Canadian attending a Canadian School Online living in the US

I am a Canadian looking to attend a Canadian University via Correspondance. I would Like to live in California while I do my degree. I have no Family in the United States. I would not need to work as I would be living with my Canadian Boyfriend who works in the USA under a TN visa. Do I need to apply for a USA visa to study while in the USA. Will this make me an international student to the Canadian school I am attending ?

I should add this seems to be the only way I can get down there legally - if at all. I do not have a degree ( hence the finishing it online)

I currently work as a Property Manager for an international company but having just started with them am unsure how or if I should broach the subject of transfer especially with there US side not doing as well right now.

Also can I Volunteer in the USA while on a visitor visa?



Thank you

You can do the study bit as a "cohabiting partner", as you'd be B-2, and B-2 can engage in "part-time" study, which basically means informal study, and I'm pretty sure an on-line college would be that.

To be a cohabiting partner you need to have lived with your boyfriend outside the US, but this only really matters if you plan on staying more than six months, otherwise you're just a regular B-2 visitor. If you plan on staying longer than that you have to either convince the CBP guy at the POE that you are a cohabiting partner and get him to let you in for a year, or alternatively (or at the end of that year) you have to renew your status using form I-539. This costs $320 every six months.

Read this: http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/teleg ... _1414.html

You can't work in the US, which includes volunteer work where a person would ordinarily be paid to do that work. Which is a bit of a vague definition but I don't come up with this stuff!

Generally speaking, you can only volunteer without a work permit if the organization you're volunteering with is *entirely* made up of volunteers, and no paid employees. (this keeps jobs safe for people who are legal to work, and keeps employers honest about paying them. )