TN Visa
Eligibility
TN status is for Canadian and Mexican nationals who are engaged in temporary professional activities as defined by NAFTA. For an overview of the TN status, please visit the State Department webpage.
The TN is an employer-sponsored status that can be obtained in three-year increments. UC Merced uses the TN classification primarily to employ Mexican and Canadian citizens in temporary research and teaching positions. The TN status can only be used for Mexican and Canadian citizens employed in a profession that appears on the NAFTA List of Professions.
Two Methods to Obtain TN Status
1. Obtaining a TN Status through Change of Status or Extension -application filed within the US
For Canadian and Mexican citizens who are already in the US and are not willing or able to travel to their home country, OIA will assist departments in filing a change of status or extension of TN status inside the US. This involves a recharge fee to OIA and a processing fee for USCIS. Please contact OIA for instructions on how to manage the Change of Status process.
2. Obtaining TN Status through Entry to the US -No filing of documents inside the US-no I-129 form or fees required from the Department
Mexican citizens must request a visa at a US Embassy or Consulate in order to enter the US as a TN. Canadian citizens need only present their documents at a port-of-entry and do not need a visa to obtain TN status when entering the US. In both cases, the department needs to provide an appropriate letter of appointment for individuals to request TN status, which includes under what profession the individual qualifies for TN status. For more information on the required documents and steps to gain TN status through travel to the US, please visit the State Department webpage.
Documents to Obtain a TN/TD at the Border
- A letter of job offer, citing the specific TN category for which the person is eligible for a TN (Please refer to the list of TN occupations)
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Any diploma that is cited as required for the TN (copies and originals)
- Passport that is valid for at least 6 months in future
- Marriage License and/or birth certificate (if spouse or children applying for TD)
- Visa fees
Dependent Visas
The spouse and children (under age 21) of TN visa holders may apply for TD visas to accompany the TN to the United States or to join the TN later. The TN must be able to show his or her ability to financially support dependents in the United States. A TD visa holder could study while in the US but cannot be employed.
Canadian citizen spouses and children do not need a visa ahead of time to obtain TD status. Spouses and children of TN visa holders who are not Canadian citizens must obtain a TD visa to enter the US. Also, all spouses and children of Mexican TN visa holders will need to apply for a TD visa to enter the US.
A spouse or child(ren) seeking to join a TN NAFTA Professional in the United States later must show a valid Form I-94 from the principal TN visa holder and a letter of employment confirmation from the department to show that the principal TN visa holder is maintaining TN visa status.
OIA Advising and Services for TNs
Contact Becky Mirza at bmirza@ucmerced.edu or call OIA at 209-355-0913 if you need assistance with obtaining TN status.
