What Is TN Visa

The TN (Trade NAFTA) status is a nonimmigrant employment visa that allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States in selected professional fields. The former North American Free Trade Pact (NAFTA), now known as the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement, which created special economic and trade arrangements for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is open to residents from these nations.

Qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens who enter the US on TN authorization are allowed to stay and work in the United States as long as their job offer falls into one of the NAFTA professions. The TN status is renewed indefinitely and is valid for up to three years.

What do I need to be eligible for the TN visa?

To be eligible for TN status, you must meet the following requirements:

A passport or other proof of Canadian or Mexican citizenship is required.
A pre-arranged full-time or part-time job with a U.S. employer or a foreign employer with a U.S. corporation in the United States.

A bachelor’s or master’s degree, for example, is required to practice.
Your profession should also be one of the 60 NAFTA professions. Engineers, lawyers, social workers, and dentists are all NAFTA professions.

How do I apply for TN status?

If you are a Canadian citizen, you have the following options:

When entering the United States, apply directly at a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry.

Request entrance at a U.S. port of entry once your employer submits the TN application along with Form I-129 to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

If you are a Mexican citizen, you must submit the documents, together with Form DS-160, to a US embassy or consulate, have an interview, receive a visa number, and then apply for entry at a US port of entry.

What will I need to apply for TN status?

The application process for TN authorization is different for Canadian and Mexican nationals, but the prerequisites are the same. You’ll need the following items for each TN application:

Your employer’s TN support letter outlining your position, the NAFTA profession you choose, your qualifications, and other basic information (salary, length of employment, etc.)
Transcripts or diplomas are acceptable proof of your qualifications for the position. Original copies should be used wherever possible.
The cost of your application

In addition to the basic TN application, your employer can file Form I-129 (“Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker”) on your behalf if you are a Canadian. You can enter the United States with your passport and the approval notice from USCIS after this is authorised. To apply for a TN visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, you must submit Form DS-160 (“Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application”) in addition to the core TN application.

Canadians and Mexicans with nonimmigrant status in the United States can utilize Form I-129 to change their status to TN or reapply for TN for renewals or new jobs.