Getting US visa?

[jaycali 415]

I would like to add a point about student visas, and work visas here.

First, there is one fairly common work based category that does not require you to be a rocket scientist. Nursing. Nurses are in very short supply and a registered nurse has a very good chance of getting a work based green card compared to many other professions. I have to admit I don't know the process very well, but I know that nurses are in short supply, and that in the city in California I lived in when I was on J-1, the vast majority of nurses were registered nurses from the Philippines. Just a suggestion if she's willing to get a nursing degree.

If she wants to be a teacher, the only way she'll get a work based green card is if she's a professor with a phd.

A student visa may not be so far fetched. You don't need to prove it's an education you can't get in Canada. All you need is an acceptance letter from a legitimate US educational institution. Education is expensive, sure, but if she stats a bachelors program you'll have 4 - 5 (expensive) years of being together. She's allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week if the job is on campus. She may not work of campus.

After her graduation she'll be eligible for OPT, a one year work permit allowing her to work in a job related to her major.

OPT is an excellent opportunity to investigate possibilities for an H-1b work visa, as many employers may be willing to sponsor OPT employees for an H-1b.

By that time, DOMA may be gone.

Edited February 27, 2012 by jhsm85

[Boiler 44,955]

First, there is one fairly common work based visa that does not require you to be a rocket scientist. Nursing. Nurses are in very short supply and a registered nurse has a very good chance of getting a work based green card compared to many other professions. I have to admit I don't know the process very well, but I know that nurses are in short supply, and that in the city in California I lived in when I was on J-1, the vast majority of nurses were registered nurses from the Philippines. Just a suggestion if she's willing to get a nursing degree.

Nursing is NOT a good route.

If she wants to be a teacher, the only way she'll get a work based green card is if she's a professor with a phd.

A bit of an exaggeration but I see where you are coming from.

A student visa may not be so far fetched. You don't need to prove it's an education you can't get in Canada. All you need is an acceptance letter from a legitimate US educational institution. Education is expensive, sure, but if she stats a bachelors program you'll have 4 - 5 (expensive) years of being together. She's allowed to work for up to 20 hours a week if the job is on campus. She may not work of campus.

After her graduation she'll be eligible for OPT, a one year work permit allowing her to work in a job related to her major.

OPT is an excellent opportunity to investigate possibilities for an H-1b work visa, as many employers may be willing to sponsor OPT employees for an H-1b.

I think the expensive bit may be the issue.

By that time, DOMA may be gone.

Probably not, but that is always debatable.