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Canada
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.
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.
