going to be tax resident on a L.

I believe you are 100% correct (I'm not clued up on this at all!).  As I understood it from the research my husband did, we will pay tax in both the US and Canada BUT we won't pay more tax than we pay in Canada now due to tax treaties.

By choosing to not declare non-residency in Canada we also retain receiving our Canadian monthly child tax benefits which will be beneficial to us.  

The company does take all this into account with salary offers and adjustments and they do have a tax consultant who will help us with the process - thank goodness.