Options following FM residency

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting here and I would really appreciate some guidance.

I am a UK graduate currently preparing for the USMLE exams, with the long-term goal of eventually practising in Canada, where most of my family live. I am trying to better understand how the J-1 visa requirements interact with board certification and future licensing pathways.

Specifically, I am considering applying for a Family Medicine residency in the United States on a J-1 visa. My question is: would it be possible to complete residency and obtain board certification in Family Medicine before the J-1 visa obligations (such as the two-year home residency requirement or waiver) become an issue?

If I were to complete residency and become board-certified, could I then pursue licensure in Canada based on my US training, even if I have not completed the J-1 two-year home residency requirement or a waiver (given that those requirements are related to US immigration status rather than certification itself)?

I am mainly trying to understand whether this pathway is realistic and compliant from both a visa and licensing perspective.

Thank you very much in advance for any insight.