Canada to US

[walktome]

I don't know if anyone on here will be able to help me but here is my situation.

I want to take the year off of school next year and go back to New Orleans as a volunteer relief worker. Canadians don't need visas to be in the US for business or pleasure, apparently. I'm assuming that since I'll be a volunteer I won't need a visa. I know that Red Cross volunteers don't need visas but they only go for 3 weeks and I plan on going for a good 9 or 10 months.

I went to the US embassy and while they gave me advice, I realized that they never actually told me whether I need one for sure or not. I know a regular visitor's visa expires after 6 months. They suggested I have the organization I'm going with apply for me to be an exchange visitor (basically someone going with a program/organization) and the woman who answers the emails for the organization I'm going with said she didn't personally have the time to go to immigration and fill out forms for me.

So. Anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just go back to the US embassy and clear up whether I actually NEED a visa or not? This is just to be sure I'll be able to cross the border without any hassle, I will be fine with money etc once I am down there.

[spring-peeper]

Try here - http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html

What you're doing sounds really cool. Good for you!!!

*scurries off to find blog*

[walktome]

Oh I have the information for the exchange visitor program, it's just, well, here's part of the email from the organization:

"I personally do not have time to make that happen. I will send an email around to other people and see if anyone has the time to do that for you. To give you a heads up, we are extremely busy right now with the huge influx of college students for spring break. "

So. Looks like that won't happen. Basically I just need to figure out if I actually need a visa since I'll be gone for an extended period of time.

[spring-peeper]

Oh I have the information for the exchange visitor program, it's just, well, here's part of the email from the organization:

"I personally do not have time to make that happen. I will send an email around to other people and see if anyone has the time to do that for you. To give you a heads up, we are extremely busy right now with the huge influx of college students for spring break. "

So. Looks like that won't happen. Basically I just need to figure out if I actually need a visa since I'll be gone for an extended period of time.

Personally, I'd just go and deal with any problems if and when they occur.

Found this on another one of their sites - this one about travel


Canada

Citizens of Canada traveling to the U.S. do not require a nonimmigrant visa, except for the purposes as described below.

Foreign government officials (A), officials and employees of international organizations (G) and NATO officials, representatives and employees assigned to the U.S. as needed to facilitate their travel;

* treaty traders (E-1);
* treaty investors (E-2);
* fiance/es (K-1);
* children of fiancées (K-2);
* U.S. citizen's foreign citizen spouse, who is traveling to the U.S. to complete the process of immigration (K-3);
* children of a foreign citizen spouse (K-4) described above;
* spouses of lawful permanent residents (V-1) traveling to the U.S. to reside here while they wait for the final completion of their immigration process.
* children of spouses of lawful permanent residents (V-2) described above.

Permanent residents (aka landed immigrants) of Canada must have a nonimmigrant visa unless the permanent resident is a national of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meets the VWP requirements, and is seeking to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less under that program.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1260.html#canada

Arm yourself with that and go.

[walktome]

That is a good thing to arm myself with- that, a bank statement, and a letter from my organization seems to be the plan so far.

[spring-peeper]

That is a good thing to arm myself with- that, a bank statement, and a letter from my organization seems to be the plan so far.

Hon, I have full confidence in your ability to get out off any problems. If you can't talk your way out of any "misunderstandings", then no one can.

Good luck and do good

Love, peace and harmony :D

[walktome]

Thanks! :D I'll work on my negotiating skills.