TN approval 3 1/2 weeks early?

Yup, letter, degree and passport is all you need. Anyone who told you otherwise was flat wrong.

A resume is not a prerequisite for a TN application, merely optional. It looks like you have very good timing as far as receiving immigration status under TN. CBP/USCIS is proposing hefty petition increases in the coming months. A TN petition fee may increase from $56 to $150. Wow!

My current TN-1 is expiring by Sept. 1, 2010. I am currently working in US as a Post.Doc fellow in Rutgers University. I am thinking to go home (Canada) and visit my relatives there and while I am there I would like to obtain the new TN by the Peace Bridge Border. However according to my work schedule I can be at the Border almost a month earlier than my Visa expires. Therefore I would like to learn if this would cause a problem ?
P.S I have every documents and legal paper works ready in my hand including diplomas, job letters ( old and the newer dated ones) and etc.

The general rule of thumb is a week to 10 days before the expiry date on the I-94.

However, some have posted experiences exceeding the above range by 2 weeks or longer. Consequently, it would depend a great deal on whom you encounter as an adjudicator and their own personal interpretation.

Buffalo seems to a fairly good port experience-wise lately so you might be able to get away with 4 weeks in advance. But I would say 7 to 14 days before the expiry should be the prime interval.

As MC says, it varies.

Based on that I would never make a special trip (nor look for a specific POE) to get my TN more than 2 weeks early. However, if I was otherwise planning to cross at the 1 month mark, and had no plans of crossing in the intervening period, I would obviously apply -- but not expect approval.