You are permitted to intern in the United States under what is called the J-1 Intern Visa, which allows exchange visitors into the US under an approved category of the U.S. Governments Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Eligibility requirements for this program and its various categories have been determined by the US Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and are upheld by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which monitors all SEVP providers, host companies, and non-immigrant (temporary) students and exchange visitors while in the US.

This means…

You can only begin the process of obtaining a visa to enter the U.S. as an intern after you have been proven eligible based on U.S. Government requirements. You are eligible when: one, you have met these U.S. requirements; and two, have been accepted for participation in a U.S. Government approved program or have received sponsorship from a U.S. designated organization.

You must meet all supporting qualifications by providing the necessary documentation required before your J-1 Visa can be approved, and you must be placed with a host company which has been approved to participate in the program and will provide a comprehensive training plan for your internship. Once you have been placed with a host company, your J-1 Visa will be approved.

J-1 Visa Status Application Process

For placement program participants

As a Canadian citizen, you are guaranteed J-1 Intern Visa Status when participating in the US Internship program. Not only is your eligibility for J-1 Visa Status determined with your acceptance into the program, but the supporting qualifications required for your status to be approved are all provided to U.S. authorities upon your registration. When you receive your job offer in the U.S., a Certificate of Eligibility (a form called the DS-2019) will be provided to you. When you cross the Canada-US border to begin your internship, you simply offer this form to automatically receive your J-1 Intern Visa status.

For sponsorship applicants

We will sponsor your J-1 Visa application once we have determined you are eligible for J-1 status, and we will guide you through the J-1 Visa approval process. In finding your own internship position you are responsible for reaching an agreement with your host company in terms of your responsibilities as an intern, your placement duration and your pay/stipend, if any. This contractual agreement is part of the J-1 approval process, and we will provide you with the information and documents required to complete this.
Note that your visa is only approved once all of the necessary qualifications have been met, and obtaining an internship position with a host company in the US does not guarantee your J-1 approval.