TN approval 3 1/2 weeks early?

I will be starting a new job on TN status at the beginning of January, and am thinking of going down to look for apartments the weekend of Dec 12. A moving company just advised me to get my TN approved before I actually move, so that they can have proof of my status when they cross the border with my stuff.

Would it be smart to ask for TN on Dec 11, when I enter for the housing visit? Or is this too early? Would I risk being denied entry altogether, or is the worst case scenario that I have to enter as a visitor on Dec 11 and try again later for the TN?

Thanks a lot

Your mover is correct. 3 1/2 weeks is a bit of a stretch -- especially if your letter has a specific start date on it, but what do you have to lose.

A better bet would be to ask the employer to remove the specific start date to a generic, "not to exceed three years", and have them agree to 'meet' with you as you cross the border, by phone, so you can say to the officer that you truly are heading for work.

Thanks for the reply!
That is a useful suggestion. I'll talk to my future employer about this. I suppose even better would be a letter with an earlier start date, in mid December, say.

Not sure how risky it would be to "stretch the truth" like this.

Right now, my offer letter says "on or around Jan 1 2010". Maybe we could replace this with "on or around Dec 15 2009"...

Thanks again

As i said, the letter should not say you are starting on a certain date if you are not, but "on or around is sufficiently vague.

In any even the TN will be dated 3 years minus one day from the date you get it.

Thanks again for the advice.

One concern I have is the following: for the (short) apartment search trip I'll have a return ticket back to Canada for the following Monday night.
This will be hard to explain to the agent, if I'm claiming to start work immediately. Obviously I don't have to mention it but if he asks...

the problem with this question is that it's like asking us to predict the future lol There's no way of knowing who the officer you'll speak to will be, what mood he'll be in, or what his take on all of this is.

Plenty of people have gotten their TN's, driven right back into Canada and moved a month later while others wouldn't be granted TN's unless they were on their way there and moving to the US that very same day.

It's all contingent on a set of circusmtances that's beyond our control. Not having a set date on your TN request letter is however a good idea.

Your best bet is to speak only when spoken to, and not volunteer information. As with any law enforcement agency in any country, anything you say can and will be used against you

When it comes to TN's, flexibility is the word! Remember that.

You don't lie. If you have not arranged to meet with the employer, then don't say that you have.

I explained how you could say you would'start work' if that was the question.

Ok, I think I get it now. So the idea is to tell them I'm going to meet with my employers. I misunderstood. This will be truthful for sure since I'll definitely be seeing them during my visit.

Thanks!

I would say 3 1/2 weeks before the start date might be pushing your luck with CBP depending on the port of entry. Some inspectors might not blink an eye but I suspect this could be problematic with some officers. It could be a crapshoot at best. See if you can plan on going for your TN a little closer to your start date.

Just cleared immigration with a full three years of TN status.

Thanks for the help!

FYI, the only supporting document he looked at was my original PhD diploma in physics (applied as a physicist). No transcripts, resumes, etc. Also no need for birth certificate or copies.

The only thing he kept was one copy of the letter of application.