Do any of you have experience and/or knowledge concerning extended stays in the US?
My wife and I are considering buying a place for an extended stay in Vegas with our son starting sometime in the fall. We have already registered our son for preschool here in Winnipeg, so if we pull him out of that we'd like to be able to register him for full pre-school term in Vegas which typically runs from Sept - June, so 10 months.
I have been roaming the extensive information online. I know you can stay up to 6 months just as a tourist. I also know you can apply to extend your stay and the proper authorities just have to receive your application before your stay expires, then you're permitted to stay until the decision is made up to another 240 days (8 months) until a decision is made. This seems like a viable option because I'm sure if I apply for an extension it'll take at least a couple months to process. Meanwhile, we can stay in the US while waiting. It would just suck to be denied early and have to leave immediately. Is this all correct?
My wife is very interested in working part-time as a cocktail waitress or a pool server or something like that. However, there is no way she'll get a work visa for her to do that, is there?
What happens if you enter the US as a visitor/tourist and don't return for 10 months? What do they do at the border? Anything?
Also, if you return to Canada after a 6 month US visit, how soon can you re-enter for another 6 month US visit?
A lot of variables need to fall in place, but I'm pretty excited about trying to make this happen.
If anyone has any more info related to these questions or my situation in general I'd really appreciate it.
How about you look on the government websites for Visa info before you move your family to the US?
It is easy for a professional to get a TN work visa but you need a job prior to moving.
Sounds like a ridiculous plan without any research. The fact that you choose this site to pose all of these questions is so funny that I am going to stop ridiculing you now because if I continue I'll never be able to stop.
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That level 5 trap really paid off...ship him the cookies.
But seriously talk to an immigration lawyer. Cheaper than getting advice here and later find out it's wrong (usually as immigration does the full body cavity search)
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Hobbes
Playing micros is like getting a rectal exam from a leper who walks away with 9 fingers.
actually I have a degree in immigration law..... Here's what you need to know:
Make sure that at the border on the way into the US that you state that you're planning on enrolling your child in a school once you find a job in Las Vegas. Make sure that you also tell them that your neighbour asked you to bring a package into the US for him but not to open it under any circumstances then tell them you're only kidding..... when they don't smile tell them your friends name is Mohammad. When they still don't laugh say " What?!?!?It's not like its a bomb or anything!" Then enjoy your trip to Las Vegas.
Oh and about your wife being a Cocktail waitress.....worthless without pics....(unless she wants to work at the flamingo in which case a pulse is required)
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We can all use some extra redundancy.
I'm not going there "looking for a job". I am a professional poker player and have been for 5 years, thus I don't believe it's that weird that I posted this question to fellow poker players.
My wife would like a job simply to change things up and meet new people while we're there (sorry, no pics coming). I am posting this to see if anyone has any tips or suggestions or experiences that would be relevant that I may not find on the government websites.
Pretty offensive replies (little funny I guess) for a serious question from a first time poster. This is PART of my research smartass, I just started looking into it. I'm not moving my family out there tomorrow. But hey, thanks for nothing. Evidently I should just stick to 2+2 where I actually received some serious advice.
If anyone has any serious experiences or tips to share, I'm all ears. If you'd like to just ridicule and waste your own time, that's fine too.
1. The border dudes aren't there asking about your vacation because they are bored. When you show up with you family car packed to the gills and with a school age child, do you think they are going to believe your 'vacation'.
2. How do you plan on registering a kid for school without being a tax-paying resident? "Look Honey - the sign here says FREE SCHOOL FOR ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS"
3. How do you plan on opening a bank account? I guess you will just live on all the cash you make at the tables.
4. After the six months is up and you are living in the US illegally a) how well do you think the courts will perceive your profession as 'poker player'. Please, lets ask Kristy. b) What are you going to do if you get sick - you won't be able to get out-of-country health insurance in Canada for more than 6 months. Hint: it will be just like the FREE SCHOOL you are looking for.
5. After you are in the US for 6 months + 1 day, the IRS will be looking for you as a taxable citizen and gambling is not tax free in the US.
6. What will they do at the border? Well after your claim is denied and you are deported, good luck travelling to the US again.
Serious advice?
While in the United States, the alien must remain in legal immigration status, while waiting for the visa to become available.
Unauthorized employment or staying in the US with an expired visa, bars adjustment of status to permanent residence in the US.
Oops.
The requirements of U.S. authorities for identification upon entering the United States have become much stricter. Travellers entering the U.S. by air or by sea are required to provide additional information, such as their address while in the U.S., including Puerto Rico. They may also be asked for evidence of residential, employment or educational ties to Canada; proof that the trip is for a legitimate purpose and is of a reasonable length; and for proof of financial support while in the country. Seizure of Your Property
If you are caught trying to enter or being in the U.S.A. illegally, American Immigration Officials have the right to confiscate your vehicle and your personal property. You will have great difficulty trying to get them back. In most cases, confiscated vehicles and property are not returned. Proceeds from the sale of confiscated property belongs to the American Government.
Ouch.
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To Bet or not to Be(t). That is the question. - Billy (Big Slick) Shakespeare
RC III, XI - Champions!
Your comments are fair enough. It seems like the 6 months and applying for an extension at the end is the only viable option. But as to your points:
2. I am not looking for free school. This is pre-school for toddlers. It's basically beefed up daycare. I'm expecting to pay for it.
3. I could, but I've opened a US account in the past as a Canadian citizen. If that fails, which I don't think it will, the casinos will hold money in an account for me no problem.
Anyway, my post is being met with some pretty harsh criticism, and perhaps it is dumb in many aspects, but like I said, I've just started this process and wanted confirmation of some things (which I've obviously received) and was hoping someone in my exact situation had done it before.
Anyway, my post is being met with some pretty harsh criticism
It's because your plan seems half-baked and you are a first time poster. Coming onto a poker forum for advice on how to emmigrate to the US is a little weird, no?
Edit #1: From my own experience of getting a TN-1 Visa (NAFTA Visa for Engineers), I had to do an interview where I had to prove both that I am not performing commodity services (web programming) and has sufficient ties in Canada that would ensure my return.
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13Cards is the worst thing to happen to Canadian Poker ever.
It's because your plan seems half-baked and you are a first time poster. Coming onto a poker forum for advice on how to emmigrate to the US is a little weird, no?
Edit #1: From my own experience of getting a TN-1 Visa (NAFTA Visa for Engineers), I had to do an interview where I had to prove both that I am not performing commodity services (web programming) and has sufficient ties in Canada that would ensure my return.
Really? I just went to the border every year with my contract and got a visa in 5 minutes.
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That level 5 trap really paid off...ship him the cookies.
i'm not 100% sure, but i think you can stay with a tourist visa for 6 months, then just leave to another country, get your visa stamped and then return to the states for another 6 months (i'm pretty sure i did this in south korea, but not 100% sure).
registering your children into school there? i have no idea. possibly depends on specific state laws i would think, although most are probably the same.
opening a bank account? i would not think this is a difficult thing to do. i have two bank accounts in south korea, and one that i opened with no job and no work visa. (obviously the US might be different however, but as long as you have ID and a residence i don't think they will mind).
health insurance? not a problem. you can get canadian health insurance while you live abroad. you simply have to tell them ahead of time (like a month or so) before you leave and you'll still be covered (granted not "fully" covered, but decently enough from my experience).
irs hunting you down for taxes? declare yourself a non-resident. easy to do and then you don't have to pay canadian taxes while abroad. then you can just switch back when you come back to canada (this also spares you the expense of any built up income taxes on income you make abroad).
SIDE NOTE: there are some in this forum that cannot write a comment without it being a sarcastic insult. if you want to stay in this forum, you must learn who these are (easily identifiable from this single thread alone - doesn't that say something about you idiots? i guess you're too idiotic to notice that.)
Edit #1: From my own experience of getting a TN-1 Visa (NAFTA Visa for Engineers), I had to do an interview where I had to prove both that I am not performing commodity services (web programming) and has sufficient ties in Canada that would ensure my return.
that sounds way more difficult than it was for me to get a work visa. perhaps different for different occupations. however, i don't think this guy necessarily needs a work visa. he may be able to get around it.
Location: Milton, poker capital of the world.. after Wloo that is.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GroovyT
Evidently I should just stick to 2+2 where I actually received some serious advice.
If anyone has any serious experiences or tips to share, I'm all ears. If you'd like to just ridicule and waste your own time, that's fine too.
2+2 = serious replies? You can't really be serious...
But on a more serious note... To get a work visa (green card) to legally work in the US you need a "marketable skill", not so sure "professional" poker player qualifies. You would be there as a visitor with little hope of getting any further as Moose so aptly pointed out... And health insurance, especially with a family is mandatory...
And as Moose alluded to, don't do anything to try and short circuit the process as you will likely disqualify yourself from even legally being able to visit (ie vacation) the US for life. I personally know 2 people who are in that situation....
Last edited by compuease; Jun 18,2008 at 10:01 AM.
Professional Poker Player or Gambler doesn't show up on the NAFTA list
Really though, I don't know enough about it, but it would probably be better going to a US embassy or Immigration specialist to get the proper info. If you don't want to tell them you are a poker player you could always just say you are a waiter or something else that isn't on the NAFTA list.
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