Common TN Visa Mistakes to Avoid

[Marzo]

Hi! This is my first visit to the forum. I have a question for all of you, since I'm considering applying for a TN visa following a job offer I will most likely get.

The question is: Am I eligible under the "professions" named in NAFTA. My offer would be to be one of the main managers at at press freedom NGO (international but registered in the US); My degrees are BA in Poli Sci (CAnada) and MA in International relations (American University) and my close to 20 years experience has been high level in International media NGOs and International Civil Service (United Nations). I don't see any similar "professions" in the NAFTA list, except perhaps for "teaching/research". Please advice what should be done.

Thank you!

[martineze80]

Hi,
I was terminated from my job while I was on TN status. I am not too familiar with all the info I am reading about now, i.e. I had 10 days to return back home after termination. What happens if I am passed this time? Can I still get a job elsewhere?

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[g-op]

Tech you cannot hold two non immigrant classifications. cannot be a L-1 and a TN at the same time. Admission under TN classification authorizes you to work for the company that petitioned for you, if you seek additional employment you must first obatin authorization from CBP at the US border or USCIS while inside the US. You can obtain auth for numerous employers under TN but each one must be approved and noted on the I-94, for example a RN is going to be employed by two different hospitals, she must at time of entry show her two offers of employment and be approved for both. If the same RN was approved for hospital-A and then saw an opening for hospital-B she can file an I-129 with the USCIS service center to request additional work authorization. she must wait for approval prior to begining work. the other option would be to obtain employment offer from hospital-B leave the US and apply to CBP for the additional work authorization. Of coarse providing all evidence of qualifications like any other Tn application.

[g-op]

kevinlg

Customs and Border protection Officers have no such position as "NAFTA" Officer, TN applications are one of very many different classifications these officers must process, to claim they are inefficient when you really have no idea what it is they need to do is unfair and frankly your opinion is irrelivant. stating US immigration is a closely gaurded secret is a joke as well, the Law is cleary writen, Information about TN classifications are readily available on the Internet, so in the end if you are one of the professions listed and are going to work TEMPORARILY in the US and are doing the job of that profession than this permit is easy to get, and should be easily explained at your Border interview. Problem arises when Law Firms try to Maniplulate a persons job descriptions to "FIT" a profession listed under NAFTA and the applicant is not really in that profession or doing the duties realated to that profession, and when questioned is easily discovered by the US officer to not be qualified. Truly qualified professionals no problem, not qulaified professionals not allowed to enter. Most of these probably should be applying for H1-B or L-1, but H-1 has yearly cap and L-1 is more expensive. FRAUD must be very common to this work permit as all you need is a degree and a Letter.

[g-op]

martinez,
just stay, 10 days, 6 months, rest of your life. you were supposed to leave as soon as you are fired, or file to adjust status to B2 so it gives you more time to pack up and go home. or just stay, end up acquiring unlawful presence and give yourself a bar from rentry for 3 years, 10 years, depending of coarse.

[KrisB]

And another thing -- if your TN visa application is rejected, they won't let you into the country even on a 14 day visitor visa. I have been told this by 2 customs officers who nearly rejected my application. The reason is simple -- they know I will be going to work.

So if your annual TN visa application is rejected at the border, you are stuck in Canada. You can't go to your home or job in the US. What happens then I have no idea and no desire to find out.

Although this is true it should be clarified that you only can't go into the US at the border crossing you applied to on the same day that you applied. You can go to a different border crossing and enter as a visitor, or wait until the next day and enter as a visitor.

I was rejected for a TN once and the officer was nice enough to explain this to me, so I waited a day and entered as a visitor no problem. Came back and renewed a couple weeks later and was approved.

[Sir John]

Over the past five years, my wife and I have received numerous TN visas. We are both on our second employer, living in our second US city.
Each visit to the border is different as each port of entry operates differently. Our recommendations include:

1. Always smile, be polite/friendly and extremely patient.
2. Bring original documents including the actual diploma.
3. Bring both credit card and US cash. Some offices accept cash only.
4. Be aware of your words, tone, volume and emotions.

As said before, each port of entry is different, each officer is different and there is nothing saying that the same officer will handle you the same way, be it the next day, week or year.

We've had the pleasure of crossing at the Ambassador Bridge in Windor/Detroit and recommend asking for female officer Ms.Cope.
She is considered the NAFTA expert had have actually heard other officers refer all TN business to her during her M-F, 8-4 hours and nothing else.(isn't it a 24 hour border crossing and one of the busiest?)

We have used airport offices in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Chicago. Since my last renewal was in Chicago and the worst exeperience yet, I am planning to use a Canadian airport next because I believe that they are familar with Canadians applying for TN. Chicago OHare, didn't know how to process a TN, quoted a non government website to support their knowledge and were rude.

One last thing, good luck and have fun because over time, you'll become the NAFTA expert and oh ya, never, never use the word "renew".

Cheers!

[MIRO]

TN Visa and Unemployment Insurance in California very recent.

I am currently on my sixth TN Visa contract in USA, and my contract was terminated two days ago, due to Company downsizing.
I spent little bit than six months on this project sa an Engineer.
Prior to that I was in Canada doing very same job for two and half years but operated as my own company. I guess many Engineers are doing just that. Now I would like to apply for Californian UI, and go home. Problrm is in catch 22 type of California regulations which is all puzlled and like maze from nimber of corrupted web sites and answering machines.

Does anybody has any advice or recent experience???????

Thanks in advance

Miro