Tn Work Visa For Canada And Mexico Citizens
There are many visa options that foreign nationals can apply for to work within Canada or the United States, but the TN Work Visa is one of the most flexible and accessible. If you want to know if the TN Work Visa is right for you, contact us.
This article will help you to try for TN Work Visa for Canada and Mexico citizens which is suggested to be free from the US.
Millions of people around the world dream about going to Canada or Mexico for a long term stay. For many, doing so is only wishful thinking as it is far from being affordable. Still, there are options out there for you to achieve this beautiful dream. If you want to find out all the details about them, keep reading

As a Canadian citizen, you can enter the United States for business purposes for up to six months with a TN visa. A TN visa does not grant you the right to work in the United States, however. If you wish to work in the United States, you must apply for and receive an H1B visa or an L-1A visa.
If you are a Mexican citizen, you can enter the United States for business purposes for up to six months with a B-1/B-2 visitor visa. A B-1/B-2 visitor visa does not grant you the right to work in the United States and does not allow your dependents to accompany you on the trip. If your employer wishes to send you on an extended business trip or if they wish to hire you full time while in the United States, they will need to file a labor certification application with USCIS on your behalf before they may file an H1B petition with USCIS on your behalf.
If you’re a citizen of Canada or Mexico, and you want to work in the United States, you might be wondering how you can get the proper visa.
The answer is simple: get a TN Work Visa for Canada and Mexico citizens!
The TN Work Visa (also known as the TD Visa) allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States for a limited period of time. The visa does not require an employer to sponsor the applicant, nor does it require that the applicant have any prior employment history in the United States.
This means that if you’re a Canadian or Mexican citizen looking for employment in the United States, all you have to do is fill out an application for your TN Work Visa and wait for approval from USCIS before traveling over here.
How to Apply
There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary by U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please consult the instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website.
Complete the Online Visa Application
- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview
- Photo –You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements. (A photo is not required if you are applying in Mexico.)
Schedule an Interview
Interviews are generally required for visa applicants with certain limited exceptions below. Consular officers may require an interview of any visa applicant.
If you are age: | Then an interview is: |
---|---|
13 and younger | Generally not required |
14-79 | Required (some exceptions for renewals) |
80 and older | Generally not required |
You should schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You may schedule your interview at another U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but be aware that it may be more difficult to qualify for a visa outside of the country where you live.
Wait times for interview appointments vary by location, season, and visa category, so you should apply for your visa early. Review the interview wait time for the location where you will apply.
TN Visa Requirements:
- Citizen of Canada or Mexico.
- Qualified under one of the accepted NAFTA professions.
- Evidence that the position in the United States requires a NAFTA professional.
- Participant has prearranged a part-time or full-time job with the U.S. employer. Self-employment is not accepted for this visa.
- Evidence that the participant matches the credentials and educational requirements of the position.
TN-1 Requirements for Canadian Citizens:
Canadian citizens typically do not need a NAFTA professional (TN) visa to gain entry into the U.S. However, if the participant wishes to bring dependents (spouses and unmarried children under 21) to the United States, the participant must have a TN visa. The dependents are then eligible to receive a TD nonimmigrant visa. TN nonimmigrant status can be applied for at a CBP-designated U.S. port of entry.
You must provide the following documentation to the CBP officer:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship.
- Letter from your prospective employer detailing items such as the professional capacity in which you will work in the United States, the purpose of your employment, your length of stay, and your educational qualifications.
- Credentials evaluation (if applicable), together with any applicable fees.
TN-2 Requirements for Mexican Citizens:
- Mexican citizens require a TN visa for entry into the United States. Once receiving approval Mexican citizens can apply for entrance at select CBP designated U.S. ports or at certain pre-clearance stations.
TN Visa Cost
Compared to other nonimmigrant work visas, the TN is relatively inexpensive. If you choose to petition by mail, you will be responsible for the $555 I-129H1 petition filing fee. If you gain your status at the border or port of entry, you will need to pay a $50 application fee and a second fee of $6 for your I-94 arrival/departure card.
TN Visa Processing Time
If you apply at a port of entry, your processing time may only take a few hours. However, if you are petitioning by mail, the amount of time it will take to process your petition will depend on the caseload of your USCIS service center. Generally, you can expect it to take about six months to process your I-129H1. However, you can opt to pay an additional fee for premium processing, which will expedite your TN petition’s processing time to 15 business days.
While premium processing does shorten your processing time, it does not increase your chances of being approved. If the USCIS fails to process your petition in that time after you have filed the I-907 premium processing form, your premium processing fee will be refunded and your petition will be processed normally.
TN Visa vs H-1B Visa
The H-1B visa is a similar nonimmigrant visa, but it does have some distinct differences to consider if you are considering both options.
The TN visa holds several advantages over the H-1B. One such advantage is the fact that it is not held to any annual cap. Each year, only 85,000 H-1B visas are allotted. Because more people apply than there are slots, the USCIS holds a lottery to randomly select the petitions that will be processed each year. Because so many people petition, the chances of being selected can be rather slim, which can be a major impediment to your visa.
Also, the H-1B is only valid for an initial period of three years with the ability to extend it to a maximum of six years. In contrast, the TN can be extended an indefinite number of times. The H-1B is also much more expensive, though most of the costs are covered by the employer.
However, the H-1B is not very limited when it comes to which occupations qualify, where the TN only has 60 qualifying professions. Additionally, the H-1B visa is considered a “dual intent” visa, which means that you can seek legal permanent residence (green card status) while under it. The TN visa does not allow you to do this and you must maintain an intent to return to your home country. Pursuing a green card under TN status could violate your status and incur legal consequences.
Ultimately, you need to decide what your intentions are in the U.S. before choosing between the H-1B and the TN visa. Your immigration attorney can help you more depending on your unique case.
Extension Options
The process of renewing or extending your TN status can be carried out by filing Form I-129H1 along with proof of the TN status holder’s education/citizenship and a letter addressing the need for the extension. At the point in which the job or TN status officially expires, individuals are required to leave the country. Unlike the H-1B grace period, TN visas do not have this leeway period.
The length of the visa is in increments of three years. If the participant wishes to extend their employment in the United States after three years, there is the option to renew. There is no limitation on the number of times a participant can renew.
Dependents of TN Visa Holder
The TN visa holder’s spouse and/or children under the age of 21 may be eligible for TD nonimmigrant status. This status allows dependents to enter the U.S. with the TN visa holder and be granted the same period of stay. There are some restrictions to the TD nonimmigrant status for dependents. Spouses and children are not permitted to work while in the United States, but they are permitted to study.
Dependents can apply for admission into the United States at a CBP-designated U.S. port of entry or at a designated pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station.
Connclusion
Touriago.com offers you a fast service to apply for the TN visa which helps you get a TN visa in 30 days. The goal of this blog is to offer the right information when applying for the TN visa in Canada and Mexico. Our team is here to help you through every stage of your application for a TN Work Visa.