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TN-1 Visa for Canadian or Mexican Nationals
The TN-1 Visa is a special visa classification that allows highly skilled professionals from Canada and Mexico to work in the United States. Some of the occupations that are eligible for the TN-1 Visa include engineers, lawyers, accountants, and medical professionals such as nurses.
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What is a NAFTA (TN-1) Visa?
The TN classification applies to either a Canadian or Mexican national seeking classification as a professional to work in the United States for a temporary one year period and may work in this position by having obtained a degree relating to the offered position or experience combined with education for some positions. The following is a list of the professions and minimum qualifications, which fall under the purview of NAFTA.
PROFESSION | MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALS |
---|---|
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 license |
Computer Systems Analyst | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate 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) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims |
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 and three years experience |
Hotel Manager | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate in hotel/restaurant management and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management |
Industrial Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate, and three years experience |
Interior Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary 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 the province of Quebec) | L.L.B., J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar |
Librarian | M.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree was prerequisite) |
Management Consultant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura 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) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Range Manager/Range Conservationist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura 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 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Sylviculturist (including forestry) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Technical Publications Writer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate, and three years experience |
Urban Planner (including Geographer) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Vocational Counselor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
MEDICAL/ALLIED PROFESSIONALS | |
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 the United States) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post secondary diploma or post secondary 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., 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 | |
Agricultural (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 |
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 |
Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States) | 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 | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Seminary | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
University | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |

Immigration Attorney: Johanna M. Keamy
TN Nurses (Canadian)
Canadian TN applicant must submit proof of the following:
- Canadian citizenship
As proof of Citizenship, a Canadian Passport or Canadian Birth Certificate may be submitted.
–A Canadian Applicant may obtain a long form birth certificate by contacting the Registrar of Vital Statistics of the province / territory in which the birth occurred. A Long Form Birth Certificate is preferred which contains the name, place and date of birth, parental information, date of issue, date of registration, registration number, certificate number, and authorized signature(s).
- Professional Occupation – Registered Nurse
Among the professions enumerated in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Appendix 1603.D.1, a TN applicant may qualify as a Registered Nurse. The position must require specialized skill utilizing critical thinking and nursing judgment/knowledge/skills and may not be that of a caretaker, nurse’s aide, or nursing attendant.
- Credentials according professional status as an Registered Nurse
NAFTA requires that the minimum educational requirements for a Registered Nurse include a “State/Provincial License or Licenciatura Degree.”
- Regulatory Criteria to Work in the U.S. as a Registered Nurse
Regulations require CGFNS Certification. The CGFNS, Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools, administers a Certification Program (CP) for first level general, registered nurses who have been educated outside the United States who want to now practice nursing in the United States. The Certification Program is comprised of a credentials review, a qualifying exam of nursing knowledge, and an English language proficiency exam. Upon successful completion of all three elements of the program, the applicant is awarded a CGFNS Certificate.
- Letter from the prospective U.S. employer
A letter from the U.S. Employer must detail the terms of the employment, including the Employer’s Background, the applicant’s qualifications, the contemplated length of stay and arrangements for remuneration.
- Nonimmigrant Intent
TN status is considered temporary in nature and does not allow “dual intent” which means that the Applicant must prove no intent to immigrate to the U.S. A pending immigrant petition or the presence of a spouse or fiancee/fiancé in the U.S. may preclude a finding of nonimmigrant intent.
- Period of Stay
An initial period of stay in the U.S. for a Registered Nurse may be authorized up to 3 years. If additional period of stay is requested without departing from the United States, a Registered Nurse may seek an extension of stay by filing a petition with USCIS. Alternatively, an Applicant may depart from the United States before the date of expiration of TN status. Once abroad, the TN Applicant may apply at a CBP-designated U.S. port of entry or at a designated pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station with another application for admission as a TN nonimmigrant.
- Dependents of TN Nonimmigrants
A spouse and children under the age of 21 may be eligible for TD nonimmigrant status. Spouses and children are not permitted to work while in the United States, but may study. TD status is granted for the same period of time granted to the principal TN nonimmigrant.
- Self Employment Strictly Prohibited
Self-employment is not allowed on TN visa and work for a company where the applicant is the sole or controlling shareholder or owner is considered self employment and not allowed. An Applicant with full time employment may not engage in a side hustle or independent contractor work. Filing U.S. tax returns does not take the place of work authorization.