TN visa

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I have a friend (USC) who is in a long distance relationship with a Canadian lady - he wants to move there and seems to think he can get the TN Visa but can't find any info on it. I don't know anything about this visa but I thought it was for Canadians coming to the US not the other way around? Will they have to get married for him to move there? Does anyone know good sites for someone wanting to move the other way?

I'm sure I could google this and research but I reckoned someone here would know right off the bat.

[Krikit 1,165]

Here's a couple of links to get him started:

Citizenship & Immigration Canada

Road to Canada

I know there have been a few threads on here about it recently. Just check back a few pages. I'm sure others will be along to add more info.

[k34 0]

I would only recommend going with a NAFTA work visa (not sure what the Canadian TN equivalent is called) if he doesn't plan on crossing back and forth regularly, since re-admission will always be somewhat up to the discretion of the officer at the border, as far as I know.

This is why I decided against the TN route -- I couldn't deal with the uncertainty of knowing that there was always a chance I would not be allowed to go home after a trip to Canada.

[k34 0]

I would only recommend going with a NAFTA work visa (not sure what the Canadian TN equivalent is called) if he doesn't plan on crossing back and forth regularly, since re-admission will always be somewhat up to the discretion of the officer at the border, as far as I know.

This is why I decided against the TN route -- I couldn't deal with the uncertainty of knowing that there was always a chance I would not be allowed to go home after a trip to Canada.

How t.f. do I edit on here?

I wanted to elaborate -- if he travels to the US then returns there is the potential to be denied admission if they think he is trying to use a temporary visa as a permanent solution or if they decide that his job doesn't fit into one of the NAFTA categories.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Thank you for your responses!

I have done some checking of the links/googling and it appears that he might not qualify - he is an IT consultant, though I wonder if that could be considered a "management consultant"

This guy lives in California so would be going back and forth all the time, though I imagine at least once or twice a year. I think he is interested in "testing out the relationship" so would not consider the move a permanent one right now. I told him "just get married" and the eyes literally bulged out of his head.

I wonder can you parlay the Nafta visa into a common-law partner visa? I need to research this further (maybe I should charge a fee for my investigative services)

[thetreble 19]

It sounds like he's just going to have to do what the rest of us pretty much did....go back and forth as a visitor.

If he's not even sure of the seriousness of the relationship, why doesn't he just visit until he is ready to decide what he wants to do?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Thank you for your responses!

I have done some checking of the links/googling and it appears that he might not qualify - he is an IT consultant, though I wonder if that could be considered a "management consultant"

This guy lives in California so would be going back and forth all the time, though I imagine at least once or twice a year. I think he is interested in "testing out the relationship" so would not consider the move a permanent one right now. I told him "just get married" and the eyes literally bulged out of his head.

I wonder can you parlay the Nafta visa into a common-law partner visa? I need to research this further (maybe I should charge a fee for my investigative services)

Common-law - AFTER one year of cohabitation she can petition for him for Canadian permanent residence.

Like thetreble said, either get NAFTA visa (which is a witch to get, BTW) or come back'n'forth like a visitor.

[zyggy 9]

Thank you for your responses!

I have done some checking of the links/googling and it appears that he might not qualify - he is an IT consultant, though I wonder if that could be considered a "management consultant"

This guy lives in California so would be going back and forth all the time, though I imagine at least once or twice a year. I think he is interested in "testing out the relationship" so would not consider the move a permanent one right now. I told him "just get married" and the eyes literally bulged out of his head.

I wonder can you parlay the Nafta visa into a common-law partner visa? I need to research this further (maybe I should charge a fee for my investigative services)

Common-law - AFTER one year of cohabitation she can petition for him for Canadian permanent residence.

Like thetreble said, either get NAFTA visa (which is a witch to get, BTW) or come back'n'forth like a visitor.

Actually the NAFTA work permit is very easy to get.. it literally took me an hour when I had to do a job in Canada. I had a HRSDC clearance and a letter from the client. A hunderd bucks and I was out really quick. and there's just as much risk in a Canada NAFTA Work Permit in terms of entry as there is in a TN. (not that much). The key is you have to have a job on the list and the individual has to have the right credentials to have that job. HRSDC will make the determination if the job is eligible for the list or not. The CBSA officer will evaluate the credentials.

Edited July 10, 2008 by zyggy

[rae_and_scott 1]

Actually the NAFTA work permit is very easy to get.. it literally took me an hour when I had to do a job in Canada. I had a HRSDC clearance and a letter from the client. A hunderd bucks and I was out really quick. and there's just as much risk in a Canada NAFTA Work Permit in terms of entry as there is in a TN. (not that much). The key is you have to have a job on the list and the individual has to have the right credentials to have that job. HRSDC will make the determination if the job is eligible for the list or not. The CBSA officer will evaluate the credentials.

I agree. I had a TN visa and it was very easy to get. And I suppose there might technically be some chance of denial at the border, but I have never heard of that actually happening to anyone I know. I mean, they must understand that when you have a TN visa you LIVE in the other country.

I would say if this person's job fits on the TN list, then this is a great way to go. It's exactly what I did with my SO a few years ago and it was great to be able to have a "normal" relationship in the same city for awhile.