Build US experience for your Canadian ambitions.
Qualifying US experience may be relevant to some Canadian routes. Actual duties, pay, duration and your wider profile matter; US experience is not Canadian work experience.
Assess my US programme fitExperience across the border
Work with a US employer, earn for your contribution and build experience in your field. For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, it is a chance to work in another market without putting your professional development on hold.
Make the work relevant to your Canadian plans
If Canadian permanent residence is part of your plan, start with the proposed duties, hours, pay and dates. A paid US placement may provide qualifying foreign work experience. We supply the placement information so your Canadian adviser can assess it against your route and wider profile. US experience does not replace the Canadian work required for the Canadian Experience Class.
For Canadian citizens and permanent residents, the conversation can focus on professional development: the team you want to join, the skills you want to develop and the length of your American chapter. Your Canadian status and your eligibility for a US programme are separate questions.
For applicants planning Canadian permanent residence
Qualifying paid US work can be relevant to foreign-work-experience requirements. We provide the proposed duties, pay and dates so your Canadian immigration adviser can assess the role against your plans. US experience is foreign experience, not Canadian work experience; its treatment depends on your circumstances and the applicable rules.
Clear terms before you commit
You receive a private proposal with the programme fee, inclusions and placement guarantee. Your employer pays you separately for the work you do.
We also set out the costs to budget for, including visa and SEVIS charges, insurance, flights and living expenses where these are not included. That gives you a clear picture of the move before you enrol.
A paid role, arranged through Aureus
Your programme includes CV and interview preparation, employer placement and J-1 coordination. We confirm your route against your education, experience and intended start, then give you a private proposal before you enrol. Your employer offer sets out the work, location, hours and pay.
Questions for your next step
Does paid US experience automatically qualify for Express Entry?+
No. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the work must satisfy requirements including eligible duties, paid status and at least one continuous qualifying year. How foreign experience affects your ranking is a separate assessment. Check the proposed placement against the rule you intend to use before enrolling.
Does every internship count as foreign experience?+
No. Treatment depends on the actual work and the applicable Canadian route or ranking rules. Paid status, duties, dates, continuity and the wider profile may all matter.
Can I combine it with earlier experience?+
Possibly, depending on the specific rule and the nature of each period. A continuous qualifying-year requirement is not the same as aggregation under other foreign-experience rules.
Can experience gained while studying count?+
IRCC allows qualifying paid, continuous student work towards Federal Skilled Worker minimum requirements. Canadian Experience Class applies different rules and excludes work gained while studying full-time. Assess your work against the specific route and ranking rules you intend to use.
Official sources for programme requirements. Reviewed 10 November 2026 where recorded in our source register.