[OmarIsmail]

Not sure what term you're in but startups - particularly the smaller 2/3 team ones, can't absorb more junior developers. But if you're in 3A and above you should be strong enough to hit the ground running.

There's also immigration issues. To get a J-1 visa the host company needs to meet certain requirements.

In any event as a Waterloo alum currently doing a YC-backed startup in SF, we'll be posting jobs in the next co-op round.

[vowelless]

I thought Canadians could work on a TN visa in the US with minimal complications.

[justjimmy]

To get a TN Visa you need 3 years work experience in the relavent field (there's a list) and it's on the whim of the agent you face.

1.5 years for me to go~ (currently in TO).

[jarek]

> To get a TN Visa you need 3 years work experience in the relavent field (there's a list)

This is completely inaccurate unless you mean without a post-secondary degree. Tons of new grads head south on a TN straight after graduating, even if they didn't do co-op.

[acchow]

Close. TN Visa requires a relevant degree but U.S. Labor department policies equate 3 years of work experience with 1 year of university. As such, interns generally don't have a degree or 12 years of work experience, so they can't get a TN. The standard internship visa is J1.

Disclosure: currently living in Waterloo as I was unable to obtain a TN.

[justjimmy]

I stand corrected. I remembered my situation was different - I had a diploma (3yrs) in design, instead of the common degree (4yrs), so I needed 3 years to make up the 1 missing year. My apologies~

[cbhl]

True, but if you're looking at those co-op/internship terms, the best you'll get is a J1 because you don't have your post-secondary degree yet.

[acchow]

I am currently in Waterloo because I was unable to obtain a TN (lack of relevant degree). I recommend you re-check the laws because things may not be as rosy as you believe.

3 years of work experience is equivalent to 1 year of university. So, if you have no degree, you'd need 12 years of work experience.

[michaelrlitt]

To follow up on Omar's comment - there are some YC startups operating in Canada ;)

Some of those startups know lots of silicon valley companies looking to vet through the crowd of international talent. Working somewhere local is a great place to start.