NAFTA stands for North American Free Trade Agreement and constitutes an agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico, whereby the citizens of these countries can enjoy economic, traveling, working and trade benefits within the North American territory. One of these advantages is the so-called Treaty National Professionals Visa or TN Visa, allowing Canadian and Mexican citizens to stay in the US for temporary work.
If you are willing to apply for a TN visa, we would strongly recommend you to read the information we prepared for you hereinafter. Learn how to apply for a TN visa, what requirements should applicants meet, what documents are required to proceed with your application and so on.
TN visa is a kind of US non-immigrant visa that enables individuals, particularly coming from Canada or Mexico, to work and stay in the US as long as they get a valid job offer beforehand. You can learn more about what jobs and occupations you are allowed to engage in at the NAFTA website.
TN Visas are first valid for three years, but you can apply for a visa extension and enjoy life in the U.S., always if you still are employed and can prove ties to your home country through bank statements, a property deed, etc. TN visa holders can apply for indefinite extensions, you do not have a maximum amount of time that you must stay in the US.
TN visa holders are also allowed to bring their dependents with them to the US. Nevertheless, be aware that only the spouse of the visa holder and the unmarried children younger than 21 years old are considered dependents, who would need to apply for a TD visa. Dependents are not allowed to work in the US, but can enroll in educational courses.
Requirements For TN Visa Applicants
Take into consideration the next requirements if you would like to apply for a TN visa, as you would need to meet them all:
- Canadian or Mexican nationality.
- Proof that you are planning to return to your home country as soon as your visa expires.
- Educational and experience requirements from the NAFTA list are met.
- In the case of healthcare workers, they must meet certification requirements.
- The occupation you are planning to engage in is included within the NAFTA list.
- Valid job offer from a US employer, requiring specifically a NAFTA professional.
Though it is similar to an H1B visa, the TN visa does not require employers to have a Labor Condition Application (LCA) from the US Department of Labor, there is no need for sponsoring or paying heavy fees. Furthermore, any Mexican or Canadian citizen meeting the requirements can obtain a TN visa; there is not a cap or limit of TN visa holders.
Types of NAFTA Visas
Be aware that there exist two different types of NAFTA visa. TN1 Visa is for Canadian citizens, while TN2 is for Mexican citizens. Learn everything about TN1 and TN2 visas in the following sections.
TN1 Visa
Though we have referred to TN1 as a visa earlier, TN1 is a status, since Canadian professionals are not asked to apply for a visa when entering the US for a limited period of time, they simply receive TN1 status from US Customs and Border Protection at any port of entry.
Though this is not the only form to obtain TN1 status, you can also mail your application to the designated processing office before your trip to the US. Nevertheless, you should know that this requires a lot of time, usually taking from two to six months to process. Be aware that this alternative form of obtaining TN1 status is the preferred option for Canadians already living in the US.
Be aware that applicants should submit the following documents to obtain TN status:
- Document proving your Canadian citizenship.
- Documents proving that you got a job offer in the US and giving some details about the length of the contract, the name of the company or organization, the task you will be carrying out, etc.
- Educational qualifications.
- Depending on how you choose to obtain TN status, you must either pay $56 if going through the Port of Entry, $50 if going through pre-flight inspection, or make sure your employer pays $460 to fill in a Form I-129 if willing to obtain a TN visa before traveling to the US.
Once Canadians obtain TN status, they can work as NAFTA professionals in the US.
TN2 Visa
In contrast to Canadian citizens, Mexicans are required to apply for a TN visa. To apply for a TN2 visa and work in the US as a NAFTA professional, Mexican citizens cannot obtain TN status at the US port of entries, they need to apply for a TN visa in advance. Read the following section to learn how to apply for a TN visa.
How To Apply For A TN Visa
Start applying for a TN visa as soon as possible and avoid problems at the last minute. Firstly, visit the Consular Electronic Application Center website and complete the DS-160 Form online, a necessary step for all US non-immigrant visa applicants. Now you need to pay the visa application fees ($160).
The next step is to schedule your visa interview. Do not forget to save the confirmation letter, you will need it later.
To finish with, attend your interview. Make sure you bring the required documents to the appointment.
What documents are required?
- Confirmation page of DS-160 Form.
- Receipt proving that you paid the fees.
- Valid passport, at least for 6 months after you plan to return from the US.
- Employment letter from a US citizen including job description, occupation, length of the contract, licenses, financial compensation, educational and professional qualifications. In case you find a new job during your stay in the US as a TN visa holder, you are obliged to submit a new letter of employment to USCIS, who will approve your new job position or not.
- US visa photo. Make sure you comply with the official requirements or your photo will be rejected by the US authorities.
