need advice on TN visa

hello!

I've been doing research so I can go down to the states for work. I found a place who would hire me. I've looked up the qualifications and I do qualify. I even found a lawyer who said I qualified for TN visa, and said the process is quite simple. I just need to have all my documents ready and most importantly have a letter from my employer to submit at the port of entry. He kindly put it that it would cost about $800 to draft up the letter. Is it necessary to pay that much for a letter when approval is not guaranteed?

Also, can I apply for this visa without crossing the border right away? I don't think I want to buy another plane ticket if I get denied or if the process takes too long. I'd like to be sure before I arrange moving plans.

I'm sure having a lawyer is good for consultation and getting everything right, but my budget is so tight, it hurts.

thanks for the help

Hi there!

A lawyer can screw up a TN-1 petition as well as the next person,the letter is something you can prep with your employer and forgo the lawyer, especially if it's a straightforward match. There are key points the letter needs to cover, and having a lawyer draft it doesn't offer any more weight at the POE. For a reference point, there's a kit you can buy for about 49 & up on the homepage of this forum, it'll give you all the pertinent info for the letter and a template from which to work.

The petition letter is used in support of your academic/experience credentials and really isn't too hard to prepare, unless you have an unusual case that could benefit from the help of a lawyer.

www.tnvisaexpert.com and there's about a hundred similar websites.

If you search the web you can find example letters, but really all that is required is what is listed in 8 CFR 214.6 if you want to look that up.

If your application is straightforward, i.e. you clearly fit into the NAFTA category and you aren't going for management consultant or systems analyst (or the other awkward one, plant biologist I think) I can't see any reason to get anyone else involved.

Where it gets dicey is if your qualifications don't really match the job or what you want to do is only marginally related to the NAFTA job title.

thank you for the reply!

well, the only thing that concerns me about the job title is, I'm going as a Graphic Designer. My degree is Bachelor of Design, but major in Industrial Design, written kind of big on the paper. Is that gonna be a problem? Also I was told I can acquire two or more TN visas for 2 part time jobs if needed, is the second one hard to get by mail, and how long would that take?

It shouldn't be a problem, but they'll probably want to look at the courses you took so bring transcripts.

You can get multiple TNs, but each initial TN has to be adjudicated at the border (you can't apply for them by mail).

All I can add is that you need to be very careful that the letter covers everything as stated above. When I was at the border getting my TN visa the woman in line in front of me was declined because the letter she had from her employer was not up to their requirements. She left crying. Ask your employer if they have done this before. If they have, they probably know how to write the letter.

thank you everyone!

You can get multiple TNs, but each initial TN has to be adjudicated at the border (you can't apply for them by mail).

You can do it by mail, the employer can file an I-129 to add another TN-1. It's more expensive and takes longer to do it that way though, unless you have a long trip to a POE.