Immigration Overview

TN Visa

Canadian and Mexican Professional Visas

Washington DC Metro Area Immigration Attorneys at Yacub Law Offices

Understanding what steps to take in order to qualify for and obtain a TN visa can be complicated. At the Falls Church, Virginia Yacub Law Offices our immigration lawyers assist clients in understanding TN visa requirements and procedures. Representing clients throughout Washington DC, Fairfax, Arlington, Gaithersburg, and Manassas, we also represent clients across the United States. For more information regarding our practice, contact immigration attorneys at Yacub Law Offices today. We offer personalized, one-on-one service and practice exclusively in the area of immigration law.

Understanding TN Visas

Under the NAFTA free trade agreement, the TN visa allows Mexican and Canadian nationals to work in the United States. Under the TN visa, Mexican and Canadian professionals are allowed to work for the sponsor of the TN visa. However, the TN visa only applies to certain professions (listed below).

A TN visa is granted for only one year and is renewable each year thereafter. A TN visa holder may continue working in the country so long as he or she works for the petitioning employer.

A TN visa applicant may obtain the TN visa with the BCIS in the United States, with the US consulate abroad or at a port of entry.

The Business Applications of the TN Visa

The TN visa has been a source of great relief for employers who require professional foreign labor when the BCIS has run out of H-1B visas. However, it should be noted that the TN visa also has a cap. Employers who want to bring foreign workers must strategize and decide which visa to apply for. Obviously, one relevant factor will be the availability of visas for the employee.

It is, however, very important to understand and consider educational TN visa requirements. Under the H-1B visa, if a specific B.A. degree is required, a foreign worker can submit a functional equivalent to a particular B.A. program. However, under the TN visa, if a specific B.A. is required, a foreign worker must demonstrate that he or she possesses that particular B.A. degree.

Qualifying Professions

The following professions qualify for participation under the TN visa program:

• Accountant - Baccalaureate degree, licenciatura degree, C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A or C.M.A.
• Architect - Baccalaureate degree, licenciatura degree or state/provisional license
• Computer System Analyst - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or post secondary diploma or certificate and three years' experience
• Disaster Relief Insurance 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 the field of 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
• Graphic Designer - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or post-secondary diploma or certificate and three years' experience
• Hotel Manager - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree in hotel management; or post-secondary diploma or certificate and three years' experience
• Interior Designer - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or post-secondary diploma or certificate and three years' experience
• Land Surveyor - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree, or state/provincial/federal license
• Land Architect - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Lawyer (including Notary in the province of Quebec) - L.L.B., J.D., L.L.M., B.C.L., 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 a prerequisite)
• Management Consultant - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or five years experience in consulting or related field
• 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: Must work in direct support of professionals in the following disciplines: chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, meteorology, physics, astronomy, agricultural sciences, biology or forestry
  Must possesses theoretical knowledge of the discipline
  Must possess ability to solve practical problems in the discipline or the ability to apply principles of the discipline to basic or applied research
• Social Worker - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist) - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Technical Publications Writer - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Urban Planner (including Geographer) - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Vocational Counselor - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Medical/Allied Professional: Dentist - D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia, Doctor en Cirugia Dental, or state/provincial license
• Dietician - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or state/provincial license
• Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/ Medical Technologist (Mexico) - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree; or post-secondary diploma or certificate and three years experience
  Must be seeking entry to perform chemical, biological, hematological, immunological, microscopic, and bacteriological tests, procedures, experiments, and analyses in laboratories for diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease
• Nutritionist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Occupational Therapist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or state/provincial license
• Pharmacist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or state/provincial license
• Psychologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or state/provincial license
• Recreational Therapist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Registered Nurse - Licenciatura degree or state/provincial license
• Veterinarian - D.V.M., D.M.V., Doctor en Veterinaria, or state/provincial license
• Scientists
• Agriculturist (including 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
• Biologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Chemist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Dairy Scientists - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Entomologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Epidemiologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Geneticist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Geochemist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Geologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Geophysicist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Horticulturist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Meteorologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Pharmacologist - Baccalaureate or licenciatura degree
• Physicists - 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

Pursuing a Professional Career

If you are a professional and would like to pursue career opportunities in the United States under the TN visa program, contact immigration lawyers at Yacub Law Offices. We represent clients nationwide, including individuals located in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the greater Washington DC metro area. Flexible and accessible, our attorneys are available by appointment according to meeting times convenient for our clients. Call today to schedule a one-on-one meeting and learn more about what we can do to help you.