This isn't necessarily true. As a Canadian, your part of NAFTA and if your occupation falls under one of the mention jobs for a TN visa, you can qualify for that. Usually jobs that require university education and/or 3-5 years of experience (i.e. Computer Systems Analyst, etc). Its good for a year and you apply for it at the border.

I had this work visa for a number of years... After a couple years of it, you actually get more knowledgeable in the area then some attorneys!

Basically (if they didn't change the rules over the last couple years), you get a Offer Letter from your employer (which has to have the job title that your hired for and it has to match one of the list job titles they will allow for the TN visa, salary and some other stuff), 50 bucks (probably more now), and all your documentation (i.e. University degrees, resume, transcripts, etc). I had one case at the Detroit border where the guy wanted to see my high school transcripts! That guy was known to be a little odd, but no matter what, if you want the visa you got to play the game. It usually easier if you go through an international airport from Canada (i.e. from Toronto to Newark - though Toronto has USA Customs there now, might have INS too?). If your a legit person you won't get too much of a hassle. My wife had 4 officers in Buffalo bend over backwards to get her in (yes, it was after 9/11 - as i told her to expect the worst), but her offer letter wasn't up to snuff - job title didn't match one of the approved ones and her future employer didn't understand what they had to do.

Its much easier to get then say an HB visa which is mainly for people from overseas. I believe they are phasing out this type of visa (not sure, so don't quote me).

Basically, if your Canadian, get a TN visa.

Hope that helps,
Kris