I don't get it?..............I am Canadian and will eventually need a passport effective Jan/07 to enter the USA.
My point is, I was offered employment with Universal studios and had to decline the offer because I am not
an American citizen.

I too could slip through the border crossings and go under ground, but I am not a dishonest person.
When INS told me all of the procedures and policies of legally working in the USA, I thought I don't stand a chance in
hell becoming employed outside of Canada.

The INS has a list of the Free Trade Agreement, and who it pertains to. If you are in the medical, dental or teaching Industry
you can qualify under the Free Trade Agreement. Well I bascially gave up on trying to further my career in the USA.
Although my field fell under Special circumstances, I didn't feel like jumping through the many hoops and bureacratic bullshit
to prove otherwise.

Canadians and Americans have been crossing each others borders for ever. I trhink that the immigration laws shouldn't be so
rigid for Canadians even though we are neighbors. My sister has been dating an american guy for the last 7 years, and guess what?
He is here illegal! We Canadians also have illegal immigrants residing here too. I would prefer to cross the American border
with the necessary documentation, than to be living there illegally.

I was told by an American friend of mine, that the INS is this way because they need to protect the number of jobs that are available
for Americans before they hire outside of the country. I understand this, but what can you do when an illegal(s) enters the country and is
willing to work for less than the minimum wage?

The same applies here in Canada as well. I was interested in coming to the USA, not just because of the money,
but it was a chance for growth and opportunity. I wasn't trying to take a job away from someone else, i was trying to
apply for an opportunity to utilize my skills and trade to the best of my ability, even if it meant relocating somewhere else.
The waiting time for a work permit can take up to 3 years! You also have to have a sponser or "Money' to pay for it.

So I wasn't crossing the border without paying first. I can only imagine why so many try and enter the country illegally.
This doesn't make it right, but most immigrants are willing to work for far less money than you or I.
Most employers and businesses take advantage of the free or cheap labour. I decided that I would never place myself
into a situation such as that. Lets just wait and see w hat both Governments are prepared to do about it.

Reply By: cmorton

Cmorton, it caught you in the net, but it was not designed to.  Thus how government bureaucracies work.  Sorry you got caught in the twilight zone. If the US had its stuff together, you would slide right in to a great job.  As it is, we have our proverbial heads up our proverbial rectums, and dont know what (politically) we are doing.

Thanks for the support, I still haven't given up completely. I plan on doing things the right way.
I have a friend who is living in Virginia illegally. I tried to tell her that anything that she gains, ie: House. car, land
or anything of material gain can be seized by the US government.

I asked her what does she stand to gain? She was complaining of the cost to visit the doctor,( $80.00, for the visit)
and she obviously doesn't, and can not have access to a medical plan.
She also is working under the table, and that is another nightmare in itself!

She already faced the experience of not getting paid what she had agreed to work for. She can not claim taxes, so why bother
doing things the wrong way? I even know of women who have married men there just to get access into the country.
Well i will continue my journey the right way, but as we all know the old "cliche"......."Nice guys finish last"

have a friend who is living in Virginia illegally. I tried to tell her that anything that she gains, ie: House. car, land or anything of material gain can be seized by the US government.

All citizens would fight that, and I dont think it is legal to do so, regardless of her status.

The sad fact is there are a lot of "would be legal" people in the US that got caught in a bureaucratic nightmare.  I know the way out for her is not going to be easy or painless.  I have heard too many horror stories about ones who like your friend, are caught in the cracks.

All citizens would fight that, and I dont think it is legal to do so, regardless of her status.

don't be to sure on the doc. Take a look at what Alabama is thinking about doing:

State "legislation that looks at removing people's property or taking away access to services is not going to get at the core of the problem, which is immigration reform," said Isabel Rubio, executive director of the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. "I think you do run the risk of beginning to single people out for ethnicity."

Or what we're currently doing!

Under civil asset forfeiture, your property – not you – is charged with a crime. Hence the bizarre title of civil forfeiture cases: "United States vs. one 1998 Mercedes Benz," "California vs. 1711 Main Street," and so forth. Once your property is charged with a crime, it can be seized and kept by police, even if you are never convicted of anything. An appeals court in Florida even ruled that police can personally receive bounties of 25 percent of the value of anything they seize from you, such as your car, bank accounts or home.