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The TN category is part of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, Canada, and the US. To facilitate
trade and address business concerns among the member nations, NAFTA
provides certain nonimmigrant benefits to Mexican and
Canadian professionals who would like to enter the US to engage in
professional employment. TN professionals must be coming to the US
to work in an occupations designated under NAFTA. The list of
qualifying occupations can be found
here.
Although Mexico, Canada, and the US are all equal members under
NAFTA, the immigration benefits for TN professionals are slanted
more positively towards Canadian nationals. Canadians who qualify
for TN status may apply for admission at any US border crossing and
are not required to apply for a visa at a US embassy. Though the
eligibility criteria are the are the same, Mexican nationals must
apply for a TN visa at the US embassy in Mexico prior to their
admission into the US.
TN visas are issued for an initial period of 1 year, and can be
renewed for additional 1 year periods without limitation. |
