1- Year Unpaid Internship in U.S. Best approach?

Hey All,

I'm hoping ya'll here can share some of your knowledge with me to demystify some of the information regarding Canadians staying in the U.S. Here is my situation:

-Plan is to volunteer/intern at a university athletics department in the state of Texas for 1 year. Will receive NO compensation, is NOT associated with an academic program, nor is it a formal agreement with any paperwork. Fully funded by myself.

-Plan to rent an apartment for 1 year.

As I understand it I can visit the U.S. for 6 months at a time. How long do I have to leave the U.S. for before I can return for another 6 months? Would the border folks look poorly upon me planning to rent an apartment as opposed to say "living with friends"?

Is the best route to reveal the actual plan or be "creative" in what exactly is revealed to make the process easier? Thanks folks for any insight you can offer here, as I've done a ton of research already and things still aren't very clear!

Your "visit" to US is always conditional on CBP approval, so you will need to expalin what you will be doing at the border, and they will or will not admit you on B-1 status (B-1 is business visitor). Do not simply cross as if you are going shopping in Buffalo.

You will need to show proof of ability to support yourself, as well as show your maintenance of a foreign residence (yes, you do need to keep a place full-time in canada).

They might let you in for the full year, or they may require that you return to canad a(or renew your B-1 by mail at the mid-point).

Thanks very much for your response AGN!

Couple of follow up things, thanks to any and all that can offer advice:

1. I have no significant ties to Canada. No spouse, I would be leaving my condo, no mortgage, I'm self employed so no real job or business to come back to. I assume this more of less screws me?

2. Upon research of the B status, I found no mention of internships or volunteering but have found some mention of it with the M visa?

3. My grandmother is a U.S. citizen but my father (her son) never got his U.S. citizenship, can she sponsor me somehow?

4. If I had ownership of a house in a different state than Texas but still in the U.S. would that help me? (I can make that happen)