TN1 Visa

Table of Contents

The TN1 visa allows nonimmigrant Canadian citizens who work in certain professions to seek temporary entry into the United States for employment and business activities with a U.S. or foreign employer. Canadian citizens who work in a qualified profession may seek admission with the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at certain CBP-designated ports of entry or at a designated pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station. Thus, Canadian citizens who work in a qualified profession generally do not need an approved TN1 visa prior to seeking entry into the U.S.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for the TN1 Visa?

In order to qualify for the TN1 visa, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Must be a citizen of Canada
Must work in a qualified profession on the NAFTA list.
Must have prearranged full-time or part-time employment, and will not be self-employed.
Must have the requisite qualifications, specific requirements, education, and/or experience to work in the qualified profession.
Must typically have a baccalaureate degree, though some professions allow qualified experience to be substituted for the baccalaureate degree.

What are Qualified Professions for the TN1 Visa?

There are numerous professions that are included on the qualified professions list for the TN visa. Most of these professions also require that visa holders have certain post-secondary degrees related to the profession, or have certificates or licensure for the profession and issued by applicable state or jurisdiction. Qualified professions include:

Accountant
Agriculturist (including Agronomist)
Animal Breeder
Animal Scientist
Apiculturist
Architect
Astronomer
Biochemist
Biologist
Chemist
College Professor
Computer Systems Analyst
Dairy Scientist
Dentist
Dietitian
Disaster relief insurance claims adjuster
Economist
Engineer
Entomologist
Epidemiologist
Forester
Geneticist
Geochemist
Geologist
Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)
Graphic Designer
Horticulturist
Hotel Manager
Industrial Designer
Interior Designer
Land Surveyor-
Landscape Architect
Lawyer
Librarian
Management Consultant
Mathematician (including Statistician and Actuary)
Medical Laboratory Technologist
Meteorologist
Nutritionist
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacist
Pharmacologist
Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada)
Physician (teaching or research only)
Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist
Plant Breeder
Poultry Scientist
Psychologist
Range Manager/Range Conservationist
Recreational Therapist
Registered nurse
Research Assistant
Scientific Technician/Technologist
Seminary Teacher
Social Worker
Soil Scientist
Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)
Technical Publications Writer-
University Professor
Urban Planner (including Geographer)
Veterinarian
Vocational Counselor
Zoologist

Do Canadian Citizens Need a TN Visa?

Yes. In order to work in the United States as a temporary nonimmigrant in a qualified profession, Canadian citizens must have the TN1 visa.

However, Canadian citizens are not required to apply for the TN1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate prior to appearing at a United States port of entry. Instead, Canadian citizens may present the required documentation proving their eligibility for the TN1 visa when they arrive at certain U.S. ports of entry or pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection stations as designated by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

When Canadian citizens choose to apply for the TN1 visa at a designated port of entry, they must have the following documentation with them:

Proof of Canadian citizenship;
A letter from the applicant’s prospective employer that details what the applicant’s profession is, the purpose of the applicant’s employment, the length of the employment, and the applicant’s educational qualifications;
Credentials evaluation, if applicable, and any applicable fees.

What is the process for obtaining the TN1 visa?

The application process for the TN1 visa is primarily employer driven, though the employee will need to provide information and documentation during the process. The steps to apply for the TN1 visa are described below:

Step One: Employer Files Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker

To apply for the TN1 visa, the applicant’s employer must first review the instructions for Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker and file Form I-129 with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

When submitting the Form I-129, the employer must pay any applicable filing fee and provide all required evidence and supporting documentation.
Step Two: USCIS Processes Form I-129

After the USCIS receives and processes Form I-129, the employer will receive the following in return:
- A receipt notice confirming the petition was received;
- A notice to appear for an interview, if required;
- A biometric services notice, if applicable; and
- A notice of decision.
Step Three: Employee Files Online Form DS-160

The TN1 visa applicant who will be working for their employer in the United States must complete Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160. This involves uploading a photo of the applicant that conforms to the U.S. Department of State photograph requirements. Once Form DS-160 is submitted, the employee must download and print the confirmation page showing Form DS-160 was completed and the filing fee paid. The confirmation page will need to be brought to the visa interview at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Step Four: Schedule Interview and Biometrics Appointment

When Form I-129 is approved, the USCIS will send Form I-797, Notice of Action. This may include with it a notice to appear for an interview and a biometric services appointment. The TN1 applicant is responsible for scheduling and appearing for his or her interview and biometrics appointment.
Step Five: Attend Interview and Biometrics Appointment

The TN1 applicant (employee) must attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, if requested, where an official will evaluate the applicant’s documentation and ask questions pertaining to why the applicant is seeking the TN1 visa, including about the applicant’s employment with their employer. The TN1 visa applicant may be able to schedule the biometrics appointment to take place at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when the visa interview is scheduled.

Before attending the interview, the applicant should compile certain documentation to bring with them to the interview.

The documents listed below must be brought with the TN1 visa applicant to the interview:
- Confirmation page for Form DS-160;
- Passport valid for travel to the United States that will remain valid for at least six months beyond the visa holder’s period of stay in the United States;
- Application fee payment receipt;
- Contract or letter of employment that confirms upcoming employment
- Documentation proving the applicant meets the minimum education and/or work experience requirements for the qualified profession.
Step Six: Alternatively, Apply at U.S. Port of Entry

As stated above, Canadian citizens who qualify for the TN1 visa may otherwise seek entry into the United States without first obtaining the TN visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Instead, qualified Canadian professionals can apply for TN nonimmigrant status at a United States CBP port of entry.

At the CBP port of entry or pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station, the TN1 visa applicant will be asked questions about his or her eligibility. Applicants should be prepared to pay any inspection fees at the port of entry where they seek admission. The prospective worker also must provide:
- Proof of Canadian citizenship;
- Approval notice from USCIS for form I-129;
- A copy of form I-129; and
- All supporting documentation submitted to USCIS.

Can TN1 visa holders study in the United States?

Yes. TN1 visa holders may study full-time or part-time while in the United States so long as the original conditions of the TN1 visa are adhered to. If the educational program lasts longer than the period of validity for the TN1 visa, the visa holder should apply for a student visa that would permit them to remain in the United States for the purpose of completing their education. Continuing education is not a valid basis for extending the TN1 visa.

Can TN1 visa holders switch employers while in the U.S?

TN1 visa holders are only permitted to work in the U.S. for the employer named on the TN visa. TN1 visa holders who want to change their employer must apply for a new TN1 visa based on the new employer and employment.

Can TN1 visa holders apply for a green card?

No. Unless there is some other basis for applying for a green card, such as marriage to a U.S. citizen, TN1 visa holders are not permitted to apply for a green card based on their TN1 visa status. This is because the TN1 visa is not a “dual intent” visa, which means that TN1 visa holders must have the intent to only live in the U.S. temporarily when they are issued the TN1 visa.

How much does it cost to get a TN1 visa?

The application fee when filing Form I-129 is $460, which is commonly paid by the employer. The cost to file Form DS-160 is $160.

There is no issuance fee applicable to Canadian citizens following the approval of the visa. Canadian citizens who achieve visa status at a CBP port of entry must pay an additional fee of $6 for their I-94 arrival/departure card.

An additional $2,500 may be paid for premium processing, which will expedite the approval process for receiving the TN1 visa.

How long is the TN1 visa valid?

TN1 visa holders may stay in the United States for up to three years. If a TN1 visa holder wishes to remain in the United States beyond three years without first departing the United States, the visa holder must seek an extension of his or her stay by having his or her employer file form I-129 on the visa holder’s behalf.

Alternatively, TN1 visa holders may depart the United States before the date their visa expires and apply at a CBP-designated U.S. port of entry or pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station using the same application and documentation provided at the initial application for admission as a TN1 nonimmigrant.