Passport and TN Renewal dilemma

[jycnyc]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post here. A dilemma has led me to googling and google led me here. Here is my dilemma - I'm currently working in the U.S. on a TN. My TN expires mid August. I'm planning to make a quick weekend trip across the border in mid August to get a new TN. (This would be my 5th TN with 2 different employers.)

I am informed that the new regulation now allows the TN be issued on 3 year increments. But my passport expires August 2010. So if I don't renew my passport before I apply for new TN, my new TN will only issued for one year. I have a few questions -

1. If I get a new TN and keep my old passport, would that cause any problem in traveling back and forth? I know some countries require that there be at least 6 months remaining to the terms of your passport before you travel.

2. I'd love to be able to renew my passport and get 3 year TN. But I cannot take the time off to get a new passport. I read if I apply and pay for either urgent or express service, the passport can be issued 1 - 9 days. But whether I would qualify for the urgent or express service (even with the proof of travel) is at the discretion of the representative at Passport Canada. Does anyboy have experience with getting his/her passport renewed rather quickly under either urget or express service?

3. Another thought I had was - what if I get the TN and come next January renew my passport via mail? (I just don't have the luxury of taking 2 weeks off to wait for my new passport to arive.)

If anybody has answers or suggestions/ helpful hints, I would greatly appreciate all your tidbits.

Thank you.

J.

[axolotl]

The duration of your TN has nothing to do with how much time you have left on your passport. My passport expires a year before my 3-year TN does.

[jycnyc]

The duration of your TN has nothing to do with how much time you have left on your passport. My passport expires a year before my 3-year TN does.

Really? I was told by the large law firm that my company deals with that because my passport expires on August 2010, they will issues a TN expiring on the same date as my passport expires. If anybody has similar experience, please do shares. If it's true, this is fantastic! Thanks.

[lawsrlaws]

Your passport will have to be valid for the life of the TN......sorta. At this time we are not fully enforcing the Passport requirement. We are in a compliance stage. When this compliance stage ends, we will enforce it fully. So yes and no.

[jycnyc]

Your passport will have to be valid for the life of the TN......sorta. At this time we are not fully enforcing the Passport requirement. We are in a compliance stage. When this compliance stage ends, we will enforce it fully. So yes and no.

Hmmm - so it's up to the discretion of each custom officer? Anybody have experience at Pearson?

Also, has anyone (or know anyone) who was able to renew their passport on urgent or express basis?

[Steven]

The regs say the passport must be valid for six months beyond the application for the grant of the status. It's that simple. Because of the Patriot Act you must have a current passport, but all that means is you must renew it before it expires, doesn't have to be the same passport you entered with.

[lawsrlaws]

Just in. Your passport or other WHITI compliant document only needs to be valid on entry. They were going to change this, but are not. Canadians will remain exempt from the requirement. Of course you will need to renew your PP if you intend to leave the country and then return, but it will NOT affect the TN.

[jycnyc]

Would it be possible for you to provide a link to your source? Is it on U.S. immigration site? for my personal education... thanks.