The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the U.S. to engage in business activities at a professional level. The types of professionals eligible to seek admission as TN nonimmigrants are accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.
You may be eligible for TN nonimmigrant status if:
- You are a citizen of Canada or Mexico;
- Your profession qualifies under the regulations;
- The position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional;
- You have a prearranged full-time or part-time job with a U.S. employer (but not self-employment); and
- You have the qualifications to practice in the profession in question.
Obtaining TN Status
Sponsored TN Status
Sponsored TN status is obtained through the Texas A&M University System member for whom you, the employee, will be working. TN visas are only able to be requested for up to three years at a time and they are considered “temporary.” Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty are not eligible for a TN visa since these are not considered temporary positions. The hiring department will initiate the request to obtain the TN visa with Engineering Human Resources & Payroll by emailing engineeringhrvisitors@tamu.edu. Engineering Immigration Services works with Faculty Immigration Affairs through their case management system: Tracker.
- Through Tracker, Engineering Immigration Services will send employers a packet of documents needed to prepare an TN petition and create the federally required compliance files.
- Employers will need to complete the forms, have them signed and then return them to engineeringhrvisitors@tamu.edu for uploading to the employee's Tracker record.
- Immigration Affairs also sends the employee a questionnaire to complete. Based on their answers, a list of the required documentation is then provided directly to the employee.
A detailed list of requirements for TN visa, changes to status and extensions can be found on the Faculty Affairs website at: TN Status | Faculty Affairs (tamu.edu)
Non-Sponsored TN Status
Non-sponsored TN status is something the employee obtains on their own. The only document provided by the hiring department is the letter from prospective employer.
- The hiring department emails engineeringhrvisitors@tamu.edu for instructions and an example letter to be used for this purpose and provides a copy of the prospective employee’s passport and vitae.
- Engineering HR will then prepare the Engineering 5VS needed from the department for the hire and secure Ethics and Compliance clearance.
- Once employee is cleared, the department is provided with a “draft” invite letter. Department finalizes the letter, prints it on letterhead, signs, and forwards to employee with a copy to engineeringhrvisitors@tamu.edu.
Important to Note: Employees cannot file for permanent residency while on TN visa because it is temporary. Employees must transition from TN visa to H-1B to apply for permanent residency.