Thanks for the explanation about the TN visa. It is definitely a useful thing to have. I also just know that there is a "loop hole" in the system hahaha, some people say you need to switch to H1B first before applying for a GC.
The TN-1 is a renewable work VISA for Canadians and it must be renewed every 3 years to maintain legal status in the US. However, the TN-1 is a
nonimmigrant VISA. Which means if you attempt to apply for a green card while on a TN-1 VISA, you run the risk of being ineligible for renewal. The average wait time for a GC application is 18-24 mos, which means its theoretically possible to get approved for a GC while legally under TN-1 provided you properly time your GC application, and the sponsor is willing.
The main purpose of the TN-1 for would be immigrants to the US is to make it more appealing for employers to hire you over other candidates outside of the US. For example, you have 2 applicants one is Canadian, and the other is Indian. In order for the employer to hire the Indian, they have to go through the H1B process which is dependent on the (1) lottery and (2) processing time, if you are lucky then the whole process takes 6 months, which means from the employer's perspective they have 6 months of having a position unfilled until the person can legally come to the United States - if he/she is unlucky in the H1B draw then it could take years before they can bring him to the US, compare this with a Canadian applicant wherein, they can just hire the person immediately and have him start working today - something the Indian can't legally do. If they do decide to do the H1B for the Canadian, they can do so
while the Canadian is already working in the US, so a situation where an H1B wait time is 1 year, 2 years or even several years is far more tolerable for a Canadian applicant than an Indian applicant.
I guess I should phrase my question better. I would cling to my Canadian PR and Canadian citizenship before I get GC, but let's say after one year in Canada, I can somehow apply for a GC directly, should I directly go to the US with my GC and forgo my Canada PR before getting a Canadian citizenship? Or should I wait for another two years in Canada to get Canadian citizenship before going to the US? What's the benefit of US and Canada dual citizenship?
I definitely agree with your second paragraph, but a lot of this depends on luck as well. Let's see what's the best pathway.
It only takes 3 years for you to be eligible for a Canadian citizenship, if you found out you can place a successful GC application after a year in Canada, then it implies you have NOT applied yet, if you're applying for a GC outside of the US then it would take 18-24mos BEFORE you actually get your green card. At that point I'd question, why won't you just wait the last few months to apply for a Canadian citizenship?
Unless you plan to own properties on both side of the border, and you're decided to settle in the US, then I see NO benefit of having a dual US/Canada citizenship - at least not one that is worth the hassle for. However, what I'm pointing out is the period between when you are a non-resident alien in the US up to the point when you are a citizen. If you take TN-1 -> H1B -> GC -> Citizenship route, the process could easily take 10 years. During that period you have certain liberties like a Canadian passport, that can take you virtually anywhere you'd want to travel VISA-free. And again something might go awry during that 10-year period, in which case having Canadian citizenship gives you a guarantee that you won't have to go back to your original home country - the last part is the situation that most immigrants are avoiding.
