I am a college student from the U.S. who will graduate in May. I am looking for employment and have been notified of an internship-type opportunity from September-December of 2012. After reading all the rules, I am concerned about getting a work permit. Because it is an internship and I will be a recent graduate is there some type of exception. I am studying Dairy Science and would be working at a company within the dairy industry.

As a US citizen, the first approach worth considering would be those provisions of NAFTA. Although the Professional category requires certain academic credentials as a general rule, there is not necessarily a minimum experience requirement for most occupations. The key would be to determine if the work that you will do is consistent with the definition of an eligible occupation.

Alternatives to the above would include seeking a LMO approval or the provisions of Significant Benefit to Canada, the latter only if formal policies of reciprocity exist for these types of internships.