I am a dual citizen and have often thought of moving up to Canada, but as a 3L I worry that I won’t be able to get loan forgiveness for the work I do in Canada.  I still plan on working the public sector and working at nonprofits, but does it count if its not in the U.S.?

Employment with the U.S. Federal Government QUALIFIES, no matter where you do it (for example you could be a Marine in Afghanistan).

Employment with a Foreign Government does NOT qualify (for example if you work for the Canadian Royal Police).

Employment with a U.S. Non-Profit Organization (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) QUALIFIES unless the organization is a labor union or a partisan political organization or your job duties.

Employment with an International, Intergovernmental Organization (for example the United Nations, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Organization of American States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, etc.) employment does NOT qualify.  But note that the U.S. Federal Government employs the United States delegation to international, intergovernmental organizations such as the U.S. mission to the United Nations, therefore, such employment qualifies.

Employment with a Foreign Non-Profit Organization operating outside the United States does NOT qualify.

Employment with a Foreign Non-Profit Organization operating within in the United States (or in one of the islands that have a legal relationship with the United States, for example Puerto Rico) MAY QUALIFY, but only if the employer provides one or more of the following public services:
• Emergency management,
• Military service,
• Public safety,
• Law enforcement,
• Public interest law services,
• Early childhood education (including licensed or regulated childcare, Head Start, and state-funded pre-kindergarten),
• Public service for individuals with disabilities and the elderly,
• Public health (including nurses, nurse practitioners, nurses in a clinical setting, and full-time professionals engaged in health care practitioner occupations and health care support occupations),
• Public education,
• Public library services, or
• School library or other school-based services.

and note that a few of the above public services have more specific definitions and people engaged in religious services must consider additional detail regarding how they spend their time.