Hi,

My girlfriend is in Toronto and is planning on moving out here in the spring to take a course in April that is needed to be a dental hygienist in California, and then the clinical exam required for RDH's in June. By mid-to-late July she will be legally allowed to work as a dental hygienist in California.

My question is: which visa should/can we get before she is allowed to work as a hygienist?

Employment-based (EB) visas are tricky and slowly processed unless you have a job in the area of your education. Should we get some kind of student visa that holds over until she passes the clinical exam? And then get a more specific EB visa (skilled worker, etc.)? I know canadians have 6 months to stay here w/o a visa (or at least i think that's how it goes?), but she needs to have legal proof to be here and take the course in April. And the fact that she's taking the course shows her intent to stay and work in the u.s., so that eliminates non-immigrant visas...

As you might tell, I'm pretty overwhelmed and just want to know if anyone has any insights or suggestions as to how to go about this. Thank you all for your time and input smile.gif

 

So, I called the school and it turns out that she doesn't need any type of student visa to take the course. She can be a visitor.

So, now the question is: what type of visa is practical for her to get when she can work as a dental hygienist in california?