The TN Visa

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Under this NAFTA agreement, these three countries also established a category for professionals in certain fields to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities. This category is known as the Treaty NAFTA or just TN. The TN status or TN Visa is a special non-immigrant work status in the United States for a citizen of Canada and Mexico.

According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, you may be eligible for TN nonimmigrant status, if:

• The applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico;
• The applicant’s profession is under one of the NAFTA List professions below;
• The position in the United States requires a NAFTA professional;
• The applicant will work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job for an employer. (Self-employment is not permitted);
• The applicant has the qualifications, meeting the specific requirements, education, and/or experience of the profession.