Documents required for renewing a TN?

I'm about to go back to Canada, and go to the peace bridge to renew my TN.

What documents are required for renewing a TN? (let me know if I'm missing anything)
- Offer Letter explaining why a TN needs to be renewed (and the extended duration).
- Educational Degrees / diplomas
- Updated Resume

Thanks.

I would also bring your academic transcripts if you have them (they often like to look at the courses you've taken -- unofficial ones seem to be OK in my experience). Also, don't forget to bring the $56 USD (or your credit card, as they accept them, at least at the Peace Bridge).

I would also recommend that, if you are drafting the letter yourself, you shouldn't use the term "renew" -- some USCIS folks don't seem to like that word to be used in reference to TNs. It's supposed to be like you are getting a brand new TN (as opposed to an extension of an existing one) except it's for the same company and job.

Expect a long wait at the Peace Bridge... and being forced to watch Fox News while you wait. Ugh.

I'm about to go back to Canada, and go to the peace bridge to renew my TN.

What documents are required for renewing a TN? (let me know if I'm missing anything)
- Offer Letter explaining why a TN needs to be renewed (and the extended duration).
- Educational Degrees / diplomas
- Updated Resume

Thanks.

They have Fox News????

Wow, luxury. All you get at Sweetgrass is a series of CBP posters to read over and over again.

Yup. Fox News on a brand new LCD TV. They just renovated the Peace Bridge secondary inspection area not too long ago. It really needed it.

Just an update on what happened with me when I went to renew a TN.

I went to the Queenston border this time around... (last time I went to the Rainbow Bridge - which was the easiest TN time I ever had - 0 questions asked)

I brought my resume, my degrees, my letter requesting for an extension.

I told them I wanted to extend my TN, and the customs / TN person said "you cannot renew or extend TN's, you need to apply for a new TN each time." He also mentioned that I should have brought my transcripts.

After a couple of questions on how I was qualified to be a computer systems analyst, he just typed on his computer some notes, and issued me a TN for a year and a half (based off my requested letter).
He said "Next time bring my transcripts".

With that, I think it would have been easy for me to have applied for a 2 or 3 year TN.

You don't need transcripts, although I suppose it helps if your degree doesn't sound like it's connected to your job.

You don't need transcripts, although I suppose it helps if your degree doesn't sound like it's connected to your job.

It's true that you don't need them under the law, but I've been asked for my transcripts before which is why I recommended it in an earlier post in this thread. (And my degree, which is a master's in urban planning, is directly related to my job, which is an urban planner.)

I usually include a transcript. In addition, I recommend including a credentials evaluation of that transcript, from a recognized U.S. expert, showing the equivalency of the foreign degree to the U.S. equivalent.

This is especially crucial where there is a weak link between the degree name on the diploma, and the TN category name. A common justification for TN denials is "there is no closely related degree". A transcript of coursework can be the key to associate the education with the required qualifications. The expert evaluation can show the relationship between the credential earned and the U.S. job duties.

Transcripts and opinions are particularly useful when the actual degree title is nonspecific. For example, support a vague “Bachelor of Commerce” degree by transcript and other documents that show accounting or economics courses, for those TN categories.

*Always* provide a transcript and evaluation if the degree is from outside the “NAFTA Zone” (outside Canada, Mexico or the U.S.)

Joseph C. Grasmick
Law Office of Joseph C. Grasmick
Business Immigration
300 International Dr.
Williamsville, NY 14221 USA
716 842-3100
jgrasmick@grasmick.com
http://www.grasmick.com
Author, “Grasmick’s TN Handbook for Canadians: How to Live and Work in the U.S. Under NAFTA” at:
http://www.grasmick.com/handbook.htm