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What is a "TN" Visa?
The TN visa
is a nonimmigrant visa for professionals who are eligible under
the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Am I Eligible?
You are eligible
for this visa if you are a citizen of Mexico or Canada who works
in a professional occupation and:
- the profession
is on the NAFTA
list
- you possess
the specific criteria for that profession
- the prospective
position requires someone in that professional capacity, and
- you are going
to work for a U.S. employer.
Please
note that the application requirements for Canadians and Mexicans
are not the same.
Family
Members
Your spouse
and unmarried, minor children are entitled to accompany you in derivative
status, but they are unable to accept employment in the United States.
Derivative status means that their visas will be dependent on your
nonimmigrant status. If you change your status, your family
must change their status. If you lose your status, your family will
also lose their status.
Citizens
of Canada
How can a
"TN" visa be obtained?
You must provide the following at the port of entry:
- A request
for "TN" status;
- A copy of
your college degree and employment records which establish qualification
for the prospective job;
- A letter
from your prospective U.S.-based employer offering you a job in
the United States that is included on the professional
job series (NAFTA list);
and
- A fee of
U.S. $50.00.
Canadian citizens
are not required to obtain a visa, but instead receive "TN" status
with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the port
of entry. The "TN" status will only be granted if the period of
stay is temporary.
How can an application for extension of temporary stay
be made?
You have two options. First, you may have your employer file
USCIS Form
I-129 at the closest USCIS office. This option does not require leaving the U.S. Second,
you may return to Canada to re-apply at the port of entry with the
same documentation that is required for an original application.
Citizens
of Mexico
How can a
"TN" visa be obtained?
- First, your
prospective employer must file a
labor condition application;
- Then, your
prospective employer must file a Form
I-129 (Petition For Non-Immigrant Workers) with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and
- After the
petition has been approved, you must apply for a nonimmigrant
visa at a U.S.
Embassy or Consulate in Mexico.
How can an
application for extension of temporary stay be made?
You must have your employer renew your labor
certification and file another USCIS Form
I-129 with your regional USCIS office in order to extend your stay.
HELP!
- For assistance
within the U.S., contact the State Department’s Visa Office
at 202-663-1225. You may also email a general inquiry to
usvisa@state.gov. Be sure
to indicate the general subject of your inquiry on the subject
line (e.g., TN visa), and do not expect an immediate reply. You
may also write to:
U.S.
Department of State
Visa
Services
Washington,
DC 20520-0113
- In the U.S.,
you may also call the national USCIS toll-free information service
at 1-800-375-5283.
- You may also
want to seek the advice of an immigration attorney.
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NAFTA
Professional Job Series List
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PROFESSION
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MINIMUM
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALS
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Accountant
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A, C.A., C.G.A., or C.M.A.
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Architect
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
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Computer
Systems Analyst
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post
Secondary Certificate and three years experience
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Disaster
Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster (Claims Adjuster employed
by an Insurance company located in the territory of a Party,
or an independent claims adjuster)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree and successful completion of training
in the appropriate areas of Insurance adjustment pertaining
to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims
adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate
areas of Insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief
claims
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Economist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Engineer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
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Forester
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
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Graphic
Designer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma and three
years experience
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Hotel
Manager
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or
post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate in hotel/restaurant
management and three years experience in hotel/restaurant
management
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Industrial
Designer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary
certificate, and three years experience
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Interior
Designer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary
certificate, and three years experience
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Land Surveyor
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree or state/provincial/federal license
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Landscape
Architect
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Lawyer
(including Notary in the province of Quebec)
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L.L.B.,
J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura degree (five years);
or membership in a state/provincial bar
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Librarian
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M.L.S.
or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura
degree was prerequisite)
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Management
Consultant
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience
as established by statement or professional credential attesting
to five years experience as a management consultant , or five
years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting
agreement
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Mathematician
(including statistician)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Range
Manager/Range Conservationist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Research
Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Scientific
Technician/ Technologist
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Possession
of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines:
agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering,
forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics; and
(b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those
disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of
those disciplines to basic or applied research
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Social
Worker
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Sylviculturist
(including forestry)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Technical
Publications Writer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree, or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary
certificate, and three years experience
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Urban
Planner (including Geographer)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Vocational
Counselor
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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MEDICAL/ALLIED
PROFESSIONALS
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Dentist
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D.D.S.,
D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental
or state/provincial license
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Dietitian
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
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Medical
Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico
and the United States)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or post secondary diploma or post
secondary certificate, and three years experience
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Nutritionist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Occupational
Therapist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license
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Pharmacist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license
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Physician
(teaching or research only)
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M.D.,
Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license
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Physiotherapist/Physical
Therapist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license
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Psychologist
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State/provincial
license; or Licenciatura degree
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Recreational
Therapist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Registered
Nurse
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State/provincial
license or Licenciatura degree
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Veterinarian
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D.V.M.,
D.M.V., or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license
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Agricultural
(Agronomist)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Animal
Breeder
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Animal
Scientist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Apiculturist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Astronomer
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Biochemist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Chemist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Dairy
Scientist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Entomologist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Epidemiologist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Geneticist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Geochemist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Geophysicist
(including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Horticulturist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Meteorologist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Pharmacologist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Physicist
(including Oceanographer in Canada)
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Plant
Breeder
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Poultry
Scientist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Soil Scientist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Zoologist
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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TEACHER
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College
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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Seminary
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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University
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Baccalaureate
or Licenciatura Degree
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The information
provided in this website is not legal advice and should not be interpreted
as legal advice. This website is intended to provide a basic understanding
of this information in summary form. This information may not be
comprehensive, is subject to change, and may not apply to all individual
circumstances. Any information received here should be confirmed
with the appropriate government agencies or with an attorney, particularly
as it relates to your individual circumstances. Your use of this
website indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms
of Use.
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