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Moving from Canada to the US!

L

Looney

Lifer
I'll be moving to Florida (Boca Raton) in a couple of months for a new job (it's already confirmed), and there are a few things i'm a little unsure about.

First is the visa. I'm thinking on moving down there first and get started working away immediately, then applying for a TN visa (it's a professional position... clinical research coordinator for psychopharmacological studies). Would this be best? And can i get a SSN on a vacation visa?

Second, will my credit rating be at 0 or will my current credit rating follow me? I ask this because 1) finding a condo/apartment, and 2) i don't know if i should buy a car here and drive up to Boca, or just go down to Boca and buy/lease a car there.

I would like to drive down there, because then i can bring my TV and all my toys with me. But then will i get hassle at the border because i'll be going there on a vacation visa carrying all this stuff (42" LCD TV, computers, etc)? And what about getting insured, FL licensed plates, etc... i'm thinking it may just be easier to just buy/lease a car when i'm down there.

Any advice from those with experience?
 
well, I am certainly no expert on these kinds of things. However, immigration is a really hot topic in the US right now, and we are quickly approaching immigration reform. I woudl highly recommend you get the visa before you set foot on US soil.

As for the SSN, I don' t think you can get that unless you're a citizen, but i'm not positive. You could get a taxpayer ID # though.

No idea about the car situation, but are emissions standards the same in US & Canada? Or would you have to go through the hassle of getting the emissions tested coming to the states?

Good luck to you!
 
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1274.html#3

Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa as a NAFTA Professional, although a visa can be issued to qualified TN visa applicants upon request. However, a Canadian residing in another country with a non-Canadian spouse and children would need a visa to enable the spouse and children to be able to apply for a visa to accompany or join the NAFTA Professional, as a TD visa holder. To apply for visa, please see the requirements under the section Mexican Citizens - Applying for a TN Visa - Required Documentation.

A Canadian citizen without a TN visa can apply at a U.S. port of entry with all of the following:

* Request for admission under TN status to Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. immigration officer;
* Employment Letter - Evidence of professional employment. See Employment Letter below;
* Proof of professional qualifications, such as transcripts of grades, licenses, certificates, degrees, and/or records of previous employment;
* Proof of ability to meet applicable license requirements;
* Proof of Canadian citizenship- Canadian citizens may present a passport, as visas are not required, or they may provide secondary evidence, such as a birth certificate. However, Canadian citizens traveling to the United States from outside the Western Hemisphere are required to present a valid passport at the port-of-entry;
* Fee of U.S. $50
Click to expand...

follow the law , we have enough illegals from the southern border, you CA types don't need to start that crap
 
From what I hear, it's a hell of alot hard going the other way(US to Canada). Is that true?
 
Originally posted by: eakers
I think the company you're going to work for will help you with the visa stuff.
Click to expand...

Yes, they'll help with whatever i need. I'm told there's 2 ways i can do this, either H1B, which is a lot of work on the employer end and can take up to 6 months. So TN1 is the way to go. I may even get them to just mail me the contract, and i'll take it to a border crossing and get the TN1 taken care of before even stepping into the US.

As for working on a vacation visa. I'm told that's quite common. A lot of people go to the US looking for work, then once they've landed something that looks permanent, then get the wheels in motion for a work visa.

Car emissions standards is another issue. And i WILL be getting a new vehicle. I'm currently driving a beat up 98 Mustang, and been meaning to get a new vehicle (maybe not new new, but another vehicle) for the longest time. But i just kept putting it off because it's still 'functional' (although i hate it). But again, the question is whether to get it up here, and drive down there with my stuff, or fly down there and then buy/lease a car while i'm down there.
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT

follow the law , we have enough illegals from the southern border, you CA types don't need to start that crap
Click to expand...

What is illegal about what i'm doing? As a Canadian and part of NAFTA, i can freely travel to the US for 3 months without a visa. We have what's called 'snow birds' that fly to the southern US every year for the winter. As long as i'm filing all my income and taxes, there's nothing illegal at all about working in the US while on a vacation visa.
 
:thumbsup:

you know more about it than me, i read the link i posted, i am just overly sensitive due to the 11 million illegal mexicans running around here


:sun: have a good time in the sun
 
Originally posted by: K1052
Canada to Florida?

You're never going to want to go back. 😀
Click to expand...

Yeah, i even looked up the building on Google map, and it's literally just blocks away from the beach. Even through the satellite maps, you can see how blue and sandy the beach is.
 
Ok, i think getting the TN1 first is the thing to do... there's no reason not to, since i still have plenty of time before i move. I guess i just needed to 'think out loud' to see it.

But i still need to know about the credit rating if anybody knows the answer to that.
 
TN visa's are simple for Canadians to get. You can have a lawyer prepare the package and you can get the visa right at the boarder. You have to renew by mail or by going out of the country and coming back in every year. I don't believe your credit rating will follow you, but I could be wrong. Also depending on the visa, you can only renew a certain amount of times, some are renewable forever.

It can still be a pita to get everything setup once you get down there. A lot of places don't recognize the TN status as well as they should. A buddy of mine went down to Austin on a TN and he had some troubles getting electric/phone hooked up, but it didn't take long to get it worked out.

You can get a drivers license fairly easily, when I lived in Texas I simply had to exchange my Canadian drivers license for a Texas drivers license, no testing or anything was required.

As long as you have at least a 2 year degree/diploma in the field you are going to be working in, getting the TN visa should be a breeze.
 
Good idea on getting a lawyer to prepare the package. That'll save a lot of time and trouble for me. Also, starting this week Canadians require a passport to fly into the US (still don't need one with border crossing though).
 
To answer the credit rating question (from a Canadian who moved to the US for 5 years, and now moved back to Canada).

You'll have zero credit down there. That's how I started out. I would suggest opening a bank account (which you'll need a SSN for), and start by trying to apply for credit through your bank first. You'll probably have better luck getting a credit card that way. Use it for at least 6 months. That's how long it too me before they started issuing credit cards to me. (I tried applying about a month or two after I got there and I got declined). I don't think you'll have a problem getting a place to live. Zero credit = bad credit only usually applies to credit cards, loans, etc. I don't think they can deny you a place to live. If you have an Amex, they have some kind of global transfer program where you can get an Amex card in your new country without too much hassle.

I'm not sure if you can get a SSN without some kind of status in the country. I was there on a L1B work visa, although I "moved" down 2 weeks before I got my visa. They wouldn't even let me submit my SSN paperwork until I had my visa. As for a TN, as long as you've got employment from a sponsoring company in the US, they should issue you a TN at ther border. (i.e. when you drive down to the US). I'm sure you can get an SSN with that. I'm not sure what's needed for a TN other than perhaps a letter offering you the job? You might want to check this with your new company's immigration folks.

As for cars, they're much cheaper down in the US. I'd ditch your car in Canada, especially if it's an older model and doesn't have MPH markings. If it doesn't have it, you'll have to get new gauges for your car. Heck, if you get a nice car down in the US, and you decide to come back, bring it back. 🙂

PM me if you got any specific questions and I'll see if I can answer them for you.
 
When I worked in Texas the company I had the job with had my TN prepared prior to me entering the US for work. That was great and no issues were there and I drove down in a Uhaul and my car on a trailer in tow. If you go down on a vacation visa be prepared to be hauled into immigration and questioned for a while especially when you are bringing your stuff down. You may even be denied entry.
 
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