Canada enjoys special trade and economic privileges on the part of the United States in connection with the Free Trade Agreement in North America, as well as with Mexico. One of the most important elements of the contract is the availability of TN visas for temporary employment in the United States. This is a nonimmigrant visa, which is relatively simple and inexpensive to obtain, because you only need to submit the required documentation to the US port of entry for immediate assessment.
Here is a summary of the requirements that a Canadian worker must prepare to apply for a TN visa.
Proof of Canadian Citizenship
The most basic requirement for a TN Visa application, and perhaps most important, is proof of your Canadian citizenship. This can be your birth certificate, passport or, if you are a naturalized Canadian citizen, a copy of the naturalization documents.
Pre-organized work with an American company
Assuming your profession falls under the NAFTA profession list, you still need to have an existing or permanent job offer with an American company or organization. The position itself must specifically require a professional NAFTA. In addition, self-employment is currently not allowed in this category.
Drop under NAFTA professions list
Not only any job can qualify for a TN visa. To qualify, the job offer you received must be specifically listed on the NAFTA TN list of occupations provided by the Immigration Service. Generally speaking, we can combine these professions into four main areas: general, medical and allied health, teaching, and academic professions.
Proof of education
Some professions on the NAFTA TN Professions list require completion of advanced degrees, while some do not even require any form of college education. In any case, you need to provide that you meet the task, anticipating the requirements for the educational fund or higher, to get your status.
The assignment must be temporary in nature
A TN visa is only valid for up to three years, so long-term employment can be excluded if you do not decide to renew your status as you approach expiration. You should be able to establish this fact at the border interview. The good news is that TN Visas can be extended as long as your need for it exists.
Lack of immigrant intent
Regarding the temporary nature of the work of TN, you, as an applicant, do not have to confess or establish an intention to remain permanently in the United States. Remember that TN Visa is a non-immigrant visa, and the intention of immigrants almost automatically receives a red flag at the border. However, this does not mean that in the future you will not be allowed to apply for a green card or permanent residence status. In fact, you can apply for a green card after some time.
A letter from your employer
Another important document that you have to submit to border officials is a letter from your potential employer, which sets out your positions, duties, assignment to work and length of stay. This document should establish and support many of the requirements outlined above.
It is easy to assume that these requirements are reliably painless, and in many respects they are. But each case is different, and your application may have difficulties that you don’t even suspect, which could interfere with your application and cause your denial. In addition, immigration officials at the border have become more stringent in examining applications for a visa at TN due to security problems, and many candidates often falsify this test in interviews if they do not come prepared.
