Description
The TN visa is for Canadian and Mexican citizens (TN-1 or TN-2) to work in the United States in very specific occupations. For each of these occupations there are certain educational requirements.
Applicants for the TN-2 (Mexican citizens) must appear at a US Consulate before the visa can be issued.
Basic Requirements Summary for TN visa
If the applicant is residing in Canada, the applicant may apply directly at the U.S. port of entry. No application needs to be made at the CIS.
If the applicant is residing in Mexico, the applicant may apply directly at the U.S. Consulate.
The applicant must be coming to work in the United States as one of the following specific occupations and possess the required education and/or experience as indicated:
Schedule 2
(List of Permissible Occupations and Educational Requirements)
of the North American free Trade Agreement
| Profession1 | Minimum Education Requirements and Alternative Credentials |
|---|---|
| General | |
| 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 license2 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma3 or Certificate4, and three years experience |
| Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, and relevant training; or three years experience in claims adjustment with training |
| 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 Certificate, and three years experience |
| Hotel Manager | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma/Certificate and three years experience |
| Industrial Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma/Certificate, and three years experience |
| Interior Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma/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 Quebec) | LL.B., J.D., LL.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura Degree (five years); or bar membership |
| Librarian | M.L.S. or B.L.S. (with prerequisite Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree) |
| Management Consultant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience (five years) |
| Mathematician/Statistician | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Range Manager/Conservationalist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Research Assistant (post-secondary institution) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Scientific Technician/Technologist5 | Theoretical knowledge in sciences and ability to solve practical problems or conduct research |
| Social Worker | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Sylviculturist/Forestry Specialist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Technical Publications Writer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma/Certificate, and three years experience |
| Urban Planner/Geographer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Vocational Counsellor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Medical/Allied Professional | |
| 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 US)6 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or 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. or 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 | 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 |
| Geologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and US) | 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 Teacher | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Seminary Teacher | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| University Teacher | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
1 A business person seeking temporary entry under this Appendix may also perform training functions relating to the profession, including conducting seminars.
2 “State/provincial license” and “state/provincial/federal license” mean any document issued by a state, provincial or federal government, as the case may be, or under its authority, but not by a local government,
that permits a person to engage in a regulated activity or profession.
3 “Post-Secondary Diploma” means a credential issued, on completion of two or more years of postsecondary education, by an accredited academic institution in Canada or the United States.
4 “Post-Secondary Certificate” means a certificate issued, on completion of two or more years of postsecondary education at an academic institution, by the federal government of Mexico or a stategovernment in Mexico, an academic institution recognized by the federal government or a state government, or an academic institution created by federal or state law.
5 A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to work in direct support of professionals in agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology,
geophysics, meteorology or physics.
6 A business person in this category must be seeking temporary entry to perform in a laboratory chemical, biological, hematological, immunologic, microscopic or bacteriological tests and analyses for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease.
Validity Term
A TN visa holder is admitted for three years.
TD
Description
The TD visa is for spouses and unmarried minor children of TN visa holders.
Basic Requirements Summary
If the applicant is residing in Canada, the applicant may apply directly at the U.S. port of entry with the primary TN spouse or parent or submit evidence of TN visa status and the relationship to a TN visa
holder.
If the applicant is residing in Mexico, the applicant may apply directly at the U.S. Consulate with the primary TN spouse or parent or submit evidence of TN visa status and the relationship to a TN visa holder.
TD visa applicants must demonstrate evidence of their relationship to the TN visa holder they plan to accompany or follow. TD visa holders are not authorized to work in the United States.
Validity Term
TD visa holder is admitted to the United States for the duration of status of the TN visa holder he/she is
accompanying.
