TN Visa Before Degree Has Been Conferred?

Hi, I have a question that might be quite specific to my situation. If anyone had similar situation or had heard of something similar, please share with me your experience or advice. Thank you.

I am a Canadian citizen who had finished all the courses to meet the requirement of my Bachelor's in Applied Science (B.Eng) degree by December, 2008. However, my university does not confer degrees in the winter session and my degree will not be conferred until end of May, 2009. I have an official letter from my university saying that I have completed all the requirement for my degree which will be conferred in May.

Now I have a job offer from a U.S. company with an employment letter indicating my work start date is April 27. Can I still qualify for the degree requirement to obtain for a TN status with my university's letter? Thank you.

I think you can, you need your transcripts though.

Some CBP officers need to see the actual diploma and won't accept statements that show you've met the requirements for the degree. My friend had an official transcript from her university showing the degree had been conferred (but not the diploma) and was denied a TN. Basically, as with most things related to a TN, it depends on the officer you get.

Some CBP officers need to see the actual diploma and won't accept statements that show you've met the requirements for the degree. My friend had an official transcript from her university showing the degree had been conferred (but not the diploma) and was denied a TN. Basically, as with most things related to a TN, it depends on the officer you get.

I think the CBP officer made a bad call in this case. An official transcript is valid evidence of a degree being conferred and, in fact, is the usual means (outside of the strange world of immigration) of providing such evidence (if, for example, one is applying for grad school and needs to show evidence of completion of the undergrad degree). The actual diploma is more for vanity--hanging on the the wall, etc.

However there is a difference between having "met the requirements of the degree" and "having the degree conferred but no physical diploma yet". In the latter case the official transcript will show the degree conferred and that ought to be accepted in all cases (although, apparently, isn't). In the former case there will be no transcript but, at most, a letter from someone at the school (who may or may not have the authority to speak officially for the school) saying the requirements have been met.

If the official transcript says someone has a degree, then they have a degree. That should be the end of the story.

If the official transcript says someone has a degree, then they have a degree. That should be the end of the story.

You would think. Thankfully I use my master's diploma to prove the educational requirement (which is in English). My bachelor's diploma is in Latin and CBP requires it to be officially translated into English (even though the official transcript, which shows the degree conferred, is in English).

If the transcript is Conferred, then it is acceptable. Unfortunately, some new officers do not know this.