I got my TN today! (tricky Sci-tech, too!)

Hi Everyone:

I just wanted to pass on that after a long difficult road, I successfully obtained my TN Scientific Technician in Engineering at the Peace Bridge POE from Officer Sam Tirrano.

I want to post this message for all of those software geeks that don't have any post high school education and think it's hopeless to get into the US to work. IT'S NOT!

I have been employed by the company I was granted the TN for, for around 8 years, based at home in Canada.

The supervisor I'm working with is a degreed engineer, and the application package was prepared by the company lawyer. The letter came in at around 1.5 pages and was very detailed, easily showing my extensive knowledge of the theories and principals of software engineering.

Officer Tiranno made a very tense situation (on my part), much more calm by assuring me that CBP officers "don't bite", when he saw me shaking like crazy from my nerves I HIGHLY recommend the peace bridge POE. Officer Tiranno is extremely intelligent and efficient, and won't make you feel like your 2 inches tall like many CBP officers do. After about a 1 hour wait, I was in and out within 10 minutes, and he only spoke to me for about 2 of those minutes with the other 8-10 minutes spent reviewing my letter in his office.

If anyone has any questions at all about how I prepared for this application or what experience I have in the field that allowed for this Visa to go through, please ask. I will gladly share anything I can to help others in their journey.

Mitch

Congratulations! I'm glad you went to him, he's very fair.

Hi Mitch, I'm very glad you got it. I'm in the process of applying now; would you mind sending me a sample of the job offer? Thanks

Please delete the Officers name. I know your excited, but his name should not be published on the internet. Congrats.

that's awesome, congratulations! It's really exciting to move to a new city. It can be challenging but you've got this board to ask questions if you come across anything you're not sure how to handle.

It's true that we read all the TN-related stories that go wrong and then it makes us nervous. Good to see there are many positive experiences out there. My own TN application experience at the POE was amazing too.

I travel quite a bit as a hobby and have never ever had any problems with US customs, the only customs that give me grief are Canadian customs

Anyway, have fun!!!

I travel quite a bit as a hobby and have never ever had any problems with US customs, the only customs that give me grief are Canadian customs

That depends though a lot on whom you encounter. I remember back in 2008 on a flight back from Manhattan, I got a fantastic Canada Customs female agent, best I ever met! Meanwhile, in the lane next to me, a passenger on the same flight was getting lambasted for doing work with his laptop in the U.S. without a work permit.

Bad experiences can happen on both sides of the border.

That officer lawsrlaws mentioned is no longer at the Buffalo border according to a few lawyers I've contacted when inquiring about a TN. I've always heard he was well knowledgable about the TN process.