TN/TD Visa Question

[ak3175]

Hello. I am a Canadian, and I just got married. My wife (also a Cdn) works in the US under a TN visa. I am moving to live with her, but don't have a job in the US yet, so I am told I need a TD visa. I am in Windsor, On, and she is in Detroit, Mi, so stopping at US customs at the bridge or tunnel is easy. My 2 main questions are:

1.She is still 6 months away from needing to renew her TN. Does the $300 fee apply to both my TD Visa application, and again to her TN visa application in 6 months?

2.Has anyone had a problem with getting turned down for a TD visa? I guess I’d like to know of any common issues US customs has with this type of application.

Thanks.

[Steven]

There is no fee (at least I don't think there is, if there is it's $50), you just need proof you're married and proof of her status, i.e. photocopy of her I-94 and the relevant pages of her passport. Get your own I-94, it's only $6.

The main problem you're likely to have is that it's unusual for dependents of TN-1 to enter on their own so they may not be familiar with the procedure for doing it. If you go during normal business hours the guy who deals with TN-1 should be there so he will know the procedure.

TD is very similar to the regular visitor category, you just need those photocopies really and your marriage certificate. You can't do anything as TD that you can't do as a visitor, the only difference is that they let you stay longer.

Given that her TN-1 is only six months from expiration and they'll only let you in six months as B-2, there's basically no difference at all.