J1 / TN Question + SEVIS inquery

[RoDaSho]

Hello,
I am currently looking to getting a visa for a job I got in the US (I am a Canadian born citizen.) I'll be getting the J-1 visa, because i am not sure to what extent I qualify for a TN Graphic Design visa. (I have a Bachelor degree in Arts (psychology major), several years freelance experience, and am in the middle of my master in architecture degree)

two questions:
1. if i try to get the TN and get refused, what can happen, and will it make it harder to get a J1?

2. for the J1, do i have to go through a sponsoring organization like CDS, or can my employer gain access to SEVIS and do what needs to be done there? I would rather take care of it all myself than pay a grand or so to a third party.

thank you for your help.

[Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq]

1. if i try to get the TN and get refused, what can happen, and will it make it harder to get a J1?

This will have no effect on obtaining the J-1.

2. for the J1, do i have to go through a sponsoring organization like CDS, or can my employer gain access to SEVIS and do what needs to be done there? I would rather take care of it all myself than pay a grand or so to a third party.

Most J-1s go through an established J-1 program for which the employer is already setup. The company can set itself up to issue J-1 visas, but its very cumbersome for the employer, and not something desirable unless they are hiring/in need of multiple trainees/specialists per year.

Aside from those questions, you can qualify as graphic designer on a 2 year post-secondary diploma or certificate plus 3 years of experience or a Bachelor's degree.

I think you would qualify as a TN professional (graphic designer) on your Bachelor's degree. I could make a better determination by examining your transcript.

There is sufficient evidence that you qualify, based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) which provides that "A bachelors degree is required for most entry-level and advanced graphic design positions; although some entry-level technical positions may only require an associate degree."

Note that it does not provide any particular major (e.g. graphic design).

[RoDaSho]

thank you for the reply. what exactly would you look for on my transcript?

For my undergraduate degree I did not take any graphic design courses. I took mostly psychology courses and sociology courses (and other random things here and there) ending with a CGPA of 3.6 or 3.7

In my masters degree in architecture, I've taken 3 "Visual Communications" courses so far. the rest are architecture related.

so in the end, my education is limited in terms of graphic design.

work-wise, i've done freelance work in graphic design since 1997. outside this, i've held graphic design jobs totalling about 1.25 years.

also, does it matter that my Bachelor of Arts degree is written in Latin? that's just how my university does it.

[Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq]

The OOH description provides a list of courses, aside from graphic design, which are appropriate for work as a graphic designer. I would look for those types of courses.

The degree needs to be translated to English.