How to Get a TN Visa: Requirements & Occupation List
Are you a Canadian or Mexican who wants to work in the US? Watch this video about TN Visas. Fill out our Immigration Assessment form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility and options.
Why TN Visas Can Help You Get a US Work Visa
If you are Canadian or Mexican, and you have a job offer in the US, you may be eligible for a TN Visa under the USMCA (NAFTA) agreement. This application process is the fastest way to get a US Work Visa. The most attractive feature of TN Visas over other types of visas is that applicants can obtain these visas right at a U.S./Canadian border or airport. Applicants are required to appear at the border with the necessary documentation. An immigration official will review the documentation and, if that officer is satisfied that the applicant qualifies for the Visa, a TN Visa will be issued on the spot!
What are the TN Visa Requirements?
The United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) contains provisions that enable Canadians and Mexicans to obtain US work visas very quickly and with minimal documentation.
Under USMCA, a Canadian or Mexican citizen who has a temporary offer of employment in the United States may qualify for a TN visa. The US job offer must be from a list of occupations defined by USMCA
(See list further below).
Note: Only citizens are eligible for a TN visa; permanent residents or landed immigrants may not apply.
Required Documents for a TN Visa Application
Along with proof of Citizenship (such as birth certificate or passport), evidence that the intended employment/business activity and the applicant qualify under Chapter 15, Schedule 2 of NAFTA, including:
- A temporary Offer of Employment from a prospective U.S. employer;
- Copies of relevant educational degrees, diplomas and certificates
- Letters of reference from previous or current employers confirming your experience in your occupation (if applicable)
When is a USMCA Professional (TN) visa required for a Canadian citizen?
Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa as a USMCA Professional, although a visa can be issued to qualified Canadian TN visa applicants upon request.
A Canadian without TN nonimmigrant status, who resides in a third country with a non-Canadian spouse and/or child(ren), and who plans to enter the United States as a USMCA professional at the same time as the family member(s), will need a TN visa in order for the family members to be eligible to apply for derivative TD nonimmigrant visa(s).
Requirements for Mexican Citizens
Mexican citizens require TN visas to request admission to the United States in this status. There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you apply. Please consult the instructions available on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will apply. After this, you must:
- Complete the online visa application
- Schedule an interview
- Prepare for your interview
- Gather required documentation (passport, nonimmigrant visa application, application payment receipt, photo, etc.)
- Attend visa interview
Click here to find out how to get a TN visa in 8 easy steps!
TD Visa for Immediate Relatives
A TD nonimmigrant visa allows the legal spouse and children (21 years and older) of the primary TN Visa holder to reside in the United States. Since this is a dependent visa, the TD visa is valid for as long as the TN visa holder’s status remains valid. There is no limit on the number of renewals that one can take for their TD visa status. TD-1 visas are issued to eligible family members of Canadian citizens while TD-2 visas are issued to eligible family members of Mexican citizens. The standard requirement is that the TD visa applicants should be able to demonstrate their spousal or parent-child relationship with the primary TN visa holder. If approved, TD visa holders will also receive an I-94 record governing their duration of stay in the US. This I-94 record will come with the same period of stay authorized for the TN visa holder.
Want to learn more about the TD Visa? Check out How to Apply for a TD Visa
TN Visa List of Occupations
If your job offer does not appear on the NAFTA list below, call us. We may be able to help!
Medical Professionals:
- Dentist
- Dietician
- Medical Laboratory Technologist
- Nutritionist
- Occupational Therapist
- Pharmacist
- Physician
- Physiotherapist
- Psychologist
- Recreational Therapist
- Registered Nurse
Scientists:
- Agriculturist
- Animal Breeder
- Animal Scientist
- Apiculturist
- Astronomer
- Biochemist
- Biologist
- Chemist
- Dairy Scientist
- Entomologist
- Epidemiologist
- Geneticist
- Geologist
- Geophysicist
- Horticulturalist
- Meteorologist
- Physicist
- Plant Breeder
- Poultry Scientist
- Soil Scientist
- Zoologist
Professionals:
- Accountant
- Architect
- College Teacher
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Disaster Relief Insurance Adjuster
- Economist
- Biologist
- Engineer
- Forester
- Graphic Designer
- Hotel Manager
- Industrial Designer
- Interior Designer
- Land Surveyor
- Lawyer (including Quebec Notary)
- Librarian, Management Consultant
- Mathematician/Statistician
- Range Manager/Conservationist
- Research Assistant (post-secondary)
- Scientific Technician/Technologist
- Seminary
- Technical Publications Writer
Top 10 Tips for Getting a TN Visa
- US Job offer should be consistent with your Education
- US job offer should appear on the NAFTA LIST
- US job offer should not exceed three years
- US job offer letter should be properly formatted with all relevant information
- When you apply, READ and UNDERSTAND all your documentation
- Your resume should be well organized and complete
- Employment references should be consistent and relevant
- Bring a valid Canadian Passport for at least three years
- Foreign degrees and diplomas should be evaluated as equivalent to Canadian or US Standards
- Get your TN Documentation reviewed by an Immigration Professional
How to Apply For a TN Visa Without a College Degree
Why Seeking Professional Help for a TN Visa is Crucial
Do not be fooled into thinking that a TN visa is easy. Your documentation and information has to behandled perfectly, otherwise you risk getting your TN Visa refused. Furthermore, it is important to carefully select which border you go to for your TN Visa interview. Not all borders handle these visas in the same way. The standards are very high, and if an application is not properly prepared, there is a higher risk of having your TN visa denied.
Why Hire Us to Help You With Your TN Visa Application?
While the procedures for TN visas may seem uncomplicated, some applicants apply without seeking any help from an immigration lawyer, thinking that they can “do it themselves.” The documentation and processes involved in successfully obtaining a TN Visa for a foreign beneficiary are complex and usually require legal expertise. We have helped thousands and thousands of Canadians and Mexicans successfully enter the U.S. with TN Visas and we can help you too!
The first step towards a successful TN Visa application is getting an assessment of your case. Fill out our Immigration Assessment Form and we will get back to you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility and options.
The TN visa for the United States is an extremely popular work visa option. It is popular because there is no cap, meaning there isn’t a restriction on how many of these visas are given out each year. It is also very popular because as a visa only for Canadians, it can be applied for directly at the United States-Canada border and there is no long processing time. 
However, it’s extremely important that you are aware that just because the visa is faster to obtain, does not mean that it is easy to obtain. In fact, many immigration service providers offer TN Visa kits, but it’s not a good idea to go it alone without the expertise of an immigration lawyer.
About applying for a TN visa to work in the United States
When applying for a TN visa you need to have a properly formatted job offer from a United States employer. This petition for a TN visa must offer you a job that is found on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) list of approved occupations for the TN Visa.
These occupations, called professional occupations, are occupations that have certain requirements like a high level of education and skill.
When you apply for your TN visa, you need to demonstrate that you are qualified for this job as evidenced by your resume, employer references and your education or degrees.
Your TN visa won’t be valid for longer than three years, so your Canadian passport needs to be valid for the next three years.
Another important part of your TN visa application is that you have strong ties to Canada and can prove it, so immigration officials know you won’t overstay your visa.
Are you interested in applying for a TN visa? Give us a call!