TN visa and green card

[mpkv]

Hello:

i am a canadian citizen and am working in the US. I have TN visa which is for the professionals working temporarily in the US. It has to be renewed every year at the border or by mail (although theoritically there is no limit on how many years?).

Could someone please inform me if i can apply for green card while i am on TN visa? Or do i have to switch my status? I have a Ph D in engineering from Canada and i feel i would have better job prospects with a green card. How would it work for the family? I am not really clear about this. I would appreciate if someone knowledgeable can offer some advice and suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

[im9999]

TN visa is not a dual intent visa like H1B. Hence, if u start ur immigration process and then leave the country as TN visa needs to be renewed yearly, ur re-entry into the US may be denied due to the fact of a pending immigration application. If u are ok with waiting in Canada for the whole process to take its time and do CP then u can start the process right away.

Therefore the better way to do it is change ur status to H1B and then start the immigration process.

Talk with ur company and a lwayer about H1B and Green Card.

Hope this helped.

[mpkv]

thanks im9999. i will probably not change my status (TN to H1) conversion till i re-enter on TN and then i will apply for a GC and wait for a year - if nothing comes through - i will convert to H1 by paying expedite or fast track fee and avoid getting re-entry problems due to GC application.wonder if it works!! the hitch may be that i may not hear anything about my GC application in a year's time or that the process may not be complete in that time.

thanks again.