How can you get a student visa?

How can an non-student American get a Canadian Visa to work for a not-for-profit?

• I have a job offer from a privately owned camp in BC, Canada. They are a not-for-profit, and do not have the ability to give me a HRSDC to use on a normal workers Visa. What sort of Visa can a non-student apply for so that they can work without a HRSDC or a LMO?

• Answer:

  If they are paying you, and your occupation is not on the list of those not requiring a work permit in Canada, then they require an LMO and you must apply for a work permit. Otherwise... you are taking a job away from a Canadian -- and both they and you are facing serious immigration and taxation laws. Why they are offering you a job when they know they can't legally hire you is a mystery to me. Your most obvious option is to not work for money. Volunteer and have them agree to cover your travel, room and board. They don't need to remit income taxes, you don't need a SIN, and it isn't a job. You get job experience and a free trip to BC. Alternately, you can apply for temporary residency (visitor's visa) and then apply for a working holiday visa under the International Experience Canada (IEC) Youth Exchange Programs. You need to be 18 and 35. The company would also need to sign up to the program (managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs) and there is little hope that you'd get that specific job -- if any. This would be illegal if you already had an offer of employment -- as it is merely a dodge around the LMO procedure -- and both of you would face serious penalties if caught.