J-1 visa limitations, extensions, and study/work options once completed?

[cedwards 0]

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen, trying to find a way to work in the U.S., once my university studies are completed. I am not only interested in working in the U.S., but my partner is an American living there, so I have real motivation to go and hope to find a way of extending my time there.

Regarding internship or traineeship-offers:

Must the position being offered by an organization be titled or posted as an 'internship' specifically? What qualifies a position as an internship, as opposed to a job-offer, apart from having a time-limitation?
I am trying to determine if I may apply for any job through this visa, or to only 'internship' positions. It concerns me, since most 'internship' positions are poorly paid or short, 6 months or less, and I hope to stay for at least 12 months and must cover my expenses.

I also wish to confirm:

Does the company willing to hire the intern need to pay for the processing of legal documents, and if yes, how much do they pay?

I know that this is the case for H1B visas, but I am not sure what responsibility or the fee-cost that the J1 hiring-company takes on.

Finally, do you know:

If I applied for and completed a J-1 Non-immigrant Internship or J-1 Traineeship (up to 12 or 18 months maximum), are there any possible routes or exceptional cases which allow the participant to remain in the states?

From what I have read so far, the J-1 program participant can only stay in the U.S. for up to 30 days once the program is completed.

However, might it be possible, for example, to be approved for an H1b-visa job, and thus to stay in the States?

Or would it be possible to apply to an American university, while the J-1 internship program is taking place, and thus not have to return, so long as the school semester begins when the internship ends?

If there are no possible exceptions to be made for J-1 visa applicants, how long must a Canadian remain in Canada, before being elligible to apply for schools or for work-visas in the United States again?

Thanks for your help!!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

What is your profession? TNs are a good option

[cedwards 0]

I have a bachelors degree in the Fine Arts.

I do not have a masters degree so I think it will be hard to find a TN job-offer.

I have worked in the fields of:

Radio-journalism - News Department,

Culture Writer & Content Producer,

Social Media & Blogging,

Digital Archiving,

Reception and Administrative experience,

Cultural Programming and Coordination,

Exhibition Installation Technician,

Theatre Set-Design.

[ricnally 258]

I came to the U.S. originally on an I-visa for foreign media, and stayed for a year. This may be an option for you. PM me if you want more info on how I did it.