How to Get US Citizenship as a Canadian

US citizenship provides benefits that temporary visas or even permanent residency cannot (such as legal protection from deportation). It’s no wonder that many Canadians who travel to the U.S. eventually pursue U.S. citizenship. 

However, moving from being a visitor in the United States to becoming a full U.S. citizen is no easy feat. How can a Canadian achieve this? That is, how can a Canadian get US citizenship?

The process of becoming an American citizen from Canada involves three steps:

• Obtain a visa to enter the U.S.
• Secure a Green Card to become a permanent resident of the U.S.
• Complete the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen.

This guide about US citizenship for Canadians will discuss each of these steps in detail. 

Step 1 – Identify the Right Visa or Immigration Path

U.S. citizenship through naturalization is available only to U.S. permanent residents. For most people, becoming a permanent resident typically begins with entering the U.S. legally and applying for the appropriate visa.

Visa options for Canadians seeking American citizenship include:

Employment-Based Visa Options

Many Canadians use visas that allow them to enter the U.S. to work, such as:

TN Visa through USMCA

The TN visa allows Canadians and Mexicans in specific professional occupations (such as engineers, registered nurses, and accountants) to enter the U.S. to work temporarily. The visa, available under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is arguably the easiest US work visa for Canadians, as they can obtain it at a border crossing when entering the US without prior application to the U.S. immigration service. It is valid for three years and renewable indefinitely (after every three years).

The TN visa is not a dual intent visa, meaning it does not lead to permanent residency. However, many Canadians seeking U.S. citizenship start with it. They use the TN visa to enter the U.S.. Then, after some time in the country, they switch to a qualifying path to a green card (such as employment sponsorship or marriage to a U.S citizen).

Also Read: TN Visa Denied? Here’s What You Need To Know About The Next Steps 

H-1B Visa for Specialized Occupations

The H-1B visa allows skilled professionals in specialty occupations to enter the U.S. for work. It’s open to citizens of all countries, including Canada. Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree and qualifying work experience in a specialty occupation (such as the sciences, IT, engineering, and healthcare).

The visa is valid for three years, but can be extended once for an additional three years. It’s one of the best visas for individuals whose ultimate goal is U.S. citizenship, as it is a dual-intent visa that allows people to transition from temporary worker to permanent resident.

L-1 Visa for Intra-Company Transfers

The L-1 visa allows Canadian companies to transfer workers from their Canadian office to their U.S. office. It can be used to transfer executives and managers (L-1A), as well as employees with specialized knowledge (L-1B). 

The L-1A visa is valid for up to 7 years, while the L-1B visa is valid for up to 5 years.

The L-1A is a common path to the EB-1C green card. Multinational executives in the U.S. on the L-1A visa can apply for the EB-1C green card after one year in the country, allowing them to switch from temporary worker to permanent resident.

Family-Based Immigration Options

Many Canadians seeking U.S. citizenship enter the U.S. through family-based immigration, often via marriage or family sponsorship.

Marriage to a U.S. Citizen

A Canadian who marries a U.S. citizen is immediately eligible for a green card. They can enter the U.S. on a visitor visa and apply for a green card using Form 1-485 (adjustment of status). However, they must prove that the marriage is genuine and not a ruse to obtain a green card.

While processing can take 12 – 18 months, work and travel authorization is usually granted within 6 months. 

Marriage to a U.S. Permanent Resident

A Canadian who marries a U.S. permanent resident also qualifies for a green card. However, the individual is placed in the F2A preference category, meaning they must wait for their Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to be approved and for a visa number to become available before they can file Form I-485. This can take 2-5 years, depending on visa availability. 

Family Sponsorship Beyond Marriage

Canadians with close family in the U.S. can also begin their journey to American citizenship with a family-sponsored green card. 

Permanent residents can sponsor spouses and unmarried children for a U.S. green card, while citizens can sponsor spouses, children (married or not), parents, siblings, and fiancés. 

The processing time for U.S. citizen spouses or unmarried children (under 21) green card sponsorship is 10-14 months, whereas it is 1-3 years for permanent residents. For parents, processing takes 10 – 14 months, but for married children and siblings, it can take several years.

Adjustment of Status from Visitor Visas

The journey to US citizenship can also start with a visitor visa. Note that individuals with visitor visas are not supposed to plan to stay in the U.S. permanently or apply for a green card. 

However, if the individual qualifies after entry (e.g., they marry a U.S. citizen), they can apply for a green card. But even then, applying within 90 days after entry can pose problems. It’ll seem that they had immigrant intent all the while, but only used their non-immigrant visitor visa to facilitate things. And entering the U.S. with a non-immigrant visa when having immigrant intent is considered visa fraud. 

If an individual enters the U.S. with a visitor visa but is now deciding to stay permanently, they should seek legal advice.

Not sure which application is best for you? TN Visa Expert will guide you in the right direction.

Step 2 – Secure a Green Card (Permanent Residency)

Remember that U.S. citizenship by naturalization is available only to permanent residents (or green card holders). Thus, as a Canadian seeking U.S citizenship, after entering the U.S. with the right visa, the next step is to apply for a green card.

Common Routes to a Green Card

• Through family sponsorship.
• Through employer sponsorship (EB-2, EB-3).
• Through an L-1A visa leading to EB-1C.
• Through marriage to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Green Card Requirements

To get a green card, Canadians must meet the requirements under a specific green card eligibility category. For example, for family sponsorship, the applicant must be an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

Also, the individual must be admissible into the U.S. That is, there is no disqualifying criminal history, medical issues, immigration violations, etc.

Step 3 – Apply for U.S. Citizenship (Naturalization Process)

After a Canadian obtains a green card, they must maintain their permanent resident status for a specific time before they can apply for U.S. citizenship.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for US citizenship, a Canadian must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have been a U.S. permanent resident for 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen)
• Be of good moral character and have no serious criminal convictions.
• Pass the U.S. citizenship test (which is on history, civics, and English)

Steps of the Naturalization Process

Here’s how qualifying Canadians can complete the naturalization process and apply for U.S. citizenship.

• Submit Form N-400. File Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization) with the USCIS
• Attend a biometrics appointment. The applicant attends a biometric appointment where their fingerprints, photo, and signature are collected for background checks.
• Complete the interview and the citizenship test. The applicant attends an interview with a USCIS officer, who will review their application and test their knowledge of U.S. history, government, and English.
• Take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony. If the application is approved, the individual attends a ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance and officially become a U.S. citizen.

Final Thoughts on Becoming an American Citizen

This guide explains how to get US citizenship as a Canadian. It’s a three-step process: obtain a visa, apply for a green card, and then apply for citizenship.

Because citizenship by naturalization is available only to permanent residents, Canadians seeking US citizenship should always target the green card. This means starting with a visa that leads to a green card, or transitioning to an eligible path (if the initial visa does not directly lead to a green card). 

Either way, the process can be long and tedious. And any wrong move can lead to rejection. This is why it’s important to seek professional guidance when considering U.S. citizenship. This is where TN Visa Expert comes in!

TN Visa Expert has helped thousands of Canadians obtain a TN visa, allowing them to legally enter the U.S. for work. We’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of applying for the TN visa and prepare you for the visa interview, increasing your chances of approval. Plus, our immigration attorney will provide the personalized guidance you need, from obtaining your visa to applying for U.S. citizenship. Ready to make your American dream a reality? Contact TN Visa Expert to see how we can assist you.