TNVISAExpert Employee for Citizens of Canada and Mexico

What is a TN Visa?

Following the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994, the TN status was established to provide nationals of Canada and Mexico to apply for temporary entrance into the United States for the purpose of carrying out professional, prearranged commercial operations.

What is a TN Visa for? Let’s put some light on this question. Citizens of Canada and Mexico are granted temporarily employed in professional activities as specified under NAFTA via TN Visa. Please visit the State Department webpage for an overview of the current state of Tennessee.

Gaining the TN, an employer-sponsored status, takes three years in total. The main purpose of the TN classification at UC Davis is to hire temporary research and teaching roles to nationals of Mexico and Canada. Only nationals of Mexico and Canada who work in a profession included on the NAFTA List of Professions are eligible to apply for the TN status.

Compared to the H-1B, the TN status might be more advantageous since it can be obtained for a longer period of time and is usually less expensive. Nevertheless, it is limited to certain professions and cannot be used to hire teachers or staff for long-term positions like tenure-track professor. This makes it different from the H-1B.

Finally, while full-time employment is the standard procedure for H-1B status holders, the TN status is appropriate for otherwise eligible part-time occupations on campus.

How to find out your TN status

There are two ways to find out your TN status:

Modification of Status or Extension (application submitted domestically)

TNVisaExperts.com will help departments file a change of status or extension of TN status within the US for nationals of Canada and Mexico who are currently present in the US and are unable or unable to return home. There is a processing cost for USCIS as well as a recharge fee for TNVISAEXPERT. For information on how to file for a TN change or extension of status, departmental duties, required documentation, and filing costs, please visit our Department Forms and Handouts homepage and refer to the TN Temporary Worker Packet.

Entry into the United States (no paperwork has to be filed within the country; no Department fees or I-129 form to be filled out)

To enter the US as a TN, Mexican nationals must apply for a visa at a US Embassy or Consulate. When entering the US, Canadian nationals can gain TN status by simply presenting their documentation at the point of entry. A visa is not required. In all situations, the department must give a suitable letter of appointment that specifies the individual’s qualifying occupation for TN status in order for them to request TN status. Please visit the State Department website for further details on the documentation needed and the procedures involved in obtaining TN status while travelling to the US. The Department Forms section of the Resources and Forms tab contains an example of a TN letter that departments are required to submit.

Documents Needed at the Border to Get a TN/TD

A job offer letter that specifies the particular TN category under which the applicant is qualified for a TN (Please consult the TN occupations list.)

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Any diploma (original and duplicates) that is mentioned as needed for the TN
A passport that will remain valid for at least the next six months
Birth certificate and/or marriage license (if spouse or kids are asking for TD).

Dependency Permits

Spouses and minor children (under 21) of holders of TN visas may apply for TD visas in order to go to the United States with their TN or to join them later. The TN must be able to demonstrate that they are able to provide for their dependents while they are in the US. A TD visa holder is not allowed to work in the US, but they are allowed to study.

Spouses and children of Canadian citizens are eligible for TD status without requiring a visa. In order to enter the United States, spouses and children of TN visa holders who are not citizens of Canada must get a TD visa. Furthermore, in order to enter the US, all wives and children of Mexicans with TN visas must apply for a TD visa.

A valid Form I-94 from the principal TN visa holder and a letter of employment confirmation from the department confirming the principal TN visa holder’s employment are required to be presented by a spouse or child(ren) wishing to join a TN NAFTA Professional in the United States.

TNVISAEXPERT Services and Counselling for TNs

Gayle Nerli is the International Scholar Advisor at TN Matters. In addition to advising TN scholars at UC Davis, Gayle helps departments write TN letters, receives completed TN packages from departments, and files TN petitions with USCIS. For any questions, kindly get in touch with Gayle Oberlies.

To ensure that SISS can notify TN visa holders about activities on campus and immigration policy changes, TNs should fill out the “E3/O1/TN Scholar Personal Data Sheet” available on our website under our Scholar Forms. When TNs go to the US or if their contact information changes, this has to be completed.

CRITERIA FOR EVERY APPLICANT

Compile the necessary paperwork
A professional credentialing service’s assessment of each degree
An offer letter from Penn State that includes the following information:
Your purpose of admission;
A thorough explanation of your expected business activities or professional duties;
The Penn State job title with the qualifying profession given in the List of Professional Occupations adjacent in parentheses.
Your expected duration of stay in the country;
Your educational background or suitable certificates attesting to your professional standing;
Proof that you have complied with all applicable state and federal rules and regulations; and
Pay arrangements.

PARTICULAR ASPECTS FOR MEXICANS:

When entering the US, a valid TN visa stamp is required.
- The passport must always have an I-94 and a CBP stamp inside of it.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS FOR CANADIANS:

Does not need to have a TN visa stamp in order to enter the US.
- The passport must always have an I-94 and/or a CBP stamp inside of it.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE ALLIES:

Allied healthcare professionals need to pass the VisaScreen and hold a Pennsylvania license. A VisaScreen is a document that attests to the fact that the English language proficiency and educational background of a healthcare professional have been assessed and deemed appropriate. It is distributed by one of the subsequent entities:

Allied health care workers include the following:

clinical laboratory scientists
clinical laboratory technicians
medical technicians
medical technologists
nurses
occupational therapists
physical therapists
physician assistants
speech language pathologists and audiologists