TN Renewal within the U.S. and Travel outside North America

[saikrishna]

Dear All:

Can anyone advise if one has a TN renewed within the U.S. and travel outside North America on that Renewal? Would there be any documentation required like employment letter etc. on return from travel to the U.S.?

Thanks a lot.

Regards,

Saikrishna

[kaif]

I have renewed my TN by mail for the past few years and have traveled overseas a couple of times. I did not have trouble re-entering the country but I made sure I had all the documents when I traveled including the employer's request for extension, copies of the forms filed for extension, the I-94 and also a copy of my educational certificates. I was never asked for these documents when re-entering but I wanted to be on the safe side. They will probably give you a new I-94 and stamp your passport when you re-enter. Do not surrender your I-94 to the airlines when you leave the country. I was fingerprinted when returning from Canada recently but probably that is a new rule.

[Steven]

You don't actually need the I-94 but it helps, if you lose it or you haven't got one for any reason, they can issue you a new one when you enter. But you need proof of TN-1 status obviously.

[saikrishna]

So e.g. if I fly to Europe, do I have to surrender my I-94 from 797?

[agnelson]

The airline will ask for it. Carrying a copy of your I-94 obviates any discussion about whether you should keep it or give it back.

[lawsrlaws]

First, The airline WILL take your I-94, its part of their agreement with CBP. (if they don't, thats fine, but they usually do)

Second, your 797 will be enough proof that you are a valid TN. Your in our system and all we have to do is look it up.

Third, all Canadians coming to the USA that require an I94 will be fingerprinted and photographed, as of 2008. (if they don't its usually because they are being lazy, its policy to do so)

When you are issued a TN there is alot of information put into the system, thus looking it up to issue a new I94 is simple.

[agnelson]

The advice to keep a copy of the I-94 is especially useful for CBP-issued TNs, where, of course, no I-797 is issued. Your I-94 will assist the POE to bring up all that juicy info they have on you.

[toronto5481]

the CBPO that processed my TN told me to keep my I-94 and never to surrender it, unless I'm leaving the US permenantly. He said they (airlines and Canadian customs) would try to take it away from me and that his advice was to take it out of my passport when I went home to Canada and sort of hide it from them, and then staple it back when I went back to the US.

He stressed this so much that I took a closeup picture of my I-94 and have it in my Blackberry with me at all times LOL