The most unconventional yet reliable way to immigrate to the USA

If you're in Canada, it will be easier to find work in the US than in other countries like Kazakhstan or Russia. You can come to the States visa-free as a tourist and attend interviews. You can't start working without permission, but nothing stops you from job hunting to get an employer invitation.

The main drawback of the TN visa is that while spouses and children under 21 can move with you, they're not allowed to work in the US, only study. A spouse can come as a tourist or also look for an employer and apply for a TN visa separately.

The next step after getting a TN visa is the possibility for your American employer to sponsor you for a green card.

L-1 Visa

The L-1 visa is suitable for those working for an American company in Canada. Many US companies are represented in Canada, and if you work for one of them, you have the opportunity to transfer to a company branch or subsidiary in the US.

This visa is mainly obtained by executives or managers who have worked in the Canadian branch for at least one year in the last 3 years. Transferred employees must manage the organization or its department, division, or other significant area without direct supervision.

The L-1 visa can be requested when crossing the border and is issued for up to 3 years, after which it can be extended. The maximum stay in the US on an L-1 visa is 7 years. L-1 visa holders can apply for a green card using the EB-1C immigrant visa designed for foreign executives and managers.

Spouses and children under 21 can also move with you. However, unlike the TN visa, family members receive an L-2 visa, which allows them to apply for a work permit in the US.

E-2 Visa

The E-2 visa is for candidates ready to invest in and manage a business in the US. This visa is suitable for those planning to buy an existing business in the US or create a new one, provided you own at least 50% of the company. Canadian citizens have access to relatively inexpensive businesses for purchase.

Unlike TN and L-1 visas, to obtain an E-2 visa, you need to submit documents to the US consulate in Canada, not at the border. The main applicant can only submit documents to the US consulate in Toronto. Spouses and children under 21 can also get visas and work rights, but they have access to more consulates for document submission: in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.