Beginner Questions

[mrsfreezin 0]

Hi everyone, my husband and I have been sitting on the idea of moving our family from Canada since my sister married an American a few years ago and went thru the process herself. Recently we've really been wanting to - but I don't know if we even could. We don't seem to fit any of the visa types. We're not even eligible for the lottery because we're Canadian. Wondering if I give some detail if anyone could point me in the right direction:

 

-Husband: self-employed small contractor business

-Wife: homemaker with 2 year diploma

-2 children aged 2 and 3 months

-My sister is a permanent resident

 

Are we just outta luck? Are there just some scenarios that won't work? 

 

Thanks in advance for any help (and grace - I have no idea what I'm doing if it isn't obvious!)

[Boiler 45,486]

Unless you have a significant amount of money to invest in a business you would be looking at your sister sponsoring you when she becomes a citizen but that would be 20 years away.

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

2 hours ago, mrsfreezin said:

Hi everyone, my husband and I have been sitting on the idea of moving our family from Canada since my sister married an American a few years ago and went thru the process herself. Recently we've really been wanting to - but I don't know if we even could. We don't seem to fit any of the visa types. We're not even eligible for the lottery because we're Canadian. Wondering if I give some detail if anyone could point me in the right direction:

 

-Husband: self-employed small contractor business

-Wife: homemaker with 2 year diploma

-2 children aged 2 and 3 months

-My sister is a permanent resident

 

Are we just outta luck? Are there just some scenarios that won't work? 

 

Thanks in advance for any help (and grace - I have no idea what I'm doing if it isn't obvious!)

 do either of you have a professional degree ? you might qualify under TN  if you find a job in the US that qualifies under NAFTA and an employer is willing to hire you. If not  you need a lot of money that you can invest or run a business in US 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals

 

 

[aaron2020 11,651]

Unfortunately, you do not have an immediate path to immigrate to the US.  If your sister becomes a US citizen, she could petition you and it would take about 15 years to get immigrant visas.

 

A contractor will not qualify for a work visa.  Work visa are for temporary stays in the US for a few years and not permanent stays in the US.  

 

Sorry.