Working in the US

[HelloHockeyFans]

I'll be graduating with my Electrical Engineering degree (Microwaves and Photonics) in December, and I'm trying to open up as many opportunities as I can.

I was wondering if there were any members here who have recently moved over to the US for work? I've heard about Canadians getting paid in Canadian dollars as opposed to US dollars... but why would they do this?

I've also heard that if you have a relative who is an American citizen, that you are guaranteed a working visa? However, if I go as a 'relative', that relative has to guarantee my support for a number of years...?

I guess I'm just hoping I can get some useful information in this thread and hear some personal experiences from folks who have made the move for work.

[toonmaster]

you cannot practice as an engineer in the US of A as a Canadian graduated engineer unless you take their test (I cannot remember what it is called)

but for what it's worth, I have heard that Canadians who do take this test are among the top 2%

edit: and I do not know if working within the US as a E.i.T (engineer in training) will get you credit here in Canada towards your PEng title

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by toonmaster

you cannot practice as an engineer in the US of A as a Canadian graduated engineer unless you take their test (I cannot remember what it is called)

but for what it's worth, I have heard that Canadians who do take this test are among the top 2%

edit: and I do not know if working within the US as a E.i.T (engineer in training) will get you credit here in Canada towards your PEng title

Wow. Thanks a LOT for that information! I'll definitely have to take a look into this.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

In a lot of cases, trained professionals can work in the U.S, on a "Trade-NAFTA" or TN visa. If you can't, (if your profession isn't listed--and I'm 90% sure it is) you'll need an H-1 Visa, which is a bit harder to get, but not impossible. You'll be paid in U.S. dollars and pay U.S. taxes as a Non-Resident Alien. (a little more than Canadian tax, actually--which was a surprise to me)

[Incinerator]

PM Lanny, he can probably help you with the immigration red-tape questions.

[arsenal]

I have been looking into this the past couple years.
1) Realtive visa - Yes you can get in on a Relative visa, they have to prove that they can support you for x number of years ( I think it is at least 1) while you are looking for work.
2) Not to sure about the NT visa.
3) H-1 visa, is very hard to get. The US company has to prove that there is no US citizen that can fill the position, and you are the only one for the job.
They also have to sponsor you.
There was something else I saw as well regarding education and work experience requirements.
If you have a PHD in your field, I think you need only 1 - 2 years work experience to qualify.
Masters i think you need 3-5 years experience.
Undergrand around 5-8
Diploma (Associates) 10+ years.

[OilersBaby]

Hey everyone,

I moved from Alberta to California so I have some experience in this.

FIrst of all...in terms of engineering titles such as PEng etc...in the USA, there really arent titles like that. All you need is your 4 year university degree..no test..not sure what you were talking about before.

And yeah, you can get your relatives to sponsor you, but that could take upto 10 years for you to come visit.

The BEST way to go about this is to obtain the NAFTA visa, which someone already suggested. It is a visa that will be valid for upto 1 year, but after that, if your company likes you, they will give you an H1 visa (which is the working visa).

I have tons of Canadian friends as well as myself who moved south of the border......so if you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

CanadianCaliforniaGirl

[HelloHockeyFans]

Hmm... thanks for all the responses!

It seems a little more possible now that people have mentioned the TN Visa... Hmm... and what about the tax thing? I hear if you get paid in Canadian dollars, you pay Canadian taxes, which could end up being better if you're above a certain income bracket?

[OilersBaby]

[QUOTE=... and what about the tax thing? I hear if you get paid in Canadian dollars, you pay Canadian taxes, which could end up being better if you're above a certain income bracket?[/QUOTE]

well first of all, the tax brackets are MUCH BETTER down here. taxes arent quite as high. um..i dont think many companies down here are going to pay you in canadian dollars. i havent heard of that. every canadian i know down here gets paid in US dollars, and pays their bills in US dollars...however, i know there is some clause if you don't claim US residency that you dont have to pay them tax but pay canada tax.

BUT..if you do that, then you wont be able to stay here for longer than that year of your NAFTA visa....basically, if you WANT to remain in the US and be considered a resident longer than that year, you want to pay US taxes.

And trust me, it is SO EASY to find jobs here...

No offense to any AMericans reading this, but any of you Canadians who move down here to work or pursue furthur studies, you will feel like you're smarter cuz that education system up north is just amazing!

[socalwingfan]

To get a TN visa you first need to find a job with a US company and they need to sponser you. Getting a H-1 is pretty difficult as the yearly allotment is usually gone within a few days.

I've never heard of anyone being paid in Canadian $ here and I know a number of Canadians down here.

[OilersBaby]

yeah..but a lot of my fellow canadian friends are down here on TN visas so it cant be that hard. and they're all either engineers or working in health care...just their undergrads, no masters degrees.

keep trying we need more canadians down here

[nfotiu]

I've been in the US for 6 years now. 5 of those years were on a TN Visa. You get the TN for 1 year at a time, but it is very easy to renew every year (you can do it at the border or through mail).

The process of getting a TN visa, is to first get a job, then have that company hire a lawyer to write a very specific letter asking for you to be approved for a TN Visa. You take that letter and your supporting documentation(ie Transcripts/Certificates/etc) to the border the day you leave, and they look at all your stuff for however long they want (usually about an hour, sometimes they make you miss your plane just for fun). There is no way to get approved ahead of time, so that is tough on the nerves.

I've never heard of anyone being paid in Cdn dollars.

The tax situation works like this. If you don't want to fill out a Canadian tax return, you must cut your ties to Canada (ie, sell your house,etc), and you must plan to stay in the US at least 2 years. I kept my Calgary house when I first moved down, so I filled out Cdn tax returns the first couple years. Any Federal/State tax you pay in the US is credited towards Canadian Federal/Provincial taxes. Basically you end up paying the higher of the two. In my case NC/Federal taxes were a little higher than Alberta/Federal taxes, so I didn't have to give any money to Canada. Some states have a combined tax that is cheaper than Alberta/Canada. There are lots of other crappy taxes here though (ie, we pay $3000/year on Car taxes!).

I know of no way to not pay US taxes while working in the US.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Everyone keeps bringing up important points... this is great info guys... thanks a lot!

I do own a condo in Vancouver still and would like to hang on to it if I move, so that stuff is definitely important.

I'm guessing one can work in the US for an indeterminate number of years without becoming an American citizen then? Is there any advantage to not becoming an American citizen as well as already being a Canadian citizen?

I think I had the whole Canadian dollar thing completely confused, as it was explained by an earlier post by OilersBaby mentioning that I could pay Canadian taxes or American taxes.

I guess a general question then is: How hard is it really then, to get a job in the US as a Canadian? I would have thought that the US would have some protectionist policies (similar to Canada's) where they would prefer to hire their own citizen for a job over a foreigner. Also, is the hiring company taking any risk in hiring you as a Canadian? Are there any disadvantages to the hiring company in hiring a foreigner over an American? What do people mean, when they say the company has to "sponsor" you?

[ken0042]

Doesn't the US company also have to show that there wasn't a more qualified American for the job? Also, how do you get hired somewhere without having a Social Security Number?

[Ayrahb]

When I was in Pennsylvania in the 90s my friends graduating with engineering degrees were taking a test or two then applied for a state licence. I think the test were Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles of Engineeering. The state body was probably the State Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.

I also remember that there was a tax treaty between US and Canada (plus other countries) that provides some tax relief. If this is still in effect, it probably means that you wouldn't get fully double-taxed.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Doesn't the US company also have to show that there wasn't a more qualified American for the job?

Yes

Originally Posted by ken0042

Also, how do you get hired somewhere without having a Social Security Number?

That's what the visa is for.

[Shazam]

I have a great opportunity for a person. You just need to take some plane rides, and be good at swallowing things

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Doesn't the US company also have to show that there wasn't a more qualified American for the job? Also, how do you get hired somewhere without having a Social Security Number?

The TN Visa does not have that qualification. The TN only applies to Canadians (and Mexicans, I believe) and is only applicable to certain, mostly technical jobs.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I have a great opportunity for a person. You just need to take some plane rides, and be good at swallowing things

I told you man, I'm not doing that for you again!


Seriously, I think there's some confusion on the tax issue. Income earned in Canada is taxed in Canada. Income earned in the U.S. is taxed in the U.S. I'm not sure if the Canadian government will want a piece, but that's how it's worked for me. As far as I know, there's no way to earn Canadian dollars in the U.S, or to pay Canadian tax.

As for which country has higher taxes; the brackets are lower in the U.S., but payroll taxes are by comparison quite exorbitant. Don't be surprised if between state and federal taxes (collected separately), property tax, social security and medicare (which you start paying after about the first 18 months, I think) your taxes are substantially higher than they were in Canada. For me that's been the case. Sometimes people forget about those last two.

[ken0042]

Thanks for clearing that up guys. Looks like I was misled.