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Comment by mhurron | Hacker News Reader

A Canadian would come in under a TN visa which is not a lottery, not H1-B.

So again, how do H1-B changes affect a Canadian?

A lot of larger companies will switch you to an H1-B at some point since they're trying to put you on a Green Card track (bc of long-run costs? not sure). While you technically can apply for a green card on TN status, since TN is intended for temporary workers, it's frowned upon by DHS and immigration departments at companies know that.

Source: I'm a two-time Canadian > US TN-to-H1B and eventually bailed out of the process by marrying an American.

TN can be extended indefinitely, so if you're being pressured to change to a H1-B you might want to ask why until you get a direct and specific answer.

So you can get a green card and thus aren't tied to the company?

TNs could be renewed indefinitely, however they're specifically meant to be temporary so you can only renew them if you continue to convince the adjudicating officer that you do not intend to renew them indefinitely. This may become a challenge a decade or two in. They are explicitly not a replacement for a green card. They can also be revoked at each border crossing.

An H-1B gives you a defined 6 year window with doctrine of dual intent allowing you to pursue a green card, which a TN status does not.

because it opens up the options to sponsor you for a green card.

Curious, was the marriage specifically for the purpose of getting out of that rat race?

Nope, just got lucky. :)

Hope I run into the same sort of luck eventually. Sucks having to worry about whether I'll still be in the country when trying to plan for the years to come.

All this on top of worrying about work, relationships, personal health, and always trying to catch up and learn the "fundamental" bits of knowledge required to do my job. Sometimes I feel like I wasn't born with as many cores as others :(

He may be looking to pursue a green card which is not possible with TN status.

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