TN Questions

I am moving from Sudbury Ontario to Nevada (Around Reno) in the next couple of weeks. I will be working under TN Status, as a scientific technician. I have reviewed the checklist and am confident I qualify, but I have a few questions.

First is what should I use for proof of experience, (I need to show my diploma and have 3 years experience, both of which I have). Right now I have two letters, one from a Professional Engineer (not stamped), and one from a Professional Geologist (Stamped).

Second, should I go ahead and apply for status before I move, I can drive to Sault Ste. Marie for the day, cross over and apply for status and return to Canada that day, so the paperwork is take care of when we go to permanently move it is one less thing at the border to take care of (also if there is an issue so I can correct it before we go to move permanently).

Third, Is there anything specific I should know in application?

Also, who is the Employment letter to be addressed to, I see some addressed to Homeland Security, and some to INS?

Thanks

Dave

DHS, INS doesn't exist anymore.

One piece of advice I can give you is to try and sweet-talk the officer to add on a few days to your I-94 (tell him it's travel time to get to Nevada and you need a whole year as per your employment letter), because Nevada requires an I-94 to get a DL and to renew a DL. The licence will expire on the date your I-94 expires.

Unless you can manage with your Ontario DL because you're only going for a few months.

For proof of experience, have on hand both your resume and letters of previous employers (I went as far back as 10 years experience, more is always better than less). In my case they only skimmed these, the one aspect they really go through and dissect is the letter of employment. And it can be addressed to Homeland Security, or even to you since it's an offer of employment to you. The key parts of the letter is:
1- start date and end date (1 year maximum)
2- salary
3- location of work with specific address, no PO Box
4- job description (make sure they meet the specific government description for your job title, this is crucial)

As far as when to apply, they pretty much only give you your visa on the date your employment starts (like if your job starts on a Monday, they'll agree to stamp you on a Friday, but it will expire 1 year less a day later)

And Steve is dead on with the driver's license thing. If you get a US license they will make it expire on the same day your TN expires, then you have to rush back home get a new Ontario license and return to the US renew your US license. Quite a pain, and it just adds to your expenses!

Can't you just return to Canada say a week before the TN expires with all your paperwork for the next year's TN and have your employer write your start date as one week before your end date for the previous year? That way your DL wouldn't be expired yet, and you could simply renew it.

Surely this is allowed, since if you lost your job on a TN, you would be allowed to immediately get a new one for a new company.

Other option is to renew by mail.

Thanks, It looks like I have to go ahead of time to get my status anyway as the moving company will not pack up what we are having sent without my I-94 form.

DC

Succcess.I went to the border (Sault Ste. Marie) and they processed my TN for me, and even set the expirey date to the date on the letter (~2 weeks later).

Thanks everyone

DC