TN Category: Geography

For me, the question has become whether being a geographer on its own would be sufficient for a TN visa. What do the parentheses imply?

Does it mean that the geographer must in some way work on urban planning issues? Or does it mean that geography is sufficient as a category?

I would hate to make tons of plans, show up at POE and get rejected, leaving my belongings, lease, cell-phone plan, friends and business contacts in another country (but of course you probably suspected as much).

I see what you're saying but I don't think that will fly with CBP. I personally wouldn't risk it. The description of 'Geographer' in the ooh handbook clearly states what the job duties are. Even if you pull out certain parts of the job description, I would assume you're a writer.

For what you're going to be doing, an H1B would be MUCH better. But then again, it's up to you and besides, if you're employer is that interested in having you work for them they would find the best solution for you as far as "visa category" is concerned.

"If, after consultation with my employer, I take out the part in my job description about Capitol Hill, does that make a case for qualifying under the NAFTA category?"

Isn't that the same as lying? If you have to leave out the truth to obtain a TN, you don't qualify.

For what you're going to be doing, an H1B would be MUCH better would be MUCH better. But then again, it's up to you and besides, if you're employer is that interested in having you work for them they would find the best solution for you as far as "visa category" is concerned.

Dremani - my limited knowledge on this is that you can only apply for H1B visas once a year, in April. Is this true? And aren't there quotas, labor certifications, and much higher fees?

Isn't that the same as lying? If you have to leave out the truth to obtain a TN, you don't qualify.

Lawsrlaws - What I meant was taking it out of my job description, period. I very much want to stay within the bounds of the law, and I have some flexibility with the exact nature of my work.

===

Finally, I'm still confused as to whether Geographer, stand-alone, would qualify as a job category. Since I have this degree, it interests me to know whether, if I got a job as a, for example, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) consultant or a political geographer, I could qualify for TN-1 visa status. Would the work necessarily have to do with urban planning? Geography and GIS have many other applications.

Dremani - my limited knowledge on this is that you can only apply for H1B visas once a year, in April. Is this true? And aren't there quotas, labor certifications, and much higher fees?

April 1'st is usually the cut off date. This year things are a little different because the quota hasn't been filled as of yet because of the current economic situation. So your company is still able to file on your behalf.

Yes the fees are much higher and your company would have to pay for them, but again based on the job description you provided, neither one of them ( UP or Geo) fit under NAFTA so the H1B would be better.

I see you going hard at this and I commend you for trying, but when you get to the POE it probably won't go the way you want it to.

It depends on what the job actually is, journalism doesn't qualify for H-1B, it's not considered "highly specialized".

Journalists may not qualify but writer's, editor's and other occupations in writing do qualify. That's why I suggested canuck16 try for an H1B in one of those categories.

Finally, I'm still confused as to whether Geographer, stand-alone, would qualify as a job category. Since I have this degree, it interests me to know whether, if I got a job as a, for example, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) consultant or a political geographer, I could qualify for TN-1 visa status. Would the work necessarily have to do with urban planning? Geography and GIS have many other applications.

Yes, you would probably qualify for a TN if you were offered a position as a GIS consultant or political geographer. I think the reason that geographer and urban planner are lumped into the same TN category is because they are cognate fields. Also, the line between geography and urban planning gets blurry at times, especially when you're talking about jobs in GIS (for example, a GIS specialist that works in the planning department of a municipality).

As for the job description you posted originally, I think the connection between the position and the geographer TN category is a little tenuous. In addition to what I mentioned previously, I think that CBP will also be looking at where the job is, and people in this category tend to work in consulting firms, government and think tanks. The fact that you would be working for a media outlet would raise some red flags.

Hope that helps.