Help with TN Visa Please... slightly complicated situation

I originally came to the US as a TD under my mom's TN Visa while still in high school. Then I went to a four-year liberal arts college on a F-1 status. Now that I have graduated (with a degree in Communication) and have been working as Marketing/Graphic Design Coordinator (official title) on a F1-OPT since Nov. 2010, I plan on driving down to San Diego and crossing over to Mexico to apply for a TN status as a Graphic Designer.

I'm worried about several things:

1. Is a degree in "Communication" related closely enough to a profession in "Graphic Design"? I'm looking at this as a huge gray area and I'm very concerned about the possibility of being denied because they don't think these two are related.

2. I've been working since Nov. 2010. All the sample letters of support for TN Visas I've found online are written for yet-to-be-accepted job offers and dated three years from when it's written. How different will I have to make my letter?

3. Since my official title is Marketing/Graphic Design Coordinator... should I ask my HR manager to change it to just Graphic Design Coordinator for the purpose of applying for the Visa?

4. I had an online portfolio with all my work but recently forgot to pay for renewal. Should I put together a physical portfolio or put together another online portfolio in the next few days... or both?

Sorry this post is so terribly written. My plan is to drive down this Saturday so I'm freaking out just a little bit. I have no immediate family or many friends in Canada.. basically my whole life is here in the US, so if I get denied I'll have to start a new life and while it does sound exciting, I'm not sure I want to do it under these circumstances.

Please advise. Thank you!

1. You will need to show that your transcipt has LOTS of GD-related courses, otherwise, you will not get the TN.

2. The letter should merely request TN for xx period of time. It doesn't matter what status you were in before. they will know that you are OPT.

3. The internal title is not important. The duties described in your TN letter are what counts.

4. No. The TN application is not an interview; you already have the job offer. The TN application is strictly to determine if the job, and your education, meet the requirements for the TN category you are applying for. Your experience, skills, etc are meaningless at the border.


Other than step 1, you have nothing else to worry about. If TN fails, your OPT is still valid, and you should then try to get H1, which does not require as strict tie between degree and job. An H1 would only start in October, so your OPT should cover you 'til then.

1. You will need to show that your transcipt has LOTS of GD-related courses, otherwise, you will not get the TN.

That's probably my biggest problem. My school didn't offer any courses in graphic design and I learned everything entirely on my own and wasn't planning on bringing my transcript. I did read somewhere for the TN Visa all you need is a BA and that it doesn't necessarily have to correspond to anything... but I also read that that's wrong.

If TN fails, your OPT is still valid...

I'd be a bit cautious on this point.

OPT requires that the job and the degree match.

TN requires that the job, the degree, and the TN category all match.

If the TN is denied because the job and the degree don't match, theoretically the OPT could also be taken away at the border--although at the Mexican border probably the OP would be let in as a tourist.

If the TN is denied because the job and the degree match but neither matches the TN category, then the OPT shouldn't be in jeopardy.

If the risk of denial is significant on this point, I'd consider a mail-in application. There's still lots of time, right?

If TN fails, your OPT is still valid...

I'd be a bit cautious on this point.

OPT requires that the job and the degree match.

TN requires that the job, the degree, and the TN category all match.

If the TN is denied because the job and the degree don't match, theoretically the OPT could also be taken away at the border--although at the Mexican border probably the OP would be let in as a tourist.

If the TN is denied because the job and the degree match but neither matches the TN category, then the OPT shouldn't be in jeopardy.

If the risk of denial is significant on this point, I'd consider a mail-in application. There's still lots of time, right?

Unfortunately, no. My OPT expires on July 5th.

-- Tue May 31, 2011 2:23 pm --

Yikes. Now I am 10x more unsure about my application. Is there any way around this? I did graphic design work all throughout college and had three internships where my graphic design skills were used, though they had different titles.

You should be fine.

The reason I say this is because while it would be favorable in the eyes of immigration to see a relatable degree, it is NOT a requirement that the degree be in Graphic Design.

This requirement would apply to those applying as a Hotel Manager or even an Accountant being that you would need certification for both.

For Graphic Design, the requirement is a Bachelor Degree or a Post Secondary Diploma and Three years of experience. Plus you obtained your degree in the U.S. so it's not like you would need the degree to be translated. You DO NOT have to have a degree in Graphic Design to obtain the TN.

Also, changing the job title to suit the profession is not necessary. The job duties need to be closely related to the position as per the Ooh Handbook.

I did graphic design work all throughout college and had three internships where my graphic design skills were used, though they had different titles.

Your experience should suffice as well. However, if you get denied, the only thing you would be giving up is one more month on OPT.

Dremani, thank you for the encouraging reply.

If I get denied once, can I apply again with additional documents? I ask this because if I ask for letters of support from past professors and employers they will understandably probably not get here by this Saturday. So I am considering applying with what I have- letter of support from employer, resume, degree, portfolio, and maybe a letter of intent? And if I get denied, go back with the additional letters of support that I'll request.

Also, where can I find information/advice on the interview questions they are likely to ask me?

If the Degree is not in a related field, the TN is unlikely. We do not give TN's to someone with a random degree unrelated to the TN class you apply for. The related degree/TN may not be spelled out in public information, but in our not for the public policy and law interpretaions, the degree has to be related to the job. (some leeway, but not much)

If the Degree is not in a related field, the TN is unlikely. We do not give TN's to someone with a random degree unrelated to the TN class you apply for. The related degree/TN may not be spelled out in public information, but in our not for the public policy and law interpretaions, the degree has to be related to the job. (some leeway, but not much)

C'mon really? REALLY? I know first hand, people who posses a degree in Marketing, Interior Design and Journalism/Communications just to name a few and yet have obtained their TN's in Graphic Design. I find it difficult to comprehend that our poster would not be able to obtain a TN as a GD while having possession of a Communication Degree which is a B of A which is ALL THAT IS REQUIRED for the TN.

For our original poster. The officer usually states why you've been denied and will tell you what you need in order to reapply. Questions they ask will be at random.

Dremani's belief that a related degree is not a requirement is contray to the generally accepted notion around here, from all fronts, as shown from the other posts.

As s/he said however, the CBP officer will be the on deciding. It is not unheard of of one who has held a series of TNs finally being tripped up on this point. It is a requirement.

H1 would be safer -- and is available right now, so tha tmay be the best option. I also believwe there are ways to extend OPT when in possesion of a future H1 approval.