NAFTA TRADE INCLUDES PROFESSIONALS
by Nicole Carlson
A combination of the current technical labor shortage and a special visa
classification contained in the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) has lured a number of Canadian professionals southward
bound over the past few years. The casualties of this free trade of labor
are not displaced American workers, they are the family members
accompanying NAFTA professionals to their host countries.
Many American companies, especially in areas such as Northern California's
Silicon Valley, are having a
difficult time finding American workers to fill technical positions. In
order for these companies to continue full operation here in the United
States--rather than moving to countries with a greater availability of
labor and lower operating costs--they have had to import professionals
from other countries. One of these countries is Canada. Many Canadian
professionals relocate without knowledge of the full ramifications the
move will have on their family. As the demand for labor continues but the
availablilty of H-1B visas is put on hold until October 1st, local
employers are now seeking Canadian professionals, not affected by the cap,
more than ever.
Dependants of Canadian workers in the United States under NAFTA have few
rights while in this country. Unless the dependant qualifies for a work
visa on his or her own merits, they are not allowed any form of
employment. In
an area where two income earner families are not only the norm but are
required in order to maintain a normal lifestyle, this restriction can be
financially devastating to the family. The teenaged children of Canadian
professionals in the U.S. cannot even so much as babysit in order to earn
money towards university tuition. Not only that, these Canadian taxpaying
residents of California are expected to pay about $8000 more than other
residents of the state in order to attend state universities, regardless
of how long they've lived in the state.
In addition to financial difficulties, there is stress placed upon a
family where the sole income earner has complete control over the
continued resident status of their spouse or children. If the spouse of a
Canadian professional decided to return to Canada, he or she would
probably not even be permitted onto an airplane with their children unless
carrying a notarized letter from the income-earning spouse permitting him
or her to do so.
This government enforced emotional abuse has to end before it causes
many of the Canadian professionals, that American companies now depend on
in order to operate, returning home.
Last year, my locally founded organization, the North American Trade
Dependent Alliance, collected letters from families enduring NAFTA status
in the United States and submitted them to the NAFTA Chapter Sixteen
Working Group that has spent the last five years working on the issue of
spousal employment without success. Again this year, we will be
submitting another package of letters. Information about NATDA, trade
dependents and the 1998 letter writing campaign are available on the NATDA
website at http://www.natda.org/.
Nicole Carlson is a TD visa holder who moved to California from
Vancouver in 1996.
She is the co-founder of the North American Trade Dependent Alliance
(http://www.natda.org/) and a trade dependent advocate.