Hi! Canada wanting to move to US :)

[Gillian+Mike 6]

Hi! I am a dental hygienist living in Canada and I want to move to America. My boyfriend lives in California and we have not started the process yet for me to live there. I am currently licensed and working in Canada, saving money, and I want to get a work Visa so that I am able to work down there. Within California, I need to take a few courses and write tests in order to become a registered Dental Hygienist. After all that I need to find myself a job and an employer to help me through the process of getting a work Visa. As far as I know I need to file form I-140 with USCIS once I have all the qualifications to be licensed to work in California. I am finding it hard to understand all of these things! It is a lot of work but it will be worth it. As far as I understand I will get a work Visa, and then go about getting a Green Card? Anyway, I am wanting to go the employment route so that my boyfriend and I can try to have a more "traditional" life-we can live together, and get engaged/married on our own terms. That's just what I think will work for us and what I am leaning towards! We are both 24. I met my boyfriend Mike last year, September 2013 and we started dating "officially" in November 2013 he's the one! Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated, especially because I haven't started this whole process yet. I'm new to all of this so any knowledge you want to share would be great. I'm just currently planning my timeline. I am leaning towards going to California at the end of the year as a "visitor" for a few months so that I can do my courses and tests to be a dental hygienist. I think it will be easier than going back and forth between Canada and US and will save money on travel as well. Thanks for reading my story!!

[Warri_Gurl 2]

Welcome to VJ. If you are planning to come on the tourist visitor visa to to complete school you will be questioned about your intent to immigrate to the U.S. If you really believe this guy is the one the K-1 process may be the best for you. If not you may want to try to obtain a student visa, however in the case of the student visa you have to show you have applied and been accepted into a program as well as how you intend to pay for school. Here is some information that may help.

Visitor/ Tourist Visa Info:

This law applies only to nonimmigrant visa categories. If you are refused a visa under section 214(b), it means that you:

• Did not sufficiently demonstrate to the consular officer that you qualify for the nonimmigrant visa category you applied for; and/or
• Did not overcome the presumption of immigrant intent, required by law, by sufficiently demonstrating that you have strong ties to your home country that will compel you to leave the United States at the end of your temporary stay. (H-1B and L visa applicants, along with their spouse and any minor children, are excluded from this requirement.)
• ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• Student Visa Information:
• Your academic preparation, such as:
• Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended; and
• Scores from tests that your U.S. school required, such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT;
• Your intent to depart the United States upon completion of the course of study; and
• How you will pay all educational, living and travel costs.

[NikLR 13,227]

I don't think Dental Hygienist falls under the TN visa professions. http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/doing-business-in-america/professions-covered-by-nafta.html

I also don't think it qualifies as an H1B http://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/h-1b-specialty-occupations-dod-cooperative-research-and-development-project-workers-and-fashion-models

I'm not sure you can do your plan. To do so in the manner which you speak means that the US employer must prove that there are no possible dental hygienists for them to hire in the US workforce.

You also cannot do any courses without a proper schooling visa. You cannot "visit" and take courses.

The immigration process to the USA does not allow for living together and getting engaged with time like it would if you were both in the same country. The most you can do is a K1 visa where you have 90 days to live with each other before marriage. Or you can visit. Even Canadian immigration doesn't work that way (you have to be common-law or married - conjugal relationships count but they're extremely difficult to prove.)

[Gillian+Mike 6]

Thanks all. I am confused about the process now! The course I need to take in California is only a 2 week course, as I am already a registered hygienist and I don't need to take school over again. California just has a separate course I need to take. Would I still need a student Visa then? I guess I don't understand. I will need to contact someone I suppose. Was under the impression I could go down and do the course/tests as a "visitor"/still a Canadian citizen

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Introducing Our Members forum to What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration forum.

[Warri_Gurl 2]

Thanks all. I am confused about the process now! The course I need to take in California is only a 2 week course, as I am already a registered hygienist and I don't need to take school over again. California just has a separate course I need to take. Would I still need a student Visa then? I guess I don't understand. I will need to contact someone I suppose. Was under the impression I could go down and do the course/tests as a "visitor"/still a Canadian citizen

You can go as a visitor to complete the course being that the course is less than 6 weeks long. You are correct sorry if you were confused please review the links for reassurance. No worries we all were confused once upon a time that's why we all are here!

[NikLR 13,227]

STOP

read please.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html#overview

[Gillian+Mike 6]

Thank you

STOP

read please.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html#overview

[Krikit 1,164]

Canada is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. Canadians, under normal circumstances, do not need visas to enter the US.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kathryn41
to remove quoted post requested removed by theOP

[Ryan H 3,812]

Krikit's information is 100% correct.

These are the VWP participant countries: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Note that Canada is not listed.

Travel by Canadian citizens is covered here: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/canada-bermuda.html

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kathryn41
to remove quoted post requested removed by OP

[Krikit 1,164]

(quote removed as original post requested removed by the OP. Content edited to remove reference to removed quote. - VJ Moderation)

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Click on your link and enter Canada. Look what comes out:

Visa Wizard

Your Selections

I am a citizen of

Canada

EDIT

My purpose of travel is

Tourism or Visit

EDIT

Citizens of Canada do not require visas for travel to the United States, except for certain limited purposes. Citizens of Canada will need to meet other entry requirements, based on their purpose of travel.

Please don't post erroneous information. It derails topics and confuses people. Thank you.

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kathryn41
to remove quoted post requested removed by OP

[Warri_Gurl 2]

Do you see Canada in this list?

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Click on your link and enter Canada. Look what comes out:

Visa Wizard

Your Selections

I am a citizen of

Canada

EDIT

My purpose of travel is

Tourism or Visit

EDIT

Citizens of Canada do not require visas for travel to the United States, except for certain limited purposes. Citizens of Canada will need to meet other entry requirements, based on their purpose of travel.

Please don't post erroneous information. It derails topics and confuses people. Thank you.

You are absolutely correct Canada is not in the Visa Waiver Program. However, Canadians do not need a visa to tour/visit/ or to take short vocational classes.

Citizens of Canada traveling to the United States do not require a nonimmigrant visa, except for the travel purposes described below.

Canadians require nonimmigrant visas for temporary travel to the United States for these purposes:

• Foreign government officials (A); officials and employees of international organizations (G); and NATO officials, representatives, and employees assigned to the United States (NATO)
• Treaty traders (E-1)
• Treaty investors (E-2)
• Fiancé(e)s (K-1)
• Children of fiancé(e)s (K-2)
• Spouse of a U.S. citizen traveling to the United States to complete the immigration process (K-3)
• Children of a foreign citizen spouse (K-4) described above
• Informant supplying critical information relating to a criminal organization (S-5)
• Informant supplying critical information relating to terrorism (S-6)
• Qualified family member (S-7) of an S-5 or S-6 visa holder described above

Please review the link carefully. She is not trying to pursue K-1 or K-3 yet so she is okay to go without a visa. None If none of these apply (which they do not) you will not need a visa to visit U.S. No need for B1-B2 visa to USA. I apologize if I confused anyone.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/canada-bermuda.html

[Warri_Gurl 2]

STOP

read please.

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visitor.html#overview

Check the upper right corner of your link please it says this:

Visa Waiver Program

Tourist or business travelers who are citizens of participating countries may be eligible to visit the United States without a visa. Visits must be 90 days or less, and travelers must meet all requirements.

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not need visas for tourism and visits.

[Warri_Gurl 2]

Do you see Canada in this list?

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/visit/visa-waiver-program.html

Click on your link and enter Canada. Look what comes out:

Visa Wizard

Your Selections

I am a citizen of

Canada

EDIT

My purpose of travel is

Tourism or Visit

EDIT

Citizens of Canada do not require visas for travel to the United States, except for certain limited purposes. Citizens of Canada will need to meet other entry requirements, based on their purpose of travel.

Please don't post erroneous information. It derails topics and confuses people. Thank you.

Visa Waiver Program

Tourist or business travelers who are citizens of participating countries may be eligible to visit the United States without a visa. Visits must be 90 days or less, and travelers must meet all requirements.

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda generally do not need visas for tourism and visits.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canada is not included on the list of countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program; however, Canadians are admitted under North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Canadian citizens do not need a visa (except those who fall under E, K, S, or V non-immigrant visas), but do need a passport to enter the U.S. Also, under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) program, Canadian citizens must have a valid passport to enter the U.S. and must provide documentary evidence of citizenship (exceptions can be found at.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) also allows Canadian citizens to enter the United States to engage in certain professional activities. The agreement allows Canadian citizens to enter as business visitors so long as they receive no salary or other compensation from a U.S. source, other than expense allowances. Also, for Canadian professionals, there are TN visas that allow Canadian citizens to engage in professional activities. - See more at: http://www.hooyou.com/i-485/vwp-filing-memo.html#sthash.n8xdaxuf.dpuf

Edited June 2, 2014 by seun&nicole

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Two posts have been removed by the OP's request, plus two other posts quoting same edited to remove the quoted post. -VJ Moderation

Edited June 2, 2014 by Kathryn41