Canadian applying for J-1 Visa

I have a bit of a complicated situation, but I thought I would throw it out there and get some thoughts on it.

I'm currently working full-time (in accounting) and doing a full-time post-graduate program in Human Resources. I also have a 10 year old daughter, and I am dating a US Citizen who lives in California.

I very recently was offered a 12-month unpaid internship working with a municipality in California. It will provide me with some very awesome HR experience. I intend on applying for a J-1 visa through SWAP (CIEE) (and a J-2 visa for my daughter).

I'm a little nervous because it is an unpaid internship, so my boyfriend will be supporting my daughter and I (which isn't a problem, he definitely makes enough and will be providing a guarantor letter). I fully intend on coming back to Canada after the internship is finished. However, I am a recent university graduate who has only been working less than a year. I don't own any property... how do I prove that I have strong ties to Canada?

I am planning on driving and entering at the Buffalo NY POE. Am I right to feel nervous about quitting my full-time job and attempting to obtain this visa at the boarder with the potential of being turned away? This is an awesome experience (that I haven't been able to find in Canada) but if I'm going to have problems entering the country maybe I should just forget about it...

Any thoughts?

Honestly, you won't know until you try really. It's difficult for anyone to say whether or not you'd be admitted for the J status. The best you can do is have *something* to prove you will be returning to Canada, and not staying to marry your American partner to try and circumvent immigration processes.

Driving is easier than flying obviously, as you won't lose the cost of the tickets that way if you're denied entry, you just turn around and go home.

...you're planning to drive all the way to California? That's quite a haul, with a 10 y/o in the car with you!

Don't carry everything you own with you, just take what is absolutely necessary for the trip and for a 1 year stay (ie: don't take the kitchen crockery and sink if you follow).

What were you planning on doing with all your stuff? Do you have an apartment lease or ???

Yeah that's what I figured...

I'm going to talk to a lawyer next week about what kind of proof I can bring to show I have ties in Canada.

I hate to give up this opportunity, but it's starting to seem like a huge risk. I was so happy when I got the news this morning, but now I'm a wreck trying to decide what to do.

I know it will be a long drive... and we are planning on stopping at some neat places along the way

My parents will be keeping all my stuff (and looking after my dog) for a year.

I hate hard decisions!

What's the risk really? Being denied entry isn't a big risk really. It's not bannishment, you can go back later once you have proof of ties.

The hard part for you is that you have no property ties, and you're taking your daughter with you to go (live with) your USC boyfriend. But if you have obligations in Canada that are not easily abandoned, such as your dog, and all your worldly possessions, that's something.

If you work out a contract with your parents, and pay them a minor fee for bording your dog and storing your stuff, that could be a tie to Canada. The trick is just convincing the border guards that your dog means more to you than your USC boyfriend does.

You do have to have a "residence in a foreign country which he has no intention of abandoning" to get J. Bank statement with a Canadian address on it with proof of funds is probably a good idea. But unfortunately as Reba says, it depends on how much of a jobsworth the CBP guy is that you get. I think your situation in a bit more tricky than usual because you have a US boyfriend who is supporting you, which will make them think you intend on immigrating permanently.

So bank statement with as much money shown on it as you can muster, or letter from the bank manager.

Another alternative to J-1 in this situation is H-3, by the way, although it still has the same residency requirement. But it's not subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement prior to re-entering (if your J category is subject to it, it may not be - check). H-3 is only subject to a six-month foreign residency requirement.