Family apply for TD well before they move down to US?

Well, I've accepted a job offer in the US. The employer has experience with doing letters for TN visas, so there should be no problems that way. The plan is for me to go down by myself at first, with the family (wife and four daughters ages 10-15) to follow later (perhaps as late as next summer).

Over that time, however, my wife and/or the kids might come visit me now and then (e.g. the whole herd driving down to join me for a Christmas in Disneyland, say).

So should they apply for their TD visas when I apply for my TN? Or is it easier for them to just wait until they actually move down here? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

This is a good question asked several times by several different people. I'm not clear on how dependents travelling separately get TD status because they have nothing to show at the POE. All you have is a multiple entry I-94, don't know if a photocopy of it will suffice.

My advice would be to have them accompany you and get it. It always sounds dicey for them to get it separately.

Steve-
There is a possibility that when non TD family members want to visit USA to meet TN visa parent, the officer at border may insist for compulsarily taking TD visa to avoid overstay beyond what normal canadian citizen may stay.

It may be a good idea to carry copy of TN visa as a back up when a non TD family visits US to avoid small possibility of turning back from border.

There is no such thing as a "TN visa" to take a copy of. All there is an I-94, which is why it's a problem. Dependents can get an actual TD visa if they are not Canadian citizens.

TN visas were actually scrapped in 2003 because at that point the US decided not to allow Canadian LPRs in in that status, since then only Canadian citizens can get it, and they don't need visas.