Brokentoy

Earlier I posted about the pros and cons of expanding your career options and working abroad - specifically about Canadians working in the US. The first step into making the move to work in the US is obtaining a work visa. If you have a decent education and a bit of work experience then you probably want a TN-1 temporary worker visa. Here’s a quick run down of the process.

What does the TN-1 do?

This visa gives you Uncle Sam�s thumbs up to work for your employer as a temporary worker for one year from its issue. You can leave and return to the country as many times as you please. Unlike other temporary visas that have a maximum number of renewals this one is unlimited. While I doubt somebody would renew you for 30 years it will no doubt cover you as long as you can justify it to the customs official.

What doesn�t it do?

Temporary means temporary. If you have any hopes of becoming a permanent resident or citizen of the United States then this isn�t for you. It also doesn�t give you benefits associated with permanent residency like 401(k) or a social security number.

It also isn�t transferable if you switch job titles or employers. If you need to do so you�ll have to leave the country and reapply for a new TN-1 and qualify under the new circumstances.

Who is eligible?

The TN-1 is granted under NAFTA so you need to be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or Mexico. You also need a valid passport.

To qualify you need to apply as one of the following professions:

• Accountant
• Architect
• Computer
• Disaster relief insurance claims adjuster
• Economist
• Engineer
• Forester
• Graphic designer
• Hotel manager
• Industrial designer
• Interior designer
• Land surveyor
• Landscape architect
• Lawyer
• Librarian
• Management consultant
• Mathematician
• Range manager/range conservationist
• Research assistant
• Scientific technician/technologist
• Social worker
• Sylviculturist
• Technical publications writer
• Urban planner
• Vocational counsellor
• Medical/allied professional (dentist, dietician, medical laboratory technologist, nutritionist, occupational therapist, pharmacist, physician, physical therapist, psychologist, recreational therapist, registered nurse and veterinarian)
• Scientist (agriculturist, animal breeder, animal scientist, apiculturist, astronomer, biochemist, biologist, chemist, dairy scientist, entomologist, epidemiologist, geneticist, geo-chemist, geologist, geophysicist, geologist, geophysicist, horticulturist, meteorologist, pharmacologist, physicist, plant breeder, poultry scientist, soil scientist and zoologist)
• Teacher (college, seminary, university)

The ideal candidate has a related bachelor�s degree for his profession but if you preferred to avoid the student loans it�s generally accepted that you also qualify if you have three years related work experience for every year�s education your missing. Somebody could qualify with a 3-year advanced college diploma and 3 years work experience, or no education and 12 years work experience.

What do I need to bring to the border?

Remember your passport. Bring other photo ID if possible.

You need an original letter from your employer that includes:

• the registered business name and where it was registered in
• what they do e.g. graphic design house, advertising agency, non-profit, etc.
• the job title they want to hire you under
• your starting salary or wage
• a brief list of your responsibilities
• contact information

You also need a full job description provided by your employer. The customs official must agree that it satisfies the minimum reasonable requirements for your profession, and that you�re qualified to do the job.

If your college or university isn�t in the US they also need you to prove that your education is on the same level of quality as an American institution. The easiest way to do this is to pay for a skills evaluation where you send records of your education and course outlines to a professional who provides you with the necessary letter to include with your application.

If you use work experience you must get a signed letter (preferably on their letterhead) from your previous employers that includes your name, job title, the dates of your employment and their contact information. It would be a good idea to make sure your old boss or the HR dept will be around in case customs wants to confirm.

Finally, you need your actual school diploma � not a copy. Now congratulate yourself, the hard part is over!

How do I get it?

You need to apply in person with all your documents at any US point of entry � drive to the border or go to the airport. I spoke to a customs official at the airport and he said most people drive through so they don�t have to waste the cost of a plane ticket if they get denied for some reason.

Unlike other visas there�s no wait time � you get approved or denied in about 20 minutes. If you had all these items with you right now you could drive down to the border and get one right now.

What�s the interview like?

I can only speak from my own experience but my interview went great. I drove down to Niagara Falls and waited in customs. After a few minutes a man called me over to his counter and he flipped through my documents. He asked me a few simple questions about my education, the company, and then he stamped my passport and sent me on my way. Painless!

Do I need an immigration lawyer?

I hired a lawyer and after going through the process I�ve been regretting it. She basically answered all the questions in this post, gave me a cover letter I didn�t require and arranged my education evaluation � all things I could have done on my own. This visa is designed to make it easy for people to just show up at the border, flash some papers, and continue on their way to work. With such a simple process I don�t think it�s necessary.

Anything else?

If you have any other questions just ask and I�ll do my best to answer them. In the mean time you might want to check out the USCIS site. It�s a lot of information to go though but all the fine print is there. Good luck!

Technorati Tags: careers, visa, canada

Over the last few months I�ve been making the gradual transition from a relatively safe studio job in Toronto to an exciting new opportunity in the southern US. To help any Canadian designers feeling brave enough to take the plunge I�m beginning a series of entries addressing some common questions and problem areas you might run in to. Let�s take a look at some pros and cons about the taking a trip south of the border.

Salary

On average, American designers and developers are paid more for the same job than their Canadian counterparts. If your local prospects aren�t offering what you want then maybe it�s time to take a look at relocating.

Banking

With so many banks competing for American business your money can do more for you. If you can jump through a few hoops you can find a bank that offers a no-fee chequing account (some banks will even eat up other banks� ATM charges) and high interest savings accounts well over 5%.

Taxes

On average income tax rates are significantly lower. If you own a car or property or want to maintain all ties to Canada you may have to pay taxes in both countries. Canada has treaties with most countries to give you a tax credit of equal value to any foreign income tax you pay. That means even if you have to file two returns you won�t be taxed more overall.

Health insurance

If your employer doesn�t offer a benefits package you need some kind of health insurance. For healthy young adults the cost for decent coverage definitely outweighs an unscheduled trip to the emergency room.

Exchange rate

Getting paid in US dollars also means you hope that the value of the Canadian dollar will plummet. Unfortunately the difference isn�t what we remember from five years ago. While the high dollar is great for vacations and online shopping back home it cuts into the profits of those working abroad.

Credit and debit cards

Most US banks offer prepaid Visa cards that link to a chequing account. If you can keep a decent balance then this should fit most people�s needs for quick purchases or emergencies.

Though Canadian debit cards work in most ATMs the Interac standard isn�t supported for most retail point of sale purchases. Make sure that you set up you Canadian accounts with online banking so you can easily move your money around.

Is it for me?

If you feel comfortable packing up and moving to a new place then I wish you the best of luck. I�ll be sharing some of my own experiences as the months go by. If you have any thoughts about working abroad or want to share your own experiences I�d love to hear them.

Technorati Tags: working abroad, careers, Canada