What Are Mexican and Canadian Nonimmigrant Visas for TN?
For TN NAFTA Professionals, there is a TN visa. The visa itself allows professionals from Mexico and Canada who meet the requirements to temporarily enter the US. The goal of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was to establish a cooperative partnership among the US, Canada, and Mexico. NAFTA developed the TN visa to facilitate commercial and economic links between the three nations.
A foreign national wishing to enter the United States is often required to get a visa. Nonimmigrant visas for short-term travel or purposes and immigrant visas for obtaining permanent residence are two different categories of visas. Nonimmigrant visas designed especially for TN visa occupations are the TN1 and TN2 visas.
Through NAFTA professional workers, the lawyers at Scott D. Pollock & Associates, P.C. have been able to get TN visas for people of Canada and Mexico. Our skilled Chicago immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through the TN visa application procedure if you’re a professional worker from a neighboring country.
Eligibility for Professional Workers under NAFTA
To be eligible for this visa, the applicant has to be a citizen of Mexico or Canada. Furthermore, the job for which you are traveling to the United States has to be on the list of occupations recognized by the NAFTA TN visa program. An employer and a qualified nonimmigrant seeking a work visa must first make agreements.
TN Visa Careers
The official list of jobs for TN visas may be found in NAFTA chapter 16’s appendix 1603.D.1. A bachelor’s degree is often required as an entry-level requirement for TN visa positions. Not only do certain jobs demand a degree, but some also call for extra experience. Every prerequisite for each position, including extra licenses, certifications, affiliations, and more, is listed on the TN visa jobs list.
Accountant, architect, dentist, dietician, economist, engineer, forester, graphic designer, geneticist, land surveyor, lawyer, librarian, mathematician, medical professional, pharmacist, research assistant, social worker, zoologist, university professor, and many more are examples of qualifying positions from the TN visa profession list.
TN Visa Application Process
The application procedure for a TN visa consists of three to four steps: filling out the nonimmigrant visa form, sending your photo, appearing in person for an interview with the American embassy or consulate, and maybe sending additional paperwork if the consulate requests it.
1. Fill out the application for a non-immigrant visa.
Form DS-160, Non-Immigrant Visa Application, must be completed by all applicants for non-immigrant visas. This form asks a number of questions about their past and the reason for their journey to the United States.
Form DS-160 submissions are $190. Depending on the connection between the United States and the home country of the foreign person, additional costs can be applicable.
2. Photo After completing the visa application,
You must upload your photo. It is not necessary to include a photo if you are applying for TN Visa Mexico. The required photos must be in color, shot within the previous six months, with the subject facing the camera in full facial view, and against a simple white or off-white backdrop.
3. Consultation or Embassy of the United States of America
When applying for a non-immigrant visa, foreign people between the ages of 14 and 79 must have an interview with a representative of the American embassy or consulate in their home or place of residence. To minimize lengthy waits, schedule this interview as soon as feasible. You can arrange an interview at the American embassy or consulate in your nation of origin.
4. Extra Records
To be eligible for the TN visa, the NAFTA office might need more paperwork. Requests for proper credentials and proof of licensure may be made.
TN Visa Qualifications
Canadian and Mexican citizens must meet the requirements to be qualified as NAFTA professionals in order to apply for the TN visa. Regardless of the specific TN category, applicants must meet the following general requirements in order to be granted a TN visa:
- Be a citizen of Canada or Mexico;
- Hold a position on the list of professions eligible for TN visas;
- Work in a capacity in the United States that necessitates NAFTA expertise;
- Have a prearranged employer where you work either full- or part-time; and
- Be qualified with the stated qualifications and certifications.
TN1 visas are available to citizens of Canada, whereas TN2 visas are available to people of Mexico.
Conditions for Canadian Citizens to Apply for TN1 Visas
For a Canadian citizen living abroad with a non-Canadian spouse and/or kid and intending to enter the United States as a NAFTA professional, a NAFTA Professional (TN) visa is necessary. This is necessary since the spouse and/or children will need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, for which the TN visa is a requirement, before they may enter.
Additionally, you can apply for a TN visa to Canada by contacting the US Citizenship and Immigration Service. On your behalf, your employer may file a Form I-129 petition. The following papers are needed for the TN1 visa if you want to apply by other means, such as Form I-129:
- Credible employment documentation, such as degrees and a letter from a potential employer
- Evidence of citizenship in Canada
You must arrive in the United States at the airport with your original documents and your packet for the TN petition in order to be admitted. You will get your I-94 card for formal entry into the United States after you are accepted.
Conditions for Mexican Citizens Obtaining a TN2 Visa
Obtaining a NAFTA Professional (TN) visa is necessary in order to apply for entry into the United States. The U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico is where you apply for your TN visa.
In contrast to the TN1 Visa Canada, the TN2 visa procedure requires you to visit the U.S. consulate with your TN package. Your passport will then be stamped by the US consulate. Your I-94 card will be issued to you upon your formal entry into the United States.
How much time does it take to process a visa for TN?
With the conventional style of processing, the initial processing time for TN visas can be reviewed and completed in a few months. It takes 15 business days to complete a TN visa if you want to pay extra for premium processing.
The length of the interview waiting period varies based on when you apply, as well as the location of the American embassy or consulate in your nation of residence.
Price of a TN visa
There are fees associated with each type of TN visa. TN visa applications are not as costly as some other nonimmigrant visas.
- Form DS-160 submission fees are $190. Depending on the connection between the United States and your home country, additional costs can be applicable. The cost of Form I-129 is $460. Employers wishing to apply for a TN1 visa must submit Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. To apply for a TN visa at the U.S. Consulate, you do not need to submit a Form I-129. If you are a citizen of Canada, you can apply for a TN visa using this different process.
- High-end processing When submitting Form 1-129 for a TN1 visa, Form I-907 costs $2,500. Ask your immigration attorney about Form I-907 variation charges if you are processing another visa premium.
What Is the Duration of a TN Visa?
A TN visa can be obtained for a maximum of three years. You are free to reapply at any time if you and your company would like to continue working together. By submitting Form I-129 on your behalf, your employer is able to extend your TN visa. The duration of your TN1 and TN2 visas depends on the hiring employer. You will need to file for a new TN visa if you decide to change jobs.