TN Visa | Do you get denied based on your degree?

I believe someone mentioned to me once that he was denied because immigration felt his degree had nothing to do with the job. I am being hired as a Technical Writer however my degree is in Marketi...

Canadian Expatriate and Travellers Forum Index -> Canadians in the USA -> US Visas and Immigration

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Canadian Canuck
New Member

Joined: 25 Nov 2007
Posts: 3

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:55 pm

I believe someone mentioned to me once that he was denied because immigration felt his degree had nothing to do with the job.

I am being hired as a Technical Writer however my degree is in Marketing Management and I also have a diploma in Marketing & Sales.

As part of my degree I've taken communications courses which match the skills & responsibilities of a Technical Writer. I also have work experience directly related.

Am I going to need more proof of my qualifications other than my degree and letter from the employer?

eddycurrents
CanuckAbroad Regular

Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 42

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:46 am

I wouldn't be surprised, since US Customs can be inconsistently picky. I am on my 6th TN and my experience has never been the same. It may be just that one customs agent, who knows.

Still, it would be safer to have your title stay in line with your job and experience. Get your employer to change it if necessary. What's in a title, anyway? Mine changes all the time and it never really matches what I do.

Make sure the title exactly matches one in the NAFTA specs though. That way the agent doesn't have to do any thinking, which they hate. I think NAFTA explicitly says what education is accepted too, I forget.

Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq
CanuckAbroad VIP

Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 284
Location: Red Bank, NJ USA

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 2:04 pm

Don't change the title unless it truly reflects the higher occupation. For example, a programmer/analyst can properly be called a computer systems analyst. CBP may claim fraud if you change a title to a NAFTA profession where the actual duties do not correlate to the title: e.g. calling a financial analyst or stock broker an economist.
_________________
Christopher G. Rizzo, Esq
Special Counsel
Law Offices of David T. Ferrara, LLC
www.naftalawfirm.com
P: (732) 784-2877
Email: Crizzo@naftalawfirm.com