Getting a TN at the Mexico border

Buenos Dias fellow canucks.

I live in Tucson, Arizona, so when I switched jobs and needed to switch from my H1B to a TN, I consulted a well know immigration specialist law firm in the US. Since I live only 50 miles from a major border crossing (Nogales, Arizona), I wanted to get my TN there, thus avoiding a long flight to Toronto or Vancouver, et al.

The immigration specialist urged me not to get one at a Mexican border crossing as it was "unlikely an agent would have much experience processing Canadian TN's" Even though I'm almost a perfect match under NAFTA for a Computer Systems Analyst.

I decided to go to Nogales anyways, and the process couldn't have been easier. I parked my car, walked across, turned around and walked straight back. The guy went through my paper work and issued the TN without even asking any questions.

Of course, this was not what I was prepared for given the "advice" I had received, so I asked the agent if he got many Canadians requesting TN's. His reply. "Man I get every kind of Canadian visa you can imagine. S's L's H1B's TN's whatever"

The moral of the story: Have all your paper work straight, be polite, don't cop an attitude and only provide the information asked for. The US border patrol is every bit as experienced and qualified on the Mexico side as they are on the Canadian side. They don't see as many, but in a major POE, they see enough to be familiar with them.

I had an excellent letter of reference, letter of offer and petition for a TN from my employer. I've attached them so you can use them as a template. (details are blocked out)

Boyd



December 13, 2007

Mr. Bob Mackenzie
Any street
Pasadena, Newfoundland
Canada A0L 1K0

Dear Beer drinker,

Expensive IT Solutions is pleased to confirm our offer of employment as a Senior Computer Systems Analyst, reporting directly to me, working in Tucson, Arizona. Upon receipt of this offer, your acceptance is due within five (5) business days, and your start date will be on or before Insert Date. If the listed start date is acceptable to you, or should it be necessary to change your start date, please confirm the date on the line provided below your signature.

As previously discussed, your base salary will be $1,000,000 (US $) per month. As an exempt employee, you will not be paid overtime for hours in excess of forty in one week.

As you know, and we have discussed, this position is conditional upon the granting of TN-1 status, and you know that this position is therefore temporary for that reason. Enclosed with this offer of employment, please also find our petition letter to the US Immigration and Naturalization Service with further details to that effect.

Please return one signed copy of this offer letter to me as soon as possible.

On your first day, call me via telephone at our corporate phone number by 10AM EST.

I very much look forward to working with you and applying your significant technical and customer implementation expertise against both the existing, as well as potential future customers of our client companies.
Sincerely,
Doug Mackenzie
President/ Chief Beer Drinker
Expensive IT Solutions

Encl: INS Petition Letter





December 11, 2007

To whom it may concern,

Consistent with NAFTA Chapter 16, Annex 1603, Appendix 1603.d.1, Expensive IT Solutions LLC (EI TS) wishes to support the TN Visa on behalf of Mr. Bob Mackenzie, a Canadian citizen, to serve as Senior Computer Systems Analyst (Job Title) for our company and our associated clients. We would like to offer this position for an initial period of one year (anticipated to be from Insert Date MAKE IT FOR ONE YEAR ONLY), and request that you grant him entry under TN status. This position is conditional upon the granting of such TN status to Mr. Mackenzie. Mr. Mackenzie understands the temporary nature of this position, and that he must leave the USA when his services are no longer required or his status otherwise expires.

The Petitioner

Expensive IT Solutions LLC was established in May 2007 to provide highly customized technical, marketing and sales consulting and software re-sales services and expertise to our contracted clients worldwide. Our specific area of expertise is in the area of Computer Systems “Performance Analysis and Capacity Planningâ€

Dude, if I'm earning a million a month, I'm going in as an immigrant investor.

Ur lucky ur brother Bob is the president! Ya hoser! lol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_and_Doug_McKenzie

Thought someone might get it