Has the coronavirus pandemic got you feeling a little lost and anxious? You’re not alone. Across the globe, economies have plummeted, societies have hit pause, and people in every corner of the earth are forced to confront a now uncertain future. But the future is a bit murkier for Canadians currently — or hoping to — work in the US

Covid-19 has thrown a wrench into the gears of our everyday lives, from things as simple as finding toilet paper to processes as complicated as immigration. If you are a Canadian working in the US, job hunting in the US, or working in Canada for a US company, you’ve probably been wondering how Covid-19 will affect your visa status. Once again, you’re not alone.

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers

In mid-March, the Trump administration closed the US land borders with Mexico and Canada. And just two days ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that the US-Canada border will remain closed to non-essential travel through June. This shocking move upset many but left even more unanswered questions. Like, what is considered essential travel, and does any of this affect your visa status?

You probably feel trapped in a slow-motion immigration nightmare. In addition to a global health pandemic, you have now added economic instability and immigration upheaval to your list of things to worry about. But I bet we can guess the kinds of questions bouncing around inside your head. Have you been wondering:

• How exactly is the coronavirus pandemic affecting immigration from Canada into the US?
• What is the latest news on the US-Canada border? And do Trump’s Tweets mean anything to US policy?
• How can Canadians with approved TN visas start work with their US employer?
• What do professionals — especially economists, consultants, software professionals, and folks working for startups — need to understand about border security?
• What’s in store for H-1B visas and green cards for Canadians in the US?
  

For those currently in the US who run the risk of overstaying their visa, the situation is a little direr. In the worst-case scenario, visa overstayers may be prevented from entering the US again, or barred from the country for three to ten years, depending on the situation. How can you extend your visa?

For those currently in Canada, the prospect of a US job is huge, especially right now that tens of millions of people are unemployed across the US and Canada. But if you can’t get in quickly enough, will that job be taken away? The short answer is that it doesn’t have to, and you may actually be able to work in Canada remotely for your US employer.

And for US employers, yes you can hire a Canadian remotely if they’re unable to cross the border! Working with a professional employer organization (PEO) is one of the best ways to do that, especially in a pinch, and particularly if you don’t expect it to last forever.

These questions and issues are probably at the forefront of your mind lately, but here’s a small piece of good news: despite all the uncertainty in this world, there are experts out there with the answers to your most burning immigration questions. And we know just where you can find them.

Turn to an expert for your immigration questions

Who better to answer your immigration questions than two immigration professionals? On Thursday, May 28th, Syndesus is hosting a webinar that will explore immigration and other legal issues that affect Canadians who are currently working in the US, Canadians who are considering employment in the US, and companies seeking to employ Canadians.

So who are these immigration pros and why are they qualified to answer your questions?

Host Marc Pavlopoulos founded Syndesus, a PEO for US companies seeking to employ workers remotely in Canada. He also founded Path2Canada, a company that works to ease the immigration process for folks trying to immigrate to Canada.

Sophie Alcorn is the founder of Alcorn Law and has made fighting for immigrants her mission. She is Board Certified as a Specialist in United States Immigration and Nationality Law and has established herself as an immigration expert. Sophie is TechCrunch’s de facto immigration lawyer-in-residence with a column and a podcast geared toward startups looking for US immigration answers.

Sophie and Marc understand you’re stressed. Covid-19 has turned our world upside down, and your visa questions only complicate matters. As both the US and Canada start to re-open their economies and consider re-opening the border, now is the perfect time to better understand TN visas, H-1B visas, and green cards.

Interested in attending this webinar? Sign up at the link below!

https://info.syndesus.com/webcast/covid-19-us-immigration-for-canadian-professionals

Have a specific question for Marc or Sophie? Add it in the comments and we’ll try to answer them for you.