Visa for unpaid internship?

[acarso4]

Hi. I am a Cdn. citizen planning to do an unpaid internship in the US for up to 10 months and I was wondering what type of visa I need? It is a Land/Permaculture (organic farming) internship and I will not be receiving any type of official certification. Also worth mentioning, I have been working in the US for the past two years with a TN visa. Also, if I am correct in thinking it is a J1 visa that I need, does anybody know the best way to go about getting one? Thanks for any info. that can be provided.

[Allyssa]

My cousin just planned a similar trip and despeite all the looking around and embassy phoning that she did, she was totally shocked when she was mug-shotted, and detained by the department of homeland security operating at our airport. It was that mornign that she was to leave that a not to kind boarder guard laughed at her for not having "an M". She found out later that this was a form of visa that apparently all volunteers are suppose to have. The process would have taken several months for her to get this (and by that time her program would be half over), so she was advised to come as a tourist and go back for Christmas.
My advice -- check into whether or no you will need an M. and leave yourself ample time to obtain one.

Blessings on your time of service.

Allyssa

[acarso4]

Hi Allysa, Thanks for the reply and sorry to hear that your sister faced such an ordeal. But let me just clarify, are you saying the the US customs officer told her to enter the US as a tourist (which canadian citizens may do for up to 6 months without a visa), knowing that she was going to volunteer? Because my plan was to start the internship in November and return to Canada for a break at Christmas anyway. I'm just wondering if it is ok to say that I am volunteering (say for just two months) without having a visa? Because if so, then I could return after Christmas and have a fresh 6 months to play with. hmmm. Proving to be quite a hassle finding the correct info!
Thanks for all you can offer,
Aimee

[Reba]

You will need to apply for that M visa (which is for volunteers and missionaries). You cannot legally work (which includes volunteering without pay) in the US without a visa. If you tell them you're going to volunteer/intern, you'll be denied entry unless you have a visa.