TN – NAFTA Professionals

Criteria for Eligibility

If you are a Canadian or Mexican seeking employment in the United States, one of your primary visa options to consider is the TN Visa. TN stands for Trade National Visa, and it was instituted as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Although the Agreement underwent renegotiation in 2019, the immigration aspects, including the TN Visa, remained unchanged.

Professionals who may be eligible for a TN visa include lawyers, accountants, engineers, management consultants, and scientists. You can find a full list of eligible professionals on the NAFTA list.

Canadian citizens are not obligated to obtain a TN visa for entry into the U.S. under TN nonimmigrant status. Instead, they can submit the TN nonimmigrant application, along with supporting documentation, directly to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at a U.S. port-of-entry or a U.S.-based international airport. Alternatively, the TN sponsoring company may file a Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, on behalf of a Canadian citizen. Upon approval of Form I-129, the Canadian citizen can present the USCIS approval notice, along with supporting documentation, to a CBP officer at a U.S. port-of-entry or a U.S.-based international airport.

In contrast, Mexican citizens must initially obtain a TN visa to gain admission to the U.S. under TN nonimmigrant status. TN visa applications for Mexican citizens must be directly submitted to a U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico.

Family of TN

Spouses and children of TN nonimmigrant status holders may be admitted to the U.S. under TD nonimmigrant status for an equivalent period. While spouses and children with TD nonimmigrant status are not permitted to work in the U.S., they are allowed to pursue educational endeavors.