FSW WORLDWIDE

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Okay that seems quite a long time.

TN -> H1B: 2 years
H1B -> GC: 3 years
GC -> Citizenship: 5 years

Is this correct? but this still assumes that your employers start your GC process directly once you get your H1B (after two tries). So, even 10 years is still an optimistic timeline right?



Yes, I came across the continuous residence requirement as well.. so I guess there is no way around it is it? Technically, we still need to spend almost 5 years in the US for citizenship even if the law says only 2.5 years of physical presence is needed? and it seems harder to maintain both US GC and Canada PR at the same time right? There is a reentry permit, but I guess the continuous residence requirement is still not met even after you apply for a reentry permit.




Oh, I guess my question is more like a serious drawback of having dual US-Canadian citizenship, for example, the dual taxation if I live in Canada that you brought up does not seem a lot of fun. Personally, if there is serious no harm or drawback to getting Canadian citizenship, then why not right? It is just 3 years.

Btw, you definitely know a lot of these things, Are you ROW? Have you lived in the US before?

Man, you really are overthinking. Pick a country and go for it. If it doesn't work out, you can reassess later

 

[Lord_Tony]

@Lord_Tony[/USER] why did you think "Inception" Hahahaha. When they fired you, did you have your GC in progress? That's why I think I should do this when I am still not that old.. otherwise too many uncertainties.

Yes my GC steps were in-progress. I was an Intra-company transfer came from KL, spent 2.5 years in the USA then. For my GC Inline with company policy they started my PERM a year after I joined the NY Division. Internal inter-departmental work Business/HR/legal/immigration took the longest 5-6 months if I remember right. Once the company applied the US Gov approval was fast those days. It was a month or so for me, I hear PERM takes a year or more these days. Once PERM is approved, they had just filed the I-140. Around that time Bear Stearns failed, the axe fell in most Bank and FS Corps, it was a blood bath.

 

[GandiBaat]

Okay that seems quite a long time.

TN -> H1B: 2 years
H1B -> GC: 3 years
GC -> Citizenship: 5 years

Is this correct? but this still assumes that your employers start your GC process directly once you get your H1B (after two tries). So, even 10 years is still an optimistic timeline right?

Look, if you are a non-Indian, you might just skip the entire TN loop. Go for H1B or L1. Then GC by EB-2/3 perhaps.

If you are an Indian, you have no Choice but to go TN route or O-1/EB-1 route.

 

[TTBR]

What do you think is a potential ITA time for 481 in STEM?..

 

[ivicts]

Man, you really are overthinking. Pick a country and go for it. If it doesn't work out, you can reassess later

Thanks, I guess I do overthink. But, I have already picked the countries.. just need to flesh out some details. I don't want to depend on chance and the lottery.

 

[iSaidGoodDay]

What do you think is a potential ITA time for 481 in STEM?..

iirc, you asked this question before. 481 has good chances with STEM given that the last draw did 486. However, paused draws do impact this, the extent of which is unpredictable.

While you are waiting, keep working on your CRS. You never know what ends up helping here.

 

[ivicts]

Look, if you are a non-Indian, you might just skip the entire TN loop. Go for H1B or L1. Then GC by EB-2/3 perhaps.

If you are an Indian, you have no Choice but to go TN route or O-1/EB-1 route.

Actually, almost everyone like 90% of people keeps suggesting getting Canadian citizenship first before going for H1B even for non-Indians.
You are probably the only one probably and (@RSub if I remember correctly) who suggests skipping the TN and going straight for GC.
H1B chances now are less than 20% to get picked.
So, I am not that confident..

Btw, https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationCanada/comments/15zyq6l in this thread the OP also considering the same situations and most people suggesting maintaining his Canada PR rather than going for an undergraduate in the US. He got into UIUC CS and is a ROW, I thought he has a great chance to be sponsored by tech companies after graduation.

 

[ivicts]

Yes, assuming the odds are in your favor. It's not unrealistic that you end up several more years before getting GC. For example, it's not uncommon the employer might not be interested in sponsoring you for a GC immediately, they might want to wait out until the very last years of validity of your H1B, due to economic reasons, effectively locking you and your salary with your position in the company.

Yes, I guess US GC takes a very long time. Unless you can get into FAANG, then probably you can request your GC on day 1, I believe. Otherwise, it can take a very long time, I wonder what is the average of immigrants the first time they obtain GC in the US?

I'm not sure what do you mean ROW? I've visited the US before as a tourist, but not really lived there. Much like you I'm contemplating of going to the US for economic reasons, but not yet decided if I'll stay (i.e. work in the US for some years, then go back to Canada to settle when I can afford a home, or stay in the US for good).

ROW means you were not born in India or China, so you can get your GC faster. So, if you want, you can actually go straight for your GC rather than aiming for a Canadian passport as a backup as @GandiBaat suggested. So you have not decided to stay in the US? That's why you try to keep your canadian PR is it?

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

Actually, almost everyone like 90% of people keeps suggesting getting Canadian citizenship first before going for H1B even for non-Indians.
You are probably the only one probably and (@RSub if I remember correctly) who suggests skipping the TN and going straight for GC.
H1B chances now are less than 20% to get picked.
So, I am not that confident..

Btw, https://www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationCanada/comments/15zyq6l in this thread the OP also considering the same situations and most people suggesting maintaining his Canada PR rather than going for an undergraduate in the US. He got into UIUC CS and is a ROW, I thought he has a great chance to be sponsored by tech companies after graduation.

Ultimately it comes down to this. If you go for GC and then fail, are you okay to go back to your home country for a year or however long it may take to get canadian pr. If answer is yes, go for gc. If answer is that your home country is a pile of shit then Canadian PR is probably more suitable for you

 

[Windsor37]

Yes, I guess US GC takes a very long time. Unless you can get into FAANG, then probably you can request your GC on day 1, I believe. Otherwise, it can take a very long time, I wonder what is the average of immigrants the first time they obtain GC in the US?

I doubt FAANG is as benevolent as you make it to be, sure you can make a request but I don't believe it would be approved, it all depends on your skillset and if it makes business sense, if you're an executive or one of those fellow or distinguished engineers for sure they'll fork out a GC, but if you're a common garden variety senior engineer, my guess is that you'll end up waiting like the rest of the pack.

- One more thing though, even IF a company sponsored you it is ultimately up to the US government to determine if you are worthy to get a GC. A $3T company like Apple cannot guarantee you a GC in the US, nor can it accelerate the process of getting one, which means you still have to fall in line with the other GC applicants no cutting in.

Spousal GC tends to be the fastest, they take about 14-18 mos. from start of application to GC.
Employment GC takes about 18-24mos from the day you start the PERM application, and assuming you paid the priority I-140.

ROW means you were not born in India or China, so you can get your GC faster. So, if you want, you can actually go straight for your GC rather than aiming for a Canadian passport as a backup as @GandiBaat suggested. So you have not decided to stay in the US? That's why you try to keep your canadian PR is it?

I am ROW. I'm keeping my Canadian PR, and getting a Canadian citizenship first for the following reasons:

(1) I am NOT willing to take the risk of being forced to return to my home country. I don't like the idea of applying to the US, only declining at the very end because a company would only do an H1B or maybe hire me locally in Canada and transfer me over to the US via L1. The salary is immaterial at this point, even if they offer me something like 400K I'll still decline it, because the chance of being kicked out of the US would be very very real on a temporary VISA - just look at the number of people with H1Bs that got laid-off recently from big companies like Amazon and Facebook, I don't want to end up like those people struggling to find a sponsor in the short 60 day period.

(2) Getting a direct GC is very difficult even for ROW, statistically people who are outside the US has a 60% chance of being approved for a GC versus those who apply inside at 95% - assuming of course, all requirements are satisfied i.e. legal status, fraud checks, etc., that said most companies prefer going through an H1B or L1 route to bring people in. As described above, I'm not one of those executives, or someone with an extremely unique skillset that would warrant a direct GC sponsorship, so what would likely happen is that they'll keep me under temporary permit until a business case appears that would make sponsoring me for a GC worth it. I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic.
From the news I see, and stories I've heard, I feel that's how things are going to work, and as I previously said I will not go back to my home country.

(3) I want the Canadian passport, since being able to travel without stringent VISA requirements is something I'm looking forward to. It's not just about making money, it's about spending it too.

(4) I want my options, the US is known for less positive things like mass shootings, crime and even organized shoplifting (Walmart closed in Portland because a lot of people just come in, get stuff and get out without paying), being able to just drive north and settle there is always welcome. It's unquestionable that the US makes more money and has better careers, the same way it's unquestionable that Canada is more peaceful and has less crime.

So I'll go south and try to make $$$, and try to settle there, then if there are too many bullets going over my head OR I fail to get a GC, I'll just drive up north - hopefully I'll have enough money for a home downpayment when that happens though.

 

[imransyed]

how likely is a row applicant getting his ticket through the DV category?
idk anything about US GC.
And I recently discovered country of birth is what is considered rather than the actual citizenship?
Eg I am an indian but I was born in an eligible for dv country

 

[Windsor37]

how likely is a row applicant getting his ticket through the DV category?
idk anything about US GC.
And I recently discovered country of birth is what is considered rather than the actual citizenship?
Eg I am an indian but I was born in an eligible for dv country

If you're not born in India, then you're part of ROW, unless you're born in China in which case back in the backlog you go.

As for the chances, my guess is it's the same as everyone else's. Everyone who goes through DV is essentially a ROW applicant, since DV are only issued to ROW countries - actually to a smaller list of countries than ROW countries.

 

[GPA3]

how likely is a row applicant getting his ticket through the DV category?
idk anything about US GC.
And I recently discovered country of birth is what is considered rather than the actual citizenship?
Eg I am an indian but I was born in an eligible for dv country

I apply every year for the last 8 years and never got picked. I was born in the middle east as well. What I have seen, the chances are around 1% and can be increased to 2% if your spouse is also eligible to apply for DV.

 

[Impatient Dankaroo]

how likely is a row applicant getting his ticket through the DV category?
idk anything about US GC.
And I recently discovered country of birth is what is considered rather than the actual citizenship?
Eg I am an indian but I was born in an eligible for dv country

Close to impossible. It's between 0% and 2.5% for most countries. If your skin is closer towards the darker shade it's closer towards the 0%, if it's on the other end it's closer to the higher end. Reason being all of said brown or black population is applying meanwhile very few Australians are applying as an example

 

[ImpatientDragon]

Hey guys,
Its a POST-ITA Questio
Question: Does the digital photograph submitted to OINP work for the ITA app as well or does it have different specifications?