Does a US citizen need a work visa for an unpaid internship?

[jwilkins]

So, the question is pretty much right there in the topic, but I'll explain a little more in case that changes/helps things.

I'm an American college graduate who has recently found an unpaid internship opportunity in Toronto. The internship is for 2 months, at which point I will be evaluated, which will determine if I stay at the company and begin working full time. I know that I will need to get a business visa or something at that point, but my question right now is what do I need to begin this internship?

I kind of assumed that it might be possible that I can just go ahead and start the internship already without a business visa, find a place to stay at and then begin work, since it is an unpaid internship. But I don't know if thats actually the case. The employer that I'm interning under doesn't have much experience with international interns, so they haven't been able to help me too much, though they are trying.

In the case that simply visiting the country for 2 months and doing the internship during that time is NOT legal, what do I need to do in order to be eligible to intern in Canada, and roughly how long would it take for that process to be completed?

Thank you!

 

[jwilkins]

Bump!

Anyone? Help on this would be greatly appreciated, either confirming what I thought (that I dont need a work visa for an unpaid internship) or telling me that thats not the case and pointing me in the right direction! Thanks in advance!

 

[PMM]

Hi

So, the question is pretty much right there in the topic, but I'll explain a little more in case that changes/helps things.

I'm an American college graduate who has recently found an unpaid internship opportunity in Toronto. The internship is for 2 months, at which point I will be evaluated, which will determine if I stay at the company and begin working full time. I know that I will need to get a business visa or something at that point, but my question right now is what do I need to begin this internship?

I kind of assumed that it might be possible that I can just go ahead and start the internship already without a business visa, find a place to stay at and then begin work, since it is an unpaid internship. But I don't know if thats actually the case. The employer that I'm interning under doesn't have much experience with international interns, so they haven't been able to help me too much, though they are trying.

In the case that simply visiting the country for 2 months and doing the internship during that time is NOT legal, what do I need to do in order to be eligible to intern in Canada, and roughly how long would it take for that process to be completed?

Thank you!

1. It is considered work, see: http://www.cic.gc.ca/English/resources/manuals/fw/fw01-eng.pdf page 22
2. The employer would have to obtain an LMO and you a work permit. As the internship is unpaid, it is unlikely that HRSDC would approve the LMO.
3. As Foreign students in Canada require a work permit as well for Internships, although they form a part of their studies.
4. You start it without a work permit, you will find your self having problems with Immigration.

 

[jwilkins]

Thank you very much for the reply, especially such a quick one, this definitely helps me!

Though I do still have a few questions after researching the LMO procedures and such:
1. From what I gather, the LMO is based on a case-by-case basis, so even if the company had at one point been given an LMO for this position, they would have to re-apply for another LMO for my position. I just want to double check that that is the case.
2. I'm not necessarily looking to immigrate. Even in the case that I would be hired on full time, (and bear in mind, I have not planned this far ahead yet, so I haven't looked into the requirements or logistics of it) I would still probably opt to try simply doing a work visa or at the very worst, a dual citizenship. What would the problems be when (if) I decided to immigrate?

 

[jwilkins]

Bumping again.

 

[Baloo]

Thank you very much for the reply, especially such a quick one, this definitely helps me!

Though I do still have a few questions after researching the LMO procedures and such:
1. From what I gather, the LMO is based on a case-by-case basis, so even if the company had at one point been given an LMO for this position, they would have to re-apply for another LMO for my position. I just want to double check that that is the case.
2. I'm not necessarily looking to immigrate. Even in the case that I would be hired on full time, (and bear in mind, I have not planned this far ahead yet, so I haven't looked into the requirements or logistics of it) I would still probably opt to try simply doing a work visa or at the very worst, a dual citizenship. What would the problems be when (if) I decided to immigrate?

No need to keep bumping

1 As far as I read it, they would need to apply for a new LMO.

2. First, what ever way you choose, you have to do it legally, second gaining citizenship is not a quick or simple task.

Immigration streams - see here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp

at the very worst, a dual citizenship

what do you mean by this?