A TN visa allows Canadian and Mexican professionals to live and work in the United States. However, before you can apply, you have to ensure you meet all the TN visa requirements.
Find out how to get a TN Visa during the Coronavirus/COVID-19
Check out our guide below:
Basic TN Visa Requirements
“A citizen of a NAFTA country may work in a professional occupation in the U.S. provided:
- The profession is recognized under NAFTA;Â and
- The alien possesses the specific criteria for that profession;Â and
- The prospective position requires someone in that professional capacity;Â and
- The alien is going to work for a U.S. employer.
If all of these conditions are met, then a TN may be issued.”Â
However, according to travel.state.gov: “The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the US Embassy or Consulate where you apply.”
Follow our steps below:
1. Find an Employer
Before you can apply for a TN visa, you need to first receive a job offer from an employer willing to sponsor you and file an application on your behalf. From this moment onward, we’ll refer to your employer as the “Petitioner” and you (the employee) as the “Beneficiary.”
2. Ensure the Job Is an Acceptable TN Occupation
Before you go any further, as the beneficiary you should make sure the job you are being offered is listed as a TN occupation. According to wikihow: “The job must be one of the professions in Appendix 1603.D.1 of the NAFTA.” You can find the full list of acceptable occupations here.
3. Ensure You Qualify for the TN Occupation
You have to be able to qualify for what’s known as the Minimum Education Requirements, or Alternative Credentials of your chosen TN occupation.
These requirements will vary depending on the occupation, but most TN occupations will require you to possess a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree in a relevant field. However, there are some occupations that only require five years of suitable work experience.
4. Ask Your Petitioner to Draft a Support Letter
The petitioner must write a support letter that contains the following key information:
- A company description explaining the petitioner’s business, basic financial information and the number of employees, along with any other important information. It should express a strong need for the beneficiary’s occupation.
- A detailed job description highlighting that the job is an acceptable TN occupation, along with why the beneficiary’s occupation is essential to the business’s success. Bear in mind, the adjudicating immigration officer will base their decision on the information provided in this letter, so it should include as much detail as possible.
- The beneficiary’s qualifications, and why they are qualified for the position in question.
5. Ensure You Have All the Correct Documents
Bring the following to the port of entry or US Consulate:
- A valid passport
- Your employer support letter
- Proof of your qualifications and transcripts
- Proof of your professional licenses
- Employment verification letters
- Your resume
- Basic company information
Are You Interested in Applying for a TN Visa?
The documentation and processes involved in successfully obtaining a TN Visa for a foreign beneficiary are complex and usually require legal expertise. As such, if you’re considering applying for a TN visa, you should consider hiring an immigration lawyer. At Visaplace, we have helped thousands and thousands of Canadians and Mexicans successfully enter the U.S. with TN Visas and we can help you too!
Getting started is easy. Simply fill out our Free Immigration Assessment Form and we will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility and options.
President & CEO
Michael Niren
Mr. Niren is CEO of VisaPlace LLC and the President and Managing Partner of VisaPlace Legal Canada, an immigration law firm based in Toronto, and VisaPlace Legal US a law firm registered in The District of Columbia, USA. Mr. Niren is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association’s Citizenship and Immigration Section, American Lawyers Association, and an Associate Member of the American Bar Association.
