A TN visa is one of the fastest and least costly ways for Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the United States. If you work in a qualifying profession, have the required credentials as stated in the regulations, have a job offer and are qualified for the position, then you can get a TN visa. As a cross-border immigration lawyerbased in Windsor, Ontario and serving clients in the Detroit, Michigan area, I have helped Canadian professionals successfully obtain the TN visa process. Let’s what you need to prove to qualify.
The Basic Requirements to Obtain a TN Visa
TN visas are available to:
Canadian and Mexican citizens;
Who work in a profession included in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Who has the credentials for the USMCA TN category;
Who meets the job requirements; and
Will work in a full or part-time capacity for a U.S. employer or entity.
The Canadian or Mexican Citizenship Requirement for TN Visas
TN visas are only available to Canadian and Mexican citizens. While it is not required that you are born in Canada or Mexico, you must be a citizen of one of those countries. Therefore, permanent residence is not a qualifying status. Once you become a citizen, then you may be eligible for a TN visa.
Professions and Credentials Eligible for TN Visas
Below is a comprehensive list of professions eligible for TN visas. To summarize, TN professions need a bachelor’s or a licenciatura (this is an undergraduate degree awarded in many Latin American and European countries) degree. For some positions, you may qualify with a post-secondary diploma or certificate and a few years of experience. For other position, you may qualify with a state or provincial license. For a couple of TN professional categories, such as Scientific Technicians/Technologists and Management Consultants, you can qualify based on your experience, but these are the only two categories where work experience is sufficient. In general, you need a bachelor’s degree, license or post-secondary diploma or certificate combined with some work experience.
Please see below the educational and work experience requirements for each TN profession:
| Accountant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A., or C.M.A. |
| Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license. |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate and three years’ experience. |
| Disaster relief insurance claims adjuster | 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. |
| Economist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Engineer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Forester | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Graphic Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post‐ Secondary Certificate and three years experience |
| Hotel Manager | 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 |
| Industrial Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate, and three years experience |
| Interior Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post‐ Secondary Certificate, and three years experience |
| Land Surveyor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or state/provincial/federal license |
| Landscape Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree.Lawyer (including Notary in the province of Quebec)—L.L.B., J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar |
| Librarian | M.L.S., or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was a prerequisite) |
| Management Consultant | 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 |
| Mathematician (including Statistician and Actuary) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Range Manager/Range Conservationist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Research Assistant (working in a post‐secondary educational institution) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Scientific Technician/Technologist | 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 |
| Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Technical Publications Writer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post‐Secondary Certificate, and three years experience |
| Urban Planner (including Geographer) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Vocational Counselor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Medical/Allied Professionals:
| Dentist | D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental or state/provincial license |
| Dietitian | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post‐Secondary Diploma or Post‐Secondary Certificate, and three years experience |
| Nutritionist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Occupational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Pharmacist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Physician (teaching or research only) | M.D. Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license |
| Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Psychologist | state/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree |
| Recreational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Registered nurse | state/provincial license or Licenciatura Degree |
| Veterinarian | D.V.M., D.M.V., or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license |
Scientist:
| Agriculturist (including Agronomist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Apiculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Astronomer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Biochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Biologist (including Plant Pathologist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Chemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Dairy Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Entomologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Epidemiologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geneticist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Horticulturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Meteorologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Pharmacologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Plant Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Poultry Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Soil Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Zoologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Teacher:
| College | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Seminary | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| University | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Meeting the Job Requirements
Having the diploma or license or other statutory requirement listed above is not sufficient to obtain a TN visa; you must meet the job requirements as well. Be prepared to show that you have the required work experience by submitting your CV and reference letters. Some TN visa categoriesrequire U.S. licenses (e.g. working as a lawyer in the United States advising on U.S. law) so make sure that you have the appropriate U.S. licenses, or your TN petition may be denied.
Working for a U.S. Employer, Individual or Entity
The last criterion is that you must work at least part-time for a U.S. employer, individual or entity. You cannot work for an entity outside the United States and enter the U.S. with a TN visa. If you are already in the United States, you cannot use your TN visa to work for foreign employers. The purpose of the TN visa is for you to enter the United States and to work for U.S. employer, individual or entity.
Applying for a TN Visa
Canadians can apply for a TN visa at a port-of-entry or through USCIS. If you apply at a port-of-entry, you may have to schedule an appointment in advance. It is recommended that you call the port-of-entry you plan to apply at in advance to ensure that an appointment is not required. Further, some port-of-entry have optimized TN visa processing.
The process can take anywhere from thirty minutes to a couple of hours at a border crossing or many take a few hours at the airport depending on how busy it is. Therefore, you plan to apply at the airport, it is recommended that you arrive early and anticipate the process taking some hours. Applying in-person involves taking your petition and original supporting documents (if applicable) and answering the CBP officer’s questions. Once you have answered the CBP officer’s questions to their satisfaction, you will be approved and can enter the United States on TN visa status
Canadians may also apply through USCIS if they are in the United States. When applying through USCIS, there is no interview. Therefore, it is important to prepare a strong petition to address all possible doubts. Another difference is that no original documents are submitted; you only need to submit photocopies of the relevant documents. Canadians can also apply with USCIS if they are in Canada if they want pre-approval before entering the United States. This would involve preparing the TN visa petition, sending it to USCIS while you are still in Canada and once approved, you can take your approval notice to enter the United States. Please note that USCIS and CBP are two different agencies, and while they often defer to each other’s approval, they have no obligation to honor the decisions of the other agency and can make their own determination. This means that just because USCIS approves a TN petition, CBP may still deny entry if they do not think that you qualif
As far as costs of obtaining a TN visa, it costs $56 USD when applying at a port-of-entry. If applying though USCIS, as of this writing, it can cost as low as $810 USD (this include the $510 USD filing fee for small employers and the $300 USD Asylum Program Fee) to as high as $1,615 USD for regular employers ($1,015 USD for the petition and $600 for Asylum Program Fee). If you would like a response (not necessarily an approval) from USCIS in fifteen business days, you can pay a premium processing of $2,965 USD. For normal processing time, it can take from three to six months. Given the longer wait time and higher application fees, Canadians generally apply at a port-of-entry. For renewing a TN visa, a Canadian applicant can apply through USCIS or can leave the United States and can apply again when they decide to enter the United States again
For Mexican applicants to get a TN visa, they must apply at a U.S. consulate in Mexico and be approved for a visa. They are unable to apply directly at the border or get a pre-approval through USCIS. Depending on the consulate, Mexican applicants may have to wait a few months for an appointment. Once they get a consular appointment, they will interview for the visa. Interviews can be very brief where you are asked only a few questions, therefore, it is important to be prepared. If approved, the consular officer takes you passport to insert your visa. Once you receive your visa, you will be able to travel to the United States. For Mexicans renewing their TN visa, they can apply through USCIS or schedule and attend an appointment at the consulate in Mexico. The latter option is done when Mexican applicants want to renew their visa. USCIS can extend TN status in the United States but do not issue visas
Frequently Asked Questions About TN Visas
Does a TN visa permit self-employment?
No. To obtain a TN visa, you must perform business activities for a U.S. entity or individual. It does not permit self-employment. If you are the sole or controlling shareholder or owner, you are considered to be self- employed for TN visa. By consequence, if you are a minority shareholder or a partner in a partnership of a U.S. company, this would not be considered self-employment under the regulations and you should be eligible for a TN visa.
Does my diploma qualify for a TN visa if I obtained it from a non-Canadian or Mexican university?
If you obtained your diploma from a non-Canadian or Mexican university or institution, you will need to have an equivalency done to establish that your foreign credentials are equivalent to the Canadian or Mexican diploma equivalent. You may order an assessment of your credentials from an organization that specializes in such evaluations or you can get an evaluation completed by a school official who has the authority to make such determinations. Any evaluation you obtain should explain how your foreign degree is equivalent to a Canadian or Mexican degree
Can my family members come with me if I get a TN visa?
Your spouse (through a legally recognized marriage) and minor children under the age of 21 can accompany you if you enter the United States with a TN visa. They will have TD visa status. They will be able to go to school but they would not have work authorization.
How long am I allowed to stay in the United States with a TN visa?
You may stay for up to three years. Please note, that when applying for a TN visa that there is no guarantee that you will be approved for three years. If the job is of a short or temporary nature, you may be approved only for the duration of your job.
In my employment offer letter, is it required that it says that my employment ends in three years if I apply for a TN visa?
If it is a permanent, full-time job, there is no requirement that the employment offer letter states that your job ends in three years. The job does not need to have an end date.
How many times can a TN visa be renewed?
There is no limit to how long a TN visacan be renewed so long as the requirements are met. Please keep in mind though, that even if your TN visa is renewed multiple times, you must have nonimmigrant intent and will depart at the end of your TN employment
Is there a minimum I must be paid?
While there is not a prevailing wage determination (i.e. the U.S. Department of Labor officially telling an employer how much they must pay you), the salary should be consistent with what workers in your professional are normally paid. If you are paid too low, your petition may be refused to make sure that you are not a public charge. If you are paid too high for your position, it may cause a CBP or USCIS officer to suspect that you are doing additional duties, which would explain the usually high pay.
Can I get a green card from a TN visa?
Because a TN visa is non-immigrant visa, it is not designed to grant you permanent residency after working in the United States after a certain period of time. Additionally, steps must be taken by you or your employer to qualify for a different status which would lead to permanent residence. If you worked in an executive or managerial position for a branch, affiliate or parent company abroad of the U.S. entity for at least one continuous year before entering the United States, you may qualify for an L-1A visa, which can establish your qualifications for EB-1C, which grant you permanent residence. If you are extraordinary in your field, you may qualify for EB-1A. If your employer is unable to find qualified U.S. workers for your position, you may be petitioned for the EB-2 or EB-3 PERM process. If you have a proposed endeavor with substantial merit and national importance and can establish that you are well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor, you may qualify for am EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW). Your employer may be able to petition you for an H-1B visa and start the PERM process for you. The best way to obtain permanent residence through your job will depend on your individual qualifications and circumstances
I filed an I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, I-140 Petition for Alien Workers or I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Can I still get a TN visa?
A memo dated April 21, 2008, by then U.S. CBP Executive Director Paul M. Morris has been used by immigration lawyers (including the author) to state that there mere filing of an I-130 or I-140 does not indicate immigrant intent, therefore, you should be able to still qualify for a TN visa. Personally, I filed a TN visa for an applicant unbeknownst to be who file an I-130 and I was able to use this memo to get his TN visa petition approved. However, keep in mind that some officers do not know all the laws and regulations so you may be questioned about this or receive a Request for Evidence about filing an I-130 or I-140. It would be helpful to actually have a foreign residence abroad if filing these petitions. With regards to having filed an I-485 petition, you would likely be ineligible for a TN visa since this would indicate immigrant intent; the odds of a TN visa petition being denied due to a pending I-485 petition are very high.
Do I have to live in the United States if I have a TN visa?
No. There is no requirement that you live in the United States once being approved for a TN visa. If you live by the United States border, you may enter the United States to work and return to Mexico or Canada. You may also come the United States intermittently and work for a U.S. employer.
I have a business degree (e.g. finance or an MBA). Do I qualify for a TN visa?
Business degrees, such as MBAs, do not qualify for a TN visa. You may use such diplomas to qualify as a Management Consultant but, keep in mind that Management Consultant is its own separate profession. Further, due to the flexibility of the criteria to qualify as a Management Consultant and the inability of some TN visa applicants to qualify for any other TN visa category, they try to apply as a Management Consultant even though their job does not qualify. Due to this, CBP and USCIS highly scrutinize applicants applying under the Management Consultant category. For some business applicants, an L-1A, E-1 or E-2 visa may be more suitable for them.
Can I work as a manager with a TN visa?
If you are using their knowledge related to your TN profession to conduct your management duties, you can work as a manager with a TN visa (e.g. and engineering manager using their engineering knowledge to manage subordinates). However, if your managerial role is more administrative, then your position would not qualify for a TN visa.
I have completed a significant amount of course work in a TN visa category. Do I qualify for a TN visa?
While you may apply for a TN visawhile doing a minor or a significant amount of course work, the odds of being denied are high. Some officers are strict about having a bachelors’ degree in the TN discipline and believe that significant course work is insufficient.
Contact a Windsor-Detroit Cross-Border Immigration Lawyer for TN Visa Assistance
A TN visa is an excellent option for Canadian and Mexican professionals seeking to work in the United States under the USMCA agreement. For Canadian professionals considering cross-border employment, the TN visa offers a streamlined pathway.
Please note that this is a general overview of the TN visa process. There are certain nuances you need to be aware of and it is important to work with experienced counsel. As a Canada-US cross-border immigration lawyer, I have assisted TN visa holders obtain this visa and build successful careers in the Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan areas. Please reach out if you need assistance.
Last Updated on February 28, 2026 by Ernest J. Edwards
