Canadian citizen may want to work in the US after graduating. What do I need?

Question

I am a Canadian Citizen thinking about working in the US after graduating from University. I am wondering what type of certification I will need to enable that. Do I need a passport? A work visa? Am I allowed to visit for conferences and trips if I don't have either?

Answer 1

You can drive to the US until about summer 2009 with a government issued photo ID such as your driver's license and your birth certificate to prove citizenship. If you are flying you need a passport. You can visit the US for conferences and trips and stay for as long as six months and no visa is required, but you cannot work  in the US.

In order to work in the US you need what is commonly called a "green card".  There are a variety of routes to qualify for a green card and a number of different types of work visas.  Here is a site to get you started.  Best of luck with your plans.

Answer 2

Hopefully you are graduating in a field that is in high demand in the US.  If not, sponsorship by a potential employer will be difficult.

If you want to apply for a temporary work visa, it's best to see an immigration lawyer.  They are pricey but well worth the money as there are a ton of papers to fill out.

If you are lucky enough to get a visa you can then apply for a green card after a certain amount of time has passed.  This can take a very loooong time.  

My family in Florida (Canadians) are still waiting for their green cards and they have lived there since 2001.