Can a Canadian Citizen "move" to the USA while visiting the USA?

Question

I am a Canadian citizen visiting a friend in California. I really like it here, and wish to stay. Can I fill out immigration documents here and stay legally without first returning to Canada?

I do not currently have any visa, but I would be getting a work one ASAP and applying for permanent residence ASAP.

Answer 1

Only if you are sponsored for Green Card either by a spouse, other blood relative such as mother, father or sibling or thru employment.  Otherwise you will not be able to work legally.

Answer 2

You are out of luck bro. You will need to return to Canada until you can find an employer to sponsor you for a visa. It's not as simple as saying "I like it here and want to stay". You will need to have at least a bachelors degree and qualify under one of the skilled occupations for a TN-1 or H-1B visa. You are already out of luck for the H-1B, because the quota is gone for the next year thanks to the gazillion Indian guys eating up the quota. Assuming you are in a specialty occupation covered under NAFTA and qualify for a TN-1 work visa, you can get one of those at the port of entry once you find an employer and get a job offer. You will need your college degree, transcripts, the job offer, your passport, and a few other things.

As for permanent residency, that won't happen, unless you have some sort of extraordinary ability that is highly in demand in the USA and there is no skilled US Citizens willing to do the job. In USA, for your employer to sponsor you for Green Card, you have to go through labor certification, where they post your job for 90 days to prove to the Dept. of Labor that no GC holder or US citizen is qualified and willing to do your job. Then they have to file a bunch of paperwork and you have to wait several years. You can't simply "apply" for permanent residency here.

Good luck :)