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United StatesNo US job yet? You may still have options. Here are the main ways Canadians move to the US without a job offer, and how to tell which one fits you.
If so, this page is for you. Many Canadians move without a job offer. Here’s how.
Yes, you can move to the US from Canada without a job offer. The main routes are:
You can also visit the US to look for work, then get a TN or other work visa once you have an offer.
Many Canadians are uneasy about stricter US immigration rules and closer checks at the border. Those concerns are real, but they don’t have to stop you. What’s changed is that careful planning matters more than ever.
Buy or start a US business and move with your family. Canada is an E-2 treaty country, so Canadian citizens can apply.
If your spouse, parent or adult child is a US citizen, they may be able to sponsor you for a green card. Green card holders can sponsor a spouse or unmarried children.
Canadians can usually visit the US to network and attend interviews. Once you have an offer, many professionals qualify for a TN visa, often approved at the border the same day.
Study at a US college or university. Work is limited while you study, but many graduates move on to a US job and work visa.
Invest $800,000 in a targeted area, or $1,050,000 elsewhere, in a US business that creates 10 full-time jobs. It leads to a green card for you and your family.
Already work for a company with a US office? An L-1 transfer may let you move without a new job offer. Learn about the L-1
| Your situation | Route to look at |
|---|---|
| You have savings and want to run a business | E-2 investor visa |
| Your spouse, parent or adult child is a US citizen | Family sponsorship |
| You’re a professional, such as an engineer, accountant or nurse | Job search, then TN |
| You work for a company with US operations | L-1 transfer |
| You want to study or retrain | Student visa |
| You can invest $800,000 or more | EB-5 green card |
You can look for work as a visitor, but you can’t start working until you have a work visa.
Visitor stays are for visits. Staying too long can lead to problems at the border later.
Buying a US home doesn’t give you a visa or the right to live in the US.
Many Canadians who think they don’t qualify have a route they haven’t considered.
Yes. The main ways are the E-2 investor visa (buying or starting a US business), family sponsorship, a student visa, or an EB-5 investor green card. None of these needs a US job offer.
Yes. Canadians can usually enter the US as visitors to network, attend interviews and look for work. You can't start working until you have a work visa, such as a TN, which you can apply for once you have a job offer.
Canadian visitors are often admitted for up to 6 months at a time. A visitor stay is not a move: you can't work, and you must keep your life in Canada.
For many Canadians it's the E-2 investor visa. There's no lottery and no yearly cap, and you can buy an existing business or a franchise. If you have a US citizen spouse, parent or adult child, family sponsorship may be simpler.
There's no fixed minimum. Many E-2 businesses are bought or started with around $100,000 to $250,000, but the amount needs to be substantial for the business you choose.
The US has no retirement visa. Many Canadian retirees spend up to 6 months a year in the US as visitors. To live there full time, you'd need another route, such as family sponsorship or an investment visa.
Answer a few quick questions and see which US visas and green cards may fit you. Free and confidential.
Prefer to talk now? Call 866-934-7447
VisaPlace Immigration works with licensed and experienced immigration lawyers. VisaPlace Immigration does not provide legal advice. This page is for information purposes only. For legal advice, consult a licensed immigration lawyer.
