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Ask HN: Advice for Canadian looking to move to US for IT work

In a nutshell, I've decided to see just how hard it would be to obtain work south of the border, but I have absolutely no idea where to start. I keep getting told that it's both easy (because of NAFTA), and yet quite difficult (from personal experience trying to obtain work in the US) to be sponsored for employment. So I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for how I should proceed, and if it basically boils down to "no job offer, no chance".

Thanks for any response to my inquiry.

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My first advice as a Canada to US immigrant is, don't attempt to come down on a visitor visa or visa waiver (i.e. visa-less entry) and get work. It sounds like this would be obvious to you based on your question, but so many people think they can just adjust their status later once they're in the country, and by and large they are very mistaken.

As a Canadian, you can, however, apply for TN (NAFTA) status at the border.[1][2] You need a prearranged job to do this, though, and it has to fit one of several categories defined by NAFTA[3]. Typically, you must have at least a Bachelor's degree.

I'm a family-based immigrant so I don't know how hard it is to get prearranged work on a visa basis. I do see a lot of postings that require permanent residency or citizenship, though I believe such immigration classification discrimination is illegal.

[1] http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1274.html

[2] http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b...

[3] http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/doing-business-in-america/...

Thanks for the links, they're pretty much what I was after. Although this line here...

"Typically, you must have at least a Bachelor's degree."

...has me concerned that I'm pretty much screwed (one of those self taught programmers, no college....silly me). I'll see with the consulate this week if computer based positions fall into that requirement this week.

The only technology related profession recognized under NAFTA for TN status is Computer Systems Analyst. That category requires either a Bachelor's degree, or some other post-secondary diploma/certificate + 3 years experience [1]. Also, the NAFTA definition of a Computer Systems Analyst specifically excludes computer programmers, so your job duties can't consist of primarily programming.

I am Canadian and recently tried to enter the US under TN status as a Librarian (for fellowship as a librarian at a university library). As soon as the CBP officer saw that I had a CS Bachelor's degree, and that I would be working with technology, he began to intensely question what my job duties would be. I was there for about 4 hours, questioned by several officers, and ultimately ended up getting denied entry because my job was going to involve too much programming in their opinion & my TN letter outlining my duties didn't convince them otherwise.

I think that my situation was partly bad luck/partly a bad TN letter, but the thing to keep in mind is that they do closely follow the NAFTA handbook [2] for job descriptions/duties, and anyone working primarily with technology is much more likely to get scrutinized. So make sure if you end up getting a job offer and decide to go the TN route, that the sponsorship letter from the employer follows the guidebook description of the profession you are applying under.

I'm not sure what visa types other computer programmers are usually admitted under, probably H1-B generally, but I'd be interested in finding out.

[1] http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/doing-business-in-america/... [2] http://www.tnvisabulletin.com/us-immigration-manuals-governi...

This is silly. Why would you go ask a consulate when this info has been on the web for ages. When I got a TN visa in 1997, all the info needed was on the US embassy's website including detailed lists of requirements for the different classes of jobs covered under NAFTA. Many countries including Canada, discourage people from going to the consulate or embassy just to ask questions. The guards won't let you in, and they refer you to a 900 number where you pay a few dollars per minute to talk. Do your research online. In general, the embassy will publish an application form (PDF), a guide to filling it out, a FAQ and often a tool for determining eligibility.

"Why would you go ask a consulate when this info has been on the web for ages."

Well my thinking at the time was because I found their website (at the time) to be a maze of legaleze and the consulate was two blocks away from my current workplace, while the closest embassy is a five hour drive away.

If you have a bachelors degree, TN for Canadians is easy. If not, I don't have any good suggestions. If you are rolling in money, you can get an investor visa. I'm not sure but the requirements for that are steep - million bucks invested, perhaps. There is also the H1B visa but the lack of a degree will hurt. Finally, there is this thing called the green card lottery. I've met two people who actually won that thing - while the odds aren't something to bank on, they are definitely far better than winning the lotto. It does matter where you are born for the purposes of the lottery so do your research.

One final note: if you have significant family/friends in Canada and are close to them, think very hard about moving south. I put career first when I was younger ... wish someone had told me that nearness to the people you love should be a critical factor in the place where you live.

Ya the H1B has pretty much been crossed off my list for those reasons. I think I looked into the Green card lotto, and if I recall right being from Canada, I'm at the back of the bus on that, but I'll have to look into it again.

As for family/friends, I get where your'e coming from on that. I learned it quickly when I lived out in Charlottetown, PEI for a few years. That being said, I have a decent base of friends in the US, mainly in the Philadelphia area which is where I've been mostly looking for work (most PA companies usually find my resume in their inbox soon after posting if I have the qualifications).

What's your passion? - south-ness of the border? - great job? - nice pay?

Pick ONE (not two or three)

If I had to pick just one, this posting wouldn't have been made, because I can already get that here.

Why not work remotely?

Tried that for the last few years. Most remote places are A) Based in the US and b) have the cavaet of "Remote....if you're in the US" as part of their job ad. There are exceptions (deviantart instantly comes to mind), but they are uncommon, and remote positions from Canadian based companies are as rare as hen's teeth.

Flat out ridiculous for an industry dealing in 1's and 0's isn't it?

Your'e preaching to the choir on that one. The amount of companies I've seen posting the same job over and over again up here because they aren't in a major market and won't accept remote developers makes you wonder about their business processes....or if they're still thinking business computing is stuck in the 1980's.

I have actually managed to find some remote contracts - it's hard and I have not got a pipeline yet. But it is possible - don't think that jobs that are advertised on jobsites are the only thing. Try this: set up canadiancreed.com, put that you make Canadian xxx software for Canadian businesses.

Attack chambers of commerce, other digital agencies. The work is out there.

(In not sure what xxx is for your line of work or experience - pick something you like:-)

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