J1 for canadians , still confused

I am a canadian citizen, but was raised in Brazil all my life. I am in Canada now ( fist time in my life), but actually I would like to get a social security to work in NY (because my girlfriend should be there on december) I am studying english at Brock in st catharines - ON until december . I have completed bachelors degree in advertising attended in Brasil (usless in booth countries). I would like to do the kind of slavery work in a french restaurant i already know. But I am still confused about the visas, because I see people here in this forum talking about this and also about the swap, and I just found two US websites which states that there is no visa for canadians citizens, just a form to fill and you dont need to go for the consulate and wait for a stamp on your passport.


The websites as following:
columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/J-1/J_student_travel.html
Canadian citizens do not require an entry visa to enter the U.S. from Canada, but DO require an I-20




dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/canadian.html
Canadians in J-1 student, scholar, or professor status are not required to hold a U.S. J-1 visa. Upon receipt of the DS-2019 form from Dartmouth College



So , could somebody give me a hand ? thanks !

I just found two US websites which states that there is no visa for canadians citizens, just a form to fill and you dont need to go for the consulate and wait for a stamp on your passport.


The websites as following:
columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/J-1/J_student_travel.html
Canadian citizens do not require an entry visa to enter the U.S. from Canada, but DO require an I-20




dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/canadian.html
Canadians in J-1 student, scholar, or professor status are not required to hold a U.S. J-1 visa. Upon receipt of the DS-2019 form from Dartmouth College



So , could somebody give me a hand ? thanks !

Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter the US, but they still need to meet the requirements of whatever status they are entering in at the border. So to enter in J-1 status, a Canadian need not obtain a visa, but they have to be prepared to show most of the same documentation at the border upon entry that other nationalities would also have to bring to the visa interview. And after entry, the same rules apply to Canadians as to any other temporary entrants.

In other words, the entry of Canadians is facilitated because they can skip one bureaucratic step (usually), but the entry requirements for Canadians are still much the same as for anyone else.

Because of the nature of the Canadian border, sometimes the rules are enforced a bit more leniently for Canadians, but the US officials will compensate for this by being extremely harsh in cases where they do catch someone lying. Ie don't count on being treated leniently if you stretch the truth at the border.

I don't think that J-1 status would allow for the kind of restaurant work you are talking about, although a J-2 status holder (ie the spouse of a J-1) can do that kind of work legally. There are other visas that might work but, unless you were friendly with the restaurant owner and they were willing to invest far more time and effort in the hiring process than is typical for such positions, I think it is a long shot.

You apply at the POE with the DS-2019 for J-1 status, there is no visa for Canadians. You must have proof of paying the fee as well.

You can't work on the basis you're talking about on J-1. I can't see a way you could do it legally, frankly (culinary school?) H-2B would be the visa for that but it would be hard to get in the circumstances you're talking about.

why is not legal ? Because my girlfriend is doing the same ( she is studying in a university, and going for the work experience and will work in a place such a restaurant or retail shop).

I am almost the same case, but my degree is "paused" in brazil, i am still enrolled but i am not studying.

Maybe i could in other place, the only thing i really wanna do is going to NY, share a place with my girlfriend and choose the place i am going to work, so I think the really important thing is not going there illegal and have the social security number ( or will be almost impossible to get one).

I also want after saving some money study at NYU (certificate program), So, what you recommend for me ? still j-2 ?

Also, any hint of any good agency or if I do this all by myself will be ok ?


thanks buddies

I checked the J-2 visa but is not availble for me because i am not married to her. What about nafta visa ? The problem is that I studied in Brazil