Flying into other city, to meet with potential client, on TN

[lawsrlaws]

Well, actually most CBP Officers would have no problem with you having a meeting for a prospective future client. Its called a job interview. If your honest at the border, you will likely have no problem. Where the problem comes up for most people, is when they lie or try to bend the truth. Remember.....they talk to thousands of people weekly and usually have a decent handle on spotting when someone is BSing them.

[Mxg]

This is all super-helpful and informative. (Even as the information is sort of discouraging. I'd have thought this would all be straightforwardly okay).

It seems there are a few ways I can go, none perfect.

1) Fly from Canada to Boston, then to NYC, where my TN work is. At the border, tell the border guys I'm going to Boston en route to NYC to visit friends (which is a pretty fair representation, I think. I mean, I am visiting some friends, one of whom might end up a client some day...) This seems allowable, but I worry a bit there might be some downside/risk I'm not seeing here. (Like - the border guys won't like me flying to Boston to work in NYC...)

2)Fly from Canada to Boston, then to NYC, where my TN work is. At the border, tell the border guys I'm going to Boston en route to NYC to meet a prospective client. (This one makes me nervous since, it seems from what I've read here, doing this is, technically at least, not allowed, since you can only enter on one visa at once).

3) Fly from Canada on a round trip ticket to NYC. When in NYC, get a round trip ticket from NYC to Boston. It feels like this way, I don't have to explain to the border guys why I'm flying into Boston for a visa that says I'm working in NYC. Seems maybe safest, but also extra hassle and expense. (Or am I missing some risk here?)

In general, I really want to be as low-risk as possible with this stuff. I don't want to imperil my visa, or delay my entry.

I welcome peoples' suggestions on which approach is best, what upsides/downsides might be associated with each.

Any thoughts much appreciated...

[lawsrlaws]

The more you type, the more I think you are up to something.

I already explained. There is nothing wrong with you going to Boston to meet your friend an possibly future client. A problem would only arise if you are going to work for another company without authorization. Are you? As a TN you can travel to meet anyone you like. Again I say....you have the right to apply and/or meet with future job opportunities. Your only in the wrong if you switch jobs or work for another without prior authorization. And by the way, I am "the Border guy".

[Steven]

So can you perform B-1 activities (unrelated to the TN-1 sponsor) while in the US on TN-1? Because that is the crux of the question.

[lawsrlaws]

If he only intends to meet someone who may become a future employer, then yes. Think of it this way, before your TN ends, you will either get a new employment letter from your current company, or you will have another TN employer lined up. Like I said, its like a job interview.

[Mxg]

Thanks everyone for all these super-thoughtful responses. I guess I’m still a little confused. Lawsrlaws: You seem pretty sure that a sales call or job interview is totally allowed under the TN visa. But CalGreenCard and Steven – you guys seem to think that it’s something that is, at least technically, not allowed. Everyone here sounds like they bring at least some expertise to this question, so it’s hard for me to know how best to proceed.

Could anyone refer me to a source where I might be able to do some more homework and find a definitive answer? Could the US consulate help? Anyone else?

Thanks again for all your help!




(ps: Lawsrlaws - sorry if my question sounds like I’m “up to something”. Really- I’m just trying to so what’s laid out here- I’m not looking at anything even resembling paid work in Boston. I really just want to avoid problems at the border, and it’s not totally clear to me what I need to do to do that…)

[Steven]

The CBP field manual and the FAM talk about the activities being "pre-arranged" for TN-1, but it appears you can pre-arrange them while already in the US on TN-1, so legally you are okay.

[lawsrlaws]

Mxg, I understand. But it isn't a problem unless you are actually working for someone else besides your authorized employer. Unfortunately no one can point you to printed materials that clearly state this, because alot of it is our (CBP) interpretations of the Law and Internal policies.

Like I said, you are not doing anything wrong.