J-1 Exchange Visa

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Most non-immigrant categories for Canadians are processed at the POE, but you do need the DS-2019 from the sponsor and the receipt to prove you've paid the application fee and any other supporting documentation.

You have to have proof of abode abroad with J, so basically something to establish that, driver's licence, bank statement, rent/lease agreement if you can pull it off.

Your employer can apply for change of status from J-1 to TN-1 using form I-129, or you can re-enter.

I contacted my local American consulate (Montreal) by email, and they told me that J-1 visas for Canadian get processed at the border. However, the state department website says consular interviews are required. Which is true?

Finally, I anticipate that there will be a job offer for me at the end of the internship. Would there be a problem in changing from a J-1 visa to a TN visa? Is it possible?

Canadians are in a separate category from other non-US citizens as we do not need visas to enter the US. So no, you do not need to go to the consulate to get your J-1. All you need to do is go to the border with your DS-2019. You'll be asked to go to secondary inspection where you'll wait and wait and wait, and then you'll talk to a CBP officer who will stamp your passport and give you an I-94 card (which, if you're driving, you'll need to pay $6 for). And that's it.

As for the TN, you can get that at the border as well. Just drive/fly back to Canada and re-enter to apply for your TN.

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The only "rule" applies to J-1s that have a two-year foreign residency requirement. If you fall under that category, you would not be able to return to the US on a TN until after that two-year period ends.

I'm attempting to cross the Buffalo, NY border on J-1 status next Monday. I'll let you know how it goes

-- Fri Aug 07, 2009 3:53 pm --

For the record, my border crossing couldn't have gone smoother. I retained a lawyer who accompanied my daughter and I, but she wasn't allowed to come up to the counter unless she saw that we were having trouble.

They called my name, the Officer asked me some questions (where am I going, for how long, where I was staying, etc.). He didn't even look at my paperwork that I had worked so hard to pull together (my book was a masterpiece)! He didn't even ask about custody of my daughter, which I found really strange. The one thing he did ask me is whether or not I was on medication.....twice! I was just really nervous since I had quit my job and packed up my belongings and I knew he had the ability to turn me away!

After reading some of the horror stories on here I'm glad all that stress was for nothing!

My paperwork (had he even LOOKED at it) included:

Program stuff:
my internship program (developed by my California employer)
my SEVIS form (completed by SWAP/CIEE)
proof of my education
proof of medical insurance

Finances stuff:
letter of sponsorship from my boyfriend (a US citizen who is supporting me)
my boyfriend's bank letter, pay stub and confirmation of employment

Proof of ties stuff:
letter from my parents about storing my belongings
credit card statements
proof of loans
cell phone contract
letter from property management company stating their willingness to rent me a unit upon my return

and then some custody stuff. That was it! I highly recommend SWAP, they were excellent. Expensive, but they took care of a lot of stuff for me.

Has anybody (Canadian citizen) get their J-1 approved at local airport after checking in ?