TN Visa 2024: Everything You Need to Know
A work visa pathway for Mexican and Canadian Nationals.
What is a TN visa?
A TN visa, or Trade NAFTA visa, is a non-immigrant visa that allows Canadian and Mexican citizens in certain professional occupations to work in the U.S. It’s a temporary visa valid for up to three years initially, but it can be renewed indefinitely as long as eligibility requirements are met.
The visa is part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This agreement promotes economic and trade relationships among the three countries. Qualified citizens from Mexico and Canada can use the TN visa to work in the U.S. if their job offer is in a profession listed under the NAFTA professions.
What do I need to be eligible for the TN Visa?
- Proof of your Canadian or Mexican citizenship eg. a passport.
- A full-time or part-time job offer in the United States with a U.S. employer or a foreign employer with a U.S. entity.
- A job role that falls under the list of NAFTA professions.
- Evidence of the listed qualifications that are relevant to your job role.
A list of NAFTA Professions
| PROFESSION | QUALIFICATION |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Range Manager/Range Conservationist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Research Assistant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Scientific Technician/Technologist | Possession of theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics; and 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. |
| Social Worker | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Sylviculturist | 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 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Vocational Counselor | 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 | 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 | 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 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Horticulturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Meteorologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Pharmacologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. |
| Physicist | 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. |
How do I apply for the TN Visa?
When applying for a TN visa, the process varies based on whether you are a Canadian or Mexican national. Here are the specific options available to you:
For both Canadian and Mexican Nationals:
Your employer can file the TN application and Form I-129 with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once approved, you can enter the U.S.
You can apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate through these steps:
- Submit TN application paperwork to a U.S. embassy or consulate along with Form DS-160
- Attend an interview
- Receive a visa number
- Once approved, you can enter the U.S.
If you are a Canadian National:
Canadian nationals can apply for a TN visa at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) port of entry or U.S pre-clearance in Canadian airports.
Bring all necessary documents for submission. During the application process, you will be interviewed by a CBP officer to determine your TN visa eligibility. The officer will ask about your U.S. employer, the nature of your job, any previous visits to the United States, and prior U.S. visas.
Required Documents/ Paperwork for a TN Application?
- A TN support letter from your employer. This should include: a summary of your job, the NAFTA chosen profession, your qualifications, salary, length of employment and other basic information.
- Evidence of your qualifications for the role. Eg. transcripts, diplomas. These should be the original copy.
- Your Application Fee
How much does the TN visa cost?
| Fee Description | Amount |
|---|---|
| Border processingIncludes $50 TN processing fee and $6 for I-94 Card | $56 |
| USCIS processing | $325 |
| USCIS petition filing feeFor status change within the U.S. | $460 |
| Premium processing(optional) | $2,500 |
| Reciprocity fees(for Mexican Nationals) |
$1041-year TN visa stamp $3824-year TN visa stamp |
| Estimated Totals(without optional fees and with all fees) | $381 - $3,723 |
FAQ
How long is a TN visa valid for?
The TN visa is valid for up to three years and renewals can be obtained every three years with no limit on the number of extensions, allowing for continued renewal as long as necessary.
What happens if you lose your job on a TN visa?
You are given a 60-day grace period that starts on your last working day. This gives you ample time to make informed legal decisions.
Here are a few next steps options:
- Leave the country
- Find another job and transfer your H1B visa to a different employer
- Apply for another visa, consider 5 Alternatives to the H-1B Visa
How difficult is it to get a TN visa?
According to a recent analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies, State Department data shows that approval rates for nonimmigrant visas significantly increased between FY 2020 and FY 2021. Specifically for the TN visa, approval rates have risen from 89.40% in 2019 to 90.20% in 2021. In 2022 the U.S. issued 33,361 TN visas for Mexican and Canadian professionals.