Getting a green card without moving to the USA - ask
QUESTION: My husband just returned from Houston and appearently his company would like for him to consider moving there and applying for a green card. {I guess that the coast guard would prefer that offshore workers be either US citizens or at least hold a green card.} We (ie my husband, myself and our three children) live in Alberta and have no intention of moving and the green card would be purely for work purposes. He works in the US approx 180 days per year, including offshore and land rigs. What would the ramifications be of him acquiring a green card while still being a Canadian resident. Also, if we were to phone for a consultation what information should we have ready. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- david ingram replies: A green card has an immense advantage to your husband and, in my opinion, he should go for it. The reason is that "with a green card", your husband is entitled to change employers at will and if one of your children should want to work in the US, your husband can get the documentation for that child a lot easier than your child can get it themselves. For him to have a green card and keep it active, he would have to be sure to be in the USA more than six months a year. Also, his present H1 or L1 visa will eventually expire (they have a shelf life of 7 or eight years although they can be extended longer if he proves he is not in the US for full years) and he could be out of work for that company and I expect that the green card is more likely to keep him working than coast guard regulations. I likely have a dozen people working out of Sulphur City in the Texas Gulf and none of them have been told to get a green card at this moment. I would charge you $401.25 an hour inc GST for a phone consultation and you should both be on the phone at the same time. If necessary, he can be in Texas and you in Alberta through my phone system. You might also want to try for a free quick answer on the Sunday morning program. Unfortunately, your plight does not affect enough of our listeners for us to devote much time to it "for free". Answers to this and other similar questions can be obtained free on Air every Sunday morning. Every Sunday at 9:00 AM on 600AM in Vancouver, Fred Snyder of Dundee Wealth Management and I, David Ingram host a LIVE talk show called "ITS YOUR MONEY" Those outside of the Lower Mainland will be able to listen on the internet at www.600AM.com <http://www.600am.com/> Local calls are taken at (604) 280-0600 and Long Distance calls (BC only) are taken at 1( 866) 778-0600 Callers to the show are invited to attend free seminars on financial planning with such specialities as deductible mortgage interest. They are held at Fred Snyder's Office at 1764 West 7th in Vancouver - (604) 731-8900 for more information. ========================================= David Ingram's US/Canada Services US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists US / Canada Real Estate Specialists 4466 Prospect Road North Vancouver, BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7 Res (604) 980-3578 Cell (604) 657-8451 (604) 980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325 Email to taxman at centa.com <mailto:taxman at centa.com> www.centa.com <http://www.centa.com> www.david-ingram.com <http://www.david-ingram.com/> Disclaimer: This question has been answered without detailed information or consultation and is to be regarded only as general comment. Nothing in this message is or should be construed as advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists between the reader and the author and any and all non-contractual duties are expressly denied. 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