Quote Originally Posted by sparks19
You see you don't have to get a greencard to be a legal citizen. Especially before 9/11. you can get permanent residency or you can get a K visa which will allow you to live and work in the states and process your citizenship papers from here.
I know it's not only Green Card that allows you to stay there. What you explained works for you, as a Canadian. Nationals of other countries would not be allowed to work in the US and get legal residency. They would have to enter the country either illegally and find a way to legalise their stay or legally as a visitor and change their status, but you understand that is illegal too - you have to enter the country with the proper visa.
They have processes to allow you to come here and work here until you can file your citizenship papers. YOu don't even HAVE to file for citizenship if you don't want to. you can just file forms to be a legal resident. You pay taxes, you can work, you can come and go as you please but you are NOT granted citizenship.
No national of any country is granted citizenship immediatelly, you need the permanent residency for a few years.
I hear the different processes people had to go through depending on where they were from and what they were coming to US/Canada for.

P.S- Vio&juni Have you gone through the immigration process? spousal immigration or otherwise?
I mentioned earlier that I have worked for a Visa Section - not US, another one.