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Topic: Canadian moving to NYC
| Author | Message |
| roxy | Posted – 6/8/2008 12:43:05 AM | show profile Hi, I'm currently working as an EA at a mid-size publishing house in Toronto. My ultimate dream though is to move to NYC and work for any house, really. However, I plan to stay here until I have at least 2 years experience under my belt. Now, my question is, how difficult is it to find a job when you have a couple of years' experience? Are you still considered entry level? And, more importantly, how willing or reluctant are publishing houses in New York to hire a Canadian? I was thinking of saving enough to be able to live for 5 months without a job, but obviously I woudl prefer to find one from here first and the move. Are either of those scenarios feasible at all or am I living in la-la land? |
| writesonwater | Posted – 6/8/2008 1:27:37 AM | show profile | email poster Don't most places need to hire American or legal alien unless they can prove they can't? I think there are some shortage areas where you can get a visa -- like nursing. I'd love to hear from someone on this. |
| Marie | Posted – 6/8/2008 11:55:49 AM | show profile It's very difficult for a Canadian -- or any non-U.S. citizen -- to get hired here (my close Canadian friend tells me this). She had interviews canceled when companies realized she didin't have all her working papers in order. Is there any way that your current publisher could send you here (does it have a U.S. office? or would it send you to scout books?). Unfortunatelly, you're not at a high enough level, nor do you have an expertise in a specialized area (or at least you haven't indicated you do) for a U.S. publisher to recruit, sponsor and pay for your work visa. We can't work in Canada either without the same. You can come here and work as a freelancer (I don't know the intricacies of that Visa, but there is one). You could also try getting work with an international organization, such as the U.N. or Unicef (both publish a lot of materials, and need editors). |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 6/8/2008 2:39:14 PM | show profile I'm a Canadian living and working here, but on a green card. I'd suggest you visit the U.S. consulate in Toronto to find out exactly what visas might be available to you. Even if an employer brings you down, you are only allowed to work for them -- and must, by law, leave when that job is ended. One friend who had worked for the Met Museum for years had barely a few weeks to move permanently back to Canada when her paperwork was deemed inadequate. |
| DQ102 | Posted – 6/8/2008 3:34:11 PM | show profile I have a lot of Canadian friends who would like to live and work in New York, but none of them have made it yet, and they all have years of work experience. It is even tougher as a newbie to the business. If a company is going to spend the legal fees and time to sponsor a Canadian or anyone else from outside of the U.S., it is going to be for a higher-up position, so your odds of getting sponsored are not good. But like another poster recommended, you should visit your local embassy to get some advice on potential routes to take. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 6/8/2008 6:33:58 PM | show profile Things to keep in mind: under NAFTA, most jobs are relatively easy to get if you're a Canadian and want to work in the U.S. or vice versa. The issue is really the job market. Even in an ideal job market, though, there are two major problems with U.S. employment: you're hired at will, so you have no job protection, and what passes for a health care system in the U.S. is a disgrace. The Canadian system may have its flaws, but no Canuck I personally know would be willing to change the Canadian system for the American one. |
| Vox-o | Posted – 6/8/2008 10:42:23 PM | show profile I can't speak to the legalities of your move here. But in terms of finding a job, I'd advise you to become friends with people within your own company who acquire rights from US publishers as well as sub-rights people who sell rights to the US. They have great contacts who know when jobs come up before they are advertised. (Of course you must be careful, especially if you work for a vindictive company. ) |
| writesonwater | Posted – 6/9/2008 2:22:34 AM | show profile | email poster http://www.grasmick.com/nafta.htm I am not an immigration lawyer -- I don't even play one on TV ;) However, I found this on a website on immigration law, post-NAFTA. On a laundry list of dozens of professional classifications who could get renewable one-year visas to work stateside, there were two publishing related disciplines listed -- graphic designer and technical writer. Unless noted otherwise, the following professionals qualify for TN status if they have a baccalaureate degree or a licenciatura degree in their professions: Graphic Designer Must have: baccalaureate or post secondary diploma *and three years' experience Writer, Technical Publications (Technical Publications Writer) Must have: baccalaureate or post secondary diploma *and three years' experience I'm sure there must be some other categories I'm missing. I'd love to see some clarification on this. |
