TN Status for Canadian and Mexican Professionals
The TN nonimmigrant classification, commonly referred to as the TN visa, allows eligible citizens of Canada and Mexico to perform prearranged professional-level services in the United States under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), so “USMCA professional” is the current terminology.
TN eligibility depends on the specific occupation, the offered position, the applicant’s professional credentials, and the temporary nature of the assignment. Canadian or Mexican permanent residence alone is not sufficient; the applicant must be a citizen of Canada or Mexico. TN classification does not permit self-employment.
TN Eligibility
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The applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico. Permanent residents of Canada or Mexico do not qualify based on permanent residence alone.
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The profession is included on the USMCA list of qualifying professional occupations.
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The offered U.S. position requires services at a professional level, and the proposed duties correspond to the qualifying USMCA profession.
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The applicant has prearranged full-time or part-time professional work for a U.S. employer or qualifying U.S. entity, including certain arrangements involving a foreign employer. Self-employment is not permitted.
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The applicant meets the education, license, experience, or other credential requirements for the specific profession.
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The proposed stay is temporary, has a reasonably finite end, and the applicant intends to depart the United States upon completion of the assignment.
Qualifying professions include, among others, accountants, architects, engineers, computer systems analysts, management consultants, scientists, certain medical and allied professionals, and college or university teachers. Each profession has its own credential requirements, and a job title alone does not establish eligibility.
Period of Stay and Extensions
TN status may be granted for up to three years at a time. USCIS may approve an extension of stay for an additional period of up to three years, or an eligible professional may seek a new period of admission with updated supporting documentation. There is no fixed cumulative maximum period in TN status, but every extension or new admission must continue to demonstrate qualifying professional employment, proper maintenance of status, and a temporary intent.