TN - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

• Based on North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Available to Canadian and Mexican citizens only
• Based on employment and employer-specific (very similar to H-1B)

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be employee on payroll
• Must be Canadian or Mexican citizen
• Job must be a profession listed on the NAFTA specified-occupations list (engineers, mathematicians, scientists, biologists, chemists, geochemists, geologists, geophysicists, meteorologists, physicists, etc.)
• Minimum qualifications outlined in the occupations list, generally Bachelor’s degree

Process

• TN applies at port-of-entry, no prior approval required
• Must provide proof of citizenship, detailed letter from employer, evidence that job is on occupations list, evidence of credentials, statement that entry is temporary
• Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp but Mexican citizens do
• $50 application fee for Canadian citizens only
• Receives I-94 reflecting period of stay

Regulations

• TN status is tied to employment and a specific employer
• A UCAR TN holder cannot work for another institution unless that institution applies for a concurrent TN
• Alternatively, a TN holder sponsored by another organization cannot work for UCAR unless authorized
• TN status is available in 3-year increments and may be extended with no limitation in the regulations

Once TN Employee Arrives

Travel

• Re-entry with I-94 card and visa (Mexican citizens)

Extensions

• Up to 3 years by re-entering authorized port-of-entry (same as initial process) or applying with the USCIS