Employment Authorization?

Question

I'm currently a resident (and citizen) of Canada, but I've just discovered I need to get employment authorization for a job I would like to apply for in the Unite States. Now, all the forms I've looked at so far require me to have a US address, but I don't have one just yet.

Is there any way I can get something to show I'm legally allowed to work in the United States without needing to move first and be jobless for however many months?

Thanks guys! Hope that made some kind of sense.

Answer 1

Do a web search for "TN Visa". Are you qualified under one of those professions? If so, check out www.goodbyecanada.com.

If you are an electronics engineer with audio electronics design experience, write to me as my employer in the LA area is looking for one.

If you are not qualified as a NAFTA professional, it is very difficult as you get no priority over all the other people wanting to move to the USA.

Answer 2

thats not easy.

here jobs are not easy to find and not all that good paying compared to the cost of living unless you have a career.

Answer 3

You cannot come to the US to work until you get an employment visa, and only employers can apply for those visas.  If you can find a job in the US in a category which qualifies for an employment visa, the employer will have to obtain labor certification from the Dept of Labor first (that can take 6 months or more), then submit that certification with the application for your visa.

There are many types of employment visas/work permits, but they boil down to two broad categories: unskilled agricultural labor (picking tomatoes and plucking chickens), or very well educated and highly skilled jobs.  E.g. to be eligible for an H1-b the position must require a minimum of a bachelor's degree plus two years of post-baccalaureate experience.

Under NAFTA, the treaty trader visas can be processed quickly, but very few people qualify for them as you must be engaged in international trade.  Are you the owner or a very senior executive of a company engaged in international trade, and does that business require your presence in the US?  The company still needs to apply for your visa and prove the company requires your presence in the US to conduct its business.  TN visas do not allow you to enter the US, then go job-hunting.

Answer 4

This is big mis-conception among Canadians that they can just move to USA & start working. This is not the case, Canadians do require work permit too to work in USA.

However the procedure is easier for them, they can apply for TN20 (agreed under NAFTA) to start working in USA & TN20 usually takes around four weeks unlike regular work permit that can take up to six months to get the authorisation.

BTW, ur employer who offers u the job is responsible for applying for your work permit, u do not require any authorisation to find work, the permit is needed once the job is offered.

Good luck.