Hi,
I'm a contractor doing IT and network engineering work for a Canadian company. They have an office in a small town in New York State, run by a wholly-owned US subsidiary.
My company's contract is with the Canadian company. They would like me to be able to cross the border to do in-person work at their US office, 2-3 times per year, irregularly. I would not be a resident in the USA - in fact, I wouldn't even be staying overnight. Ideally my company would remain contracted to the Canadian company, bill the Canadian company, and be paid in Canada by the Canadian company.
I am an expert in my field, and an expert specifically in this company's methods and systems, and in the security procedures they use. They have tried to find an American who can do this job as well as I could, but they have not found anyone who can do it anywhere near as well, in that small town, on such a sporadic schedule.
My question is:
What kind of work visa do I need to do this legally, and where do I start to get it? I don't think I want the H-1B - I'm not going to be an employee of the US company, nor would I be living in the USA. The B-1 prohibits "employment" while in the USA, and I'm not attending a conference, consulting with associates, negotiating a contract, or settling an estate, so it doesn't seem to be right either. I don't want an L-1 - I'm not moving to the USA. I qualify under the allowed professions for a TN-1, but again, I'm an independent contractor, not an employee, and my contract is with the Canadian company that owns the American company, not with the American company.
Do I need a contract with the American company directly? Would I need to be an actual "employee" for this to work or is there a way to get work permission as a contractor? Is there fine print in one or more of these Visa options that would mean it works for me?
Thanks in advance!

