TN Visa

For Canadian or Mexican professionals who have a U.S. job offer in a USMCA-listed profession and the education/credentials required for that specific role.

Same day to 3 months

Processing Time

3 years (renewable indefinitely)

Duration

Overview

The TN visa is a non-immigrant work visa available exclusively to citizens of Canada and Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA). It allows qualified professionals to work in the U.S. in specific occupations listed in the treaty.

The TN visa covers over 60 professional occupations including accountants, engineers, scientists, teachers, lawyers, and healthcare professionals. To qualify, the applicant must have the specific educational credentials required for their profession and a job offer from a U.S. employer in a qualifying TN occupation.

Canadian citizens can apply directly at the U.S. port of entry without advance petition filing. Mexican citizens must obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate before entering. TN status is granted in 3-year increments and can be renewed indefinitely, though it remains a non-immigrant visa without a direct path to permanent residence.

Key Requirements

  • You are a citizen of Canada or Mexico
  • You have a job offer in a USMCA-listed profession
  • You possess the required degree or credentials for that profession
  • The position requires a professional in that specific field
  • Your work will be temporary (though renewable)

Frequently Asked Questions

Over 60 professions qualify, including: Accountants, Architects, Computer Systems Analysts, Engineers (various), Graphic Designers, Hotel Managers, Lawyers, Management Consultants, Pharmacists, Physicians, Scientists, Teachers, and many others. Each has specific education requirements.

Canadian citizens can apply directly at a U.S. port of entry or airport pre-clearance. They need to present a letter from the U.S. employer, proof of Canadian citizenship, and evidence of qualifications. No advance visa application is required.

TN is a non-immigrant visa with no direct path to a green card. However, you can pursue a green card through other means while on TN status, though you must maintain non-immigrant intent. Many TN holders transition to H-1B to pursue permanent residence more easily.

There is no statutory limit on TN renewals. You can renew indefinitely in 3-year increments as long as your employment continues and you maintain non-immigrant intent. However, repeated renewals over many years may raise questions about immigrant intent.

No, TD (TN Dependent) visa holders cannot work in the United States. They can study but are not authorized for employment. If your spouse wants to work, they would need to obtain their own work visa or TN status if they qualify.

Recommended Resource

TN Visa Roadmap

A comprehensive guide to the TN visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals under the USMCA agreement.

Not sure if this is the correct option for your situation and goals?

In their own words

I cannot say enough wonderful things about the entire team at Serotte Law, and how seamless they made my process in obtaining my nonimmigrant E1 Treaty Trader visa. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Rita Georges as my lawyer and Brenna Scanlon as my paralegal, both of whom offered incredible guidance through every step of the process. They both went out of their way to provide support not only outside standard business hours, but even during the Thanksgiving weekend when an urgent matter arose in my case. Danielle Roberts also played an important role supporting me throughout my journey and her dedication and timeliness were invaluable. Although the process was backlogged due to delays related to the pandemic, the entire team was continually in touch with me providing updates and any time I had a question (and there were many) I received a response almost instantly. Truly "white-glove", five star service from start to finish. Of note, the firm is especially skilled in working with entrepreneurs such as myself and was extremely detailed and meticulous in assembling my application package, leaving no detail to chance. In the instance I needed a referral to a business plan expert, they were quick to provide a recommendation with whom I also had an outstanding experience. Even for some unexpected issues in my case (namely, administrative processing) the entire team was both knowledgeable and supportive about what needed to be done such that I was ultimately successfully issued my E1. Your search for a law firm ends here.

Adam Haroun

Adam Haroun

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Prompt, efficient and proactive professionals, while being communicative and transparent every step of the way!! But most importantly, kind, compassionate and responsible. That is how I would describe Serotte Law(yers), in the true sense of every word!! I switched over to Serotte law 5 years ago, and as we all know switching law firms is a more tedious process than starting afresh, but Brenna made it seamless for me. Brenna Scanlon, their Managing paralegal is a highly qualified immigration expert, extremely well versed in her field of knowledge, and all of this while being a kind and compassionate human being. I don’t know of any other law firm that will call you after hours but these guys will. They will treat your sense of urgency as their own and that’s what stands them apart from the plethora of immigration lawyers out there!! Rita George’s, a highly capable and forthcoming lawyer, a solution finder, will guide you smoothly through every situation, every step of the way!! Immigration applicants tend to face many interrelated issues as well, but Serotte law guides you to the best of their ability there too, and if it’s not their forte they will refer you to the best of the best in the business - kinda like a concierge service!!! Thank you once again to team Serotte, Rita George’s, Brenna Scanlon, Danielle Roberts, Asia Battle, Mike Farrell, and everybody else for your able guidance and services.

KHANNA, Sahil

KHANNA, Sahil

Google Review

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Bryan Shapcott

Bryan Shapcott

Google Review

I have worked with quite a few immigration attorneys in the last 7 years, and the team at Serotte Law is one of the best I have encountered. As an immigrant that requires work authorization to live in the US, immigration is always on my mind, and I am always stressing about it to some degree. This changed after my firm hired the team at Serotte Law. They handled my H1B transfer, PERM, I-140, and H1B Extension applications flawlessly. They guided me and my company through every step of the process and make sure we were on-track to meet the deadlines. My timeline to procure the I-140 was pretty tight. As such, Susan and team wasted no time in getting all the document in order, and staying on top of the case in the last 18 months. I received regular status updates, prompt email responses, and complete transparency in the process at every step of the way. I would 100% recommend hiring this team for all your work based immigration needs.

Dhaval Bajaria

Dhaval Bajaria

Google Review

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