Why migrate to the US?

• 7.7 million job vacancies
• 11.5 million visas were issued in 2024
• Access to world-class education
• Earn an average salary of $40,000 - $50,000/annum
• Enjoy the benefits of world-class healthcare

US immigration from Canada

The US offers diverse reasons to immigrate from Canada, including seeking better job opportunities, reuniting with family, pursuing educational goals, or escaping persecution or conflict. As a Canadian citizen, an applicant can visit and stay in the United States for up to 6 months without a visa. The USA is considered the fourth-largest country in the world and the most preferred destination for immigration. The country is backed up with numerous opportunities for aspirants across the globe. To migrate to the USA from Canada, an applicant will need either an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, depending on the reason for migrating.

Thousands of Canadians migrate to the US annually to enhance their lifestyle. According to Statistics Canada, around 49,769 Canadians immigrated to the USA in 2021-2022.

Below are some prominent states in the USA to migrate to:

• New York

• Las Vegas
• Orlando, Florida
• Atlanta
• Miami
• Washington
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• Denver
• Louisville, Kentucky
• Houston

Overview of USA Immigration Pathways

The United States offers multiple immigration routes designed for workers, families, investors, and humanitarian cases. Each pathway has unique eligibility rules, timelines, and benefits:

• Employment-Based Green Cards (EB-1 to EB-5): For extraordinary talent, skilled professionals, researchers, executives, and investors.
• Family-Based Green Cards: Reunites U.S. citizens and permanent residents with spouses, children, parents, and siblings.
• Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery: Provides up to 55,000 visas yearly for applicants from underrepresented countries.
• Non-immigrant Bridges: Temporary visas like H-1B, L-1, F-1/OPT, O-1, and E-2, some of which can lead to permanent residency.

Benefits of US visa

• Explore the job market in the US
• Education opportunity
• Travel opportunity
• Business and investment opportunities
• Tax and financial benefits
• Improve the quality of life
• Gain an easy citizenship opportunity (if eligible)

Types of US visas for Canadians

For Canadians, the US visa can be categorized as a non-immigrant or immigrant visa.

Non-immigrant visas: A non-immigrant visa allows foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States temporarily for tourism, business, medical treatment, and certain types of temporary work

Here are non-immigrant US visa types:

• Visitor Visas
• Student Visas
• Treaty Traders and Investors
• Transit visa
• Intra-company transfer
• Student visa
• Temporary Work Visas
• Diplomatic and Official Visa

Immigrant visa: An immigrant visa is issued to a foreign national who intends to live and work permanently in the United States. Here is the Immigrant US visa type. There are four ways a Canadian can settle in the USA permanently:

• Employment Green Card
• Investor Green Card
• Family sponsorship

Employment-Based Green Cards (EB-1 to EB-5)

Employment-based (EB) green cards are one of the primary routes for skilled professionals, executives, researchers, and investors to gain permanent residency in the United States. Each category has distinct eligibility requirements, benefits, and challenges.

Key Categories at a Glance

Category	Best Suited For	Job Offer / PERM Requirement
EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)	Individuals with exceptional achievements in sciences, arts, business, or athletics	No job offer or PERM required
EB-1B (Outstanding Professor/Researcher)	Professors and researchers with strong academic or research records	Job offer required; PERM not required
EB-1C (Multinational Manager/Executive)	Senior managers and executives of multinational companies	Job offer required; PERM not required
EB-2 (Advanced Degree/Exceptional Ability)	Professionals with advanced degrees or proven exceptional skills	Job offer and PERM required (unless applying under NIW)
EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver)	Applicants whose work benefits the U.S. national interest	No job offer or PERM required
EB-3 (Skilled/Professional/Other Workers)	Skilled workers, professionals, and certain other workers	Job offer and PERM required
EB-4 (Special Immigrants)	Religious workers and other special categories	Varies depending on subcategory
EB-5 (Investors)	Investors creating U.S. jobs through capital investment	No job offer or PERM required

Family-Based Green Cards: How the Process Works

Family-based immigration is one of the most common ways to secure permanent residency in the United States. It allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to reunite with close family members.

Two Main Categories

• Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens: Includes spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents. These visas are not subject to annual caps, making them typically faster to process.
• Family Preference Categories: Covers adult children and siblings of U.S. citizens, along with spouses and children of permanent residents. These visas are capped annually, and applicants may face long wait times depending on country of origin.

Core Steps in the Process

• Petition Filing: The U.S. citizen or permanent resident submits a sponsorship petition.
• Processing Route: Application continues through Adjustment of Status (if in the U.S.) or Consular Processing (if abroad).
• Financial Commitment: The sponsor signs an Affidavit of Support to prove sufficient income based on household size.
• Verification: Applicants undergo medical, background, and admissibility checks.
• Approval: A green card is issued once all conditions are satisfied.

Eligibility to migrate to the US from Canada

To migrate to the US from Canada, there are different eligibility criteria that an applicant must fulfill:

• Valid passport
• Complete the online application (DS-160)
• Intention to stay in the country
• Education qualification
• work experience
• Job Offer

Requirements to migrate to the US from Canada

 An applicant must fulfill the requirements to migrate to the US from Canada:

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• Medical Examination
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Proof of educational qualification
• Work experience
• Evidence of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

How do you immigrate to the US from Canada?

Here are the steps to immigrate to the US from Canada:

Step 1: Determine the type of visa category

Step 2: Sort out the visa requirement

Step 3: File a petition

Step 4: Apply for a Visa

Step 5: Wait for the approval

Step 6: Once approved, migrate to the US

Step-by-Step Application Process for U.S. Immigration

The process for obtaining a U.S. green card depends on whether the pathway is employment-based, family-based, or through the Diversity Visa Lottery. While timelines vary, the following outlines the typical journey for each route.

Employment-Based Green Cards (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, NIW, EB-5)

• Strategy (1–3 weeks): Select the most suitable category based on qualifications, job role, and country-specific backlogs.
• Prevailing Wage & PERM (3–8 months, if required): Labor certification and recruitment steps apply to EB-2 and EB-3. NIW and EB-1 petitions are exempt.
• Immigrant Petition (1–6 months): Employer or applicant files the petition; premium processing may shorten wait times.
• Green Card Stage: Adjustment of Status (inside the U.S.) or Consular Processing (abroad), depending on applicant’s location.
• Approval & Entry: Green card or immigrant visa is issued, and entry activates permanent resident status.

Family-Based Green Cards

• Petition & Proof (1–3 months): Sponsor files a petition proving the relationship and meeting financial criteria.
• Queue/Case Build (varies): Immediate relatives advance without waitlists; preference categories depend on visa bulletin priority dates.
• Processing (months+): Includes biometrics, medical exams, and an interview via Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing.
• Decision & Issuance: Green card is delivered (AOS) or an immigrant visa is issued (consular), permitting entry as a permanent resident.

Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery

• Entry (minutes): Submit a free online application during the annual window.
• Selection & DS-260 (weeks): If selected, complete the immigrant visa form and submit required documents.
• Interview & Medicals (1–4 months): Attend a consular interview with original documentation.
• Visa Issuance: All steps must be finalized within the program year; unused selections automatically expire.

Diversity Visa Lottery: Eligibility and Application Steps

The U.S. Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery is an annual program offering up to 55,000 green cards to applicants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. It provides a unique opportunity for eligible individuals to obtain permanent residency without requiring family or employer sponsorship.

Who Can Apply?

• Must be a native of an eligible country (as defined each year).
• Must have at least a high school education or qualifying work experience.
• Only one entry per person is allowed per year. Spouses may submit separate entries if both qualify.

How the Process Works?

• Online Entry: Submit your application during the official entry window (usually in autumn).
• Confirmation: Save the confirmation number to check results.
• Selection: Winners are chosen randomly, but selection does not guarantee a visa.
• Next Steps: If selected, submit the immigrant visa form, provide required documents, complete medical and background checks, and attend a consular interview.
• Visa Issuance: Green cards must be issued within the program year, as unused selections expire.

Processing fees of US visa

The processing fee for a Non-immigrant visa is $185, whereas for an Immigrant visa, the fee differs, but the general visa fee is $325.

Processing time of a US visa

For Canadians applying for a US visa, processing times can vary significantly. Visa appointment wait times currently exceed one year in most classifications and take approximately 5-7 working days after a successful interview to process the visa.

Life after Migration to the USA: Settlement, Jobs, and Benefits

Adjusting to life in the United States as a permanent resident involves key steps in your first few months and planning for the long term.

First 30–90 Days

• Apply for a Social Security Number and obtain a state ID or driver’s license.
• Open bank accounts and begin building your U.S. credit history.
• Arrange housing, review renter rights, and understand local living costs.
• Choose health coverage through an employer plan or the federal/state marketplace and register with a primary care clinic.

Jobs & Career

As a green card holder, you can work for most U.S. employers. Prepare a U.S.-style resume, optimize your LinkedIn profile, and verify licensing requirements for regulated professions. Networking and local job boards can accelerate your job search.

Family & Schooling

Children of permanent residents can enroll in public schools, while parents should explore childcare waitlists early. Evaluating neighborhood school ratings and available support programs helps families settle smoothly.

Money & Taxes

Green card holders must file federal and state taxes annually. Learn about credits, deductions, and tax obligations, and keep accurate records since tax history contributes to future citizenship eligibility.

Long-Term Considerations

Some marriage-based green cards begin as conditional residency; you must apply to remove conditions within the 90-day window before expiry. Once residency, physical presence, and other criteria are satisfied, you may apply for U.S. citizenship.

How can Y-Axis help you?

Y-Axis is well–known for being the No.1 overseas immigration consultancy. Y-Axis has provided unbiased and personalized immigration assistance for 25+ years. Our team of visa experts provides the following:

• Arranging the immigration document checklist
• Filling out application forms
• Documentation and petition filing
• Getting your updates and follow-ups
• Learn more about Overseas Job opportunities
• Obtaining Permanent Residence
• Sign up with Y-Axis to learn more about Canadian immigration