I am travelling to San Francisco to find clients.
I'm not an immigration attorney, but I have made trips to Canada to find clients, and this is my understanding of the laws.
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you do not need a visa to come to the United States as long as you will not actually be working and receiving payment from U.S. businesses or employers while in the U.S. For example, you can visit the U.S. to attend trade shows, meetings, conferences, etc. without a visa.
Here's a publication from the U.S. State Department that may help: http://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/BusinessVisa%20Purpose%20Listings%20March%202014%20flier.pdf
This is not legal advise, and I don't play a lawyer on TV but I would say as a contractor all work worldwide is open. Your not moving to the US your just taking business from their. There maybe a question of where you pay tax at some point so set up a Hong Kong Corporation that is near impossible to sue if your going to be dealing with goods internationally. And why restrict yourself to the USA only, hoped this helped call if you want to discuss it further, thanks...Ken Queen
✅ TL;DR
If you’re a Canadian citizen, you can legally travel to the U.S. under a B-1 status (business visitor) to attend meetings, pitch, network, or explore partnerships.
❌ But you cannot perform paid work on U.S. soil or deliver services to American clients while physically in the U.S. — without a proper work visa.
Do it right from the start. One wrong answer at the border can get you flagged.
Full Breakdown
1. What You Can Do Without a Visa
As a Canadian citizen:
✅ You don’t need a visa to cross for:
Meeting potential clients
Attending conferences
Pitching your services
Market research and business development
This is allowed under B-1 visitor status — the same way U.S. consultants visit Toronto for a trade show.
🚫 2. What You Cannot Do Without a Visa
❌ Deliver work or fulfill contracts while physically in the U.S.
❌ Receive payment from a U.S. company for work done while on U.S. soil
Example:
✅ You can fly to SF, meet a client, and return to Canada to do the work remotely
❌ You cannot sit in a WeWork in San Francisco and build out deliverables, even if the invoice goes to a Canadian company
This is the difference between business development and engaging in labor.
3. What to Do If You Get the Client
Once a U.S. client wants to engage:
✅ Deliver the service from Canada (fully remote) — no visa needed
✅ Or explore proper options:
TN Visa (if you're eligible under NAFTA/USMCA — e.g., certain professions)
O-1 Visa (for individuals with proven, extraordinary ability)
E-2 Visa (if you plan to invest and open a U.S. entity long-term)
Each has its own threshold and documentation, but there are paths if this becomes a serious revenue stream.
🔍 4. What the Other Answers Missed
✅ Kathleen’s answer was the most accurate — but incomplete
❌ Telling you to set up a Hong Kong shell company is bad advice if you plan to operate above board and build trust in the U.S. market
❌ Most missed that border officers are trained to spot people misusing B-1 status — and one wrong word about “coming to work” can get you sent back or flagged in the system
🧭 Final Word
✅ Go build relationships in SF — just don’t blur the line between pitching and performing
✅ Deliver the work from Canada unless you get the right visa
✅ Think long-term: if the U.S. is your target market, structure it correctly now so you can scale later without risk
If this helped clarify things for you, an upvote would be appreciated. It helps others find useful answers too. 🙏
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