This nonimmigrant visa category allows Canadian citizens (but not landed immigrants) to enter the United States to engage in professional activities. These are undertakings that require at least a baccalaureate (bachelor's) degree or appropriate credentials demonstrating status as a professional. TN workers who apply for TN status at a port of entry are not required to hold an academic title.
Canadian citizens apply at the U.S. border by presenting their TN support letter from Cornell (see samples below). A Canadian citizen entering in this category can apply to stay for up to three years at a time, renewable indefinitely. There is no limit to the number of possible extensions. Dependents of a person holding TN status can enter in TD status, but are not allowed to work.
Mexican citizens also qualify for the TN visa, but application procedures are more complicated. Contact us for advice.
How to Apply for TN (Canadians)
Here are the steps your Canadian worker must follow when applying for TN status.
- Get Letter
- Apply
1 Receive a TN support letter.
The hiring department provides a TN support letter that is addressed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and lists the salary, complete description of job duties, length of stay, and requirements for degree or licenses. The job title must mirror one on the list of accepted professional occupations. See the list of accepted professional occupations.
Sample TN Support Letters
The TN support letter from the department or hiring unit must include a professional title that clearly relates to one of the occupations on the TN list of professional occupations. See the list of accepted professional occupations per the USMCA treaty. For this reason, a Cornell academic title alone (for example, research associate II) may not be sufficient. If the academic title is not descriptive, be sure to include a working title in the letter, as well as a full description of the nature of the job duties, the anticipated length of stay, and the pay arrangements.
The TN support letter must include the following elements:
- On official letterhead
- Date, including year
- Addressed to U.S. Customs & Border Protection
- Providing this information:
- Professional title and detailed job description
- Annual salary and benefits
- Duration of employment (up to three years)
- Signed by the hiring authority
Sample A: Vet
[Cornell University Department Letterhead]
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is to certify that the [Department Name] in the College of [College Name] at Cornell University in [Ithaca, NY], is offering the position of [professional title] to [Worker Name]. The appointment will be from [begin date] to [end date] at an annual salary of [$100,000].
The job duties will include [overseeing the animal care and use program at Cornell. She will aid in employee training programs, work with housing and procurement of research animals, and provide advice and consultation on animal models and federal, state, and local rules and regulations pertaining to animal use. She will share on-call duties with other veterinarians].
Sincerely,
[Department Signature]
Sample B: Physics
Dear U.S. border official:
This letter is to certify that the [Department Name] in the College of [College Name] at Cornell University in [Ithaca, NY], is offering the position of [professional title] to [Worker Name]. The appointment will be from [begin date] to [end date] at an annual salary of [$75,000].
The duties of the job will include [direct support of the twelve professional physicists in the department. He will be applying principles of high-energy physics to both basic and applied research as he supports the research group in their current projects].
Sincerely,
[Department Signature]
2 Apply at a U.S. port of entry.
To enter the United States in TN status, Canadian workers must apply at a U.S. port of entry. We recommend entry during business hours, ideally at a TN designated port of entry for optimized processing.
What documents does the worker need to carry?
Advise your worker to carry these documents. They must not be packed in checked luggage.
- Evidence of Canadian citizenship
- Letter from the hiring department (see sample letters above)
- Original evidence of professional qualifications (diplomas, transcripts). If the degree was obtained outside of North America, the documentation must be accompanied by an accredited degree evaluation and English language translation.
- $50 fee, plus any additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection fees
- Dependent family members must bring marriage license, birth certificate, or adoption record.
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