What kind of visa and how?

So I'm a canadian university student who wants to go to the states for about a year. I don't want to take classes while I'm there if I don't have to, I just want to go there and work. I'd like to pi...

Canadian Expatriate and Travellers Forum Index -> Canadians in the USA -> US Visas and Immigration

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StacieR
New Member

Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
Location: vancouver

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:52 am

So I'm a canadian university student who wants to go to the states for about a year. I don't want to take classes while I'm there if I don't have to, I just want to go there and work. I'd like to pick a job where I can observe some of my learned skills, however, it wont be a straight "med student working at a hospital" kind of job.

What kind of visa could I be eligible for and how do I get one? I have an aunt and uncle in florida, but I won't be going there so I don't know if thats any help.I also work in the veterinary industry here so would getting a job in that field be beneficial? I have years of retail/customer service experience too. If there are jobs you can get without a visa please let me know.I'm not sure what the laws are there.

I'll pretty much do anything I need to to qualify for a visa.any help, suggestions or information is unbelievably appreciated!

~ Stacie

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1488
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:57 am

You cannot legally work in the US without some sort of visa with employment authorization.

Your post is a bit confusing. What are you studying at uni? Medicine or Veterinary Medicine?
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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1637
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:03 am

Not clear on what you're trying to do. If you want vocational training that's M or maybe a J visa.

There is no general work permit you can get, you need to be sponsored. Although you can get TN-1 as a vet, assuming you're licensed in the State you want to work in. TN-1 is pretty easy from a paperwork standpoint for the employer.
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StacieR
New Member

Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Posts: 4
Location: vancouver

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:44 pm

my degree isn't finished yet so I don't qualify for a TN-1.

Basically I just want to go down for 6 months to a year but can't survive without working so I just want to know if there are any visa's I can get that allow for me to work anywhere from Starbucks, to a hotel/restaurant, to a veterinary hospital(as a technician or assistant NOT a vet).

So far, I can only find info for australians wanting to do this, but nothing for canadians.

Reba
Moderator

Canuck in NC

Joined: 16 Jul 2004
Posts: 1488
Location: North Carolina

Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 4:16 am

no, there is nothing available like that available to Canadians.
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graphicdesign
New Member

design professional

Joined: 19 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
Location: NYC

Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:26 pm

Reba wrote: no, there is nothing available like that available to Canadians.

This is not entirely true. Your best bet (or really, only bet) is to get a SWAP (student work abroad program) visa. As a current uni student, you can qualify both for the USA summer student visa and the internship visa. In US visa terms, these are both J-1 visas (which permit you to work in the States) but they are issued through SWAP. As I do not have enough posts on here, I can't post the link to their site. Just Google "SWAP Canada" - it's the first result. Good luck!