TN renewal

how soon do I have to renew?

That sounds crazily picky to me but I am not surprised. Normally anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks before the expiry on your I-94 is acceptable but not here. All it takes is one CBP Officer and it really illustrates and drives home the extremities and inconsistencies present in the arena of U.S. Immigration Law.

This officer thinks you will work after your I-94 expires which might be a bit of paranoia so obviously they don't trust anyone.

The best thing to do is follow what the CBP Officer tells you and do not bother engaging in any kind of port shopping, i.e. trying at another port. The DHS resent that a great deal.

The air ticket is very expensive. I may drive to the border instead of using airport.

Chances are if renewing at another port due to cost rather than avoidance of a particular CBP Officer, I would anticipate you would probably not encounter the same inspector. Therefore you may very well be approved with your initial package.

I would say if you are driving to another port as opposed to flying through the same airport where you encountered that particular officer, chances are you will get another inspector who might not be as fussy as your first encounter.

Revising the starting date is not dangerous but you want to ensure you are still in status while you are revising the next status, i.e. don't let your existing status expire while in the U.S. and have no new TN lined up.

You would not present a letter dated like: "10 May 2009 to 14 may 2010" That might get you refused entry.

If you are starting May 10, 2009, then for a one year TN your end date would be May 9, 2010.

Thanks MC.

Good luck with that.

It is tricky doing it all the way down to the last day. It gives you very little time and if something does not go right, it could quicky become panic city,

Just make sure your car works and you can actually make it back to a port of entry.