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TN Nonimmigrant Classification

The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) also created the TN nonimmigrant classification. In order to apply for the TN classification, the Canadian citizen applicant must be coming to the U.S. to work in one of the professional occupations designated under NAFTA. The list of occupations is given below. A dependent of a TN nonimmigrant enters the U.S. as a TD nonimmigrant. While the TD classification is not limited to Canadian citizens, a visa would be required if the TD nonimmigrant is not visa exempt in his/her own right.

TN nonimmigrant classification is granted in one year increments and applications are made at the airport/border, either in advance or on the day of entry. The applicant should allow at least two hours prior to a scheduled flight to complete USCIS processing. Also, since the process may be time consuming, the USCIS suggests that applicants contact the USCIS office in advance for any additional requirements. Below are specific professions listed in the regulations which allow persons to enter the U.S. in TN status.

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Appendix 1603.D.1 (Annotated)

Abbreviations used:

B/L Degree = Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree

Cert. = Certificate

P/S = Post Secondary

s/p license = state/provincial license

Accountant - B/L Degree; or C.P.A., C A., C.G.A., or C.M.A.

Architect - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Computer Systems Analyst - B/L Degree; or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert. and three years' experience.

Disaster relief insurance claims adjuster
(claims adjuster employed by an insurance company located in the territory of a Party, or an independent claims adjuster)-B/L Degree, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years of experience in claims adjustment, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims.

Economist - B/L Degree

Engineer - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Forester - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Graphic Designer - B/L Degree; or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert., and three years experience.

Hotel Manager - B/L Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert. in hotel/restaurant management, and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management.

Industrial Designer - B/L Degree; or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert., and three years experience.

Interior Designer - B/L Degree or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert., and three years experience.

Land Surveyor - B/L Degree or s/p/federal license.

Landscape Architect - B/L Degree

Lawyer (including Notary in the Province of Quebec) - LL.B., J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Lic. Degree (five years); or membership in a st/pr. bar.

Librarian - M.L S. or B.L.S. (for which another B/L Degree was a prerequisite).

Management Consultant - B/L 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 (including Statistician) - B/L Degree

Range Manager/Range Conservationist - B/L Degree

Research Assistant (working in a P/S educational institution) - B/L Degree

Scientific Technician/Technologist - Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics; and (b) 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 - B/L Degree

Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist) - B/L Degree

Technical Publications Writer - B/L Degree, or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert., and three years experience.

Urban Planner (including Geographer) - B/L Degree

Vocational Counsellor - B/L Degree


Medical/Allied Professionals

Dentist - D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental; or s/p license

Dietician - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States) - B/L Degree; or P/S Diploma or P/S Cert., and three years experience.

Nutritionist - B/L Degree

Occupational Therapist - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Pharmacist - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Physician (teaching or research only) - M.D., Doctor en Medicina; or s/p license

Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist - B/L Degree; or s/p license

Psychologist - S/p license; or Lic. Degree.

Recreational Therapist - B/L Degree

Registered Nurse - S/p license or Lic. Degree.

Veterinarian - D.V.M., D.M.V., or Doctor en Veterinaria; or s/p license

 

Scientists

Agriculturist (including Agronomist) - B/L Degree

Animal Breeder - B/L Degree

Animal Scientist - B/L Degree

Apiculturist - B/L Degree

Astronomer - B/L Degree

Biochemist- B/L Degree

Biologist- B/L Degree

Chemist - B/L Degree

Dairy Scientist - B/L Degree

Entomologist - B/L Degree

Epidemiologist - B/L Degree

Geneticist - B/L Degree

Geochemist - B/L Degree

Geologist - B/L Degree

Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States) - B/L Degree

Horticulturist - B/L Degree

Meteorologist - B/L Degree

Pharmacologist - B/L Degree

Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada) - B/L Degree

Plant Breeder - B/L Degree

Poultry Scientist - B/L Degree

Soil Scientist - B/L Degree

Zoologist - B/L Degree

Teachers

College - B/L Degree

Seminary - B/L Degree

University - B/L Degree

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