TN visa, SSN

[jefferysmith38]

Hello,
I am still confused about 2 things.
1. I read in some messages that you can recieve you TN from 1 to 2 weeks before you leave canadian borders, and in other messages where some people said that you can recieve TN only after crossing border.
I am confused, because I am planning to fly next friday Novembre 28, and I am going to make flight reservation to Phoenix in the next couple days. I am planning to apply for my TN visa in the same day of flight,. BUT. I am afraid whether I will have the TN or not. If the officer deny it I will loose my flight $$

Can somebody clarify this confusion for me. Do I have to apply for TN before before flight day or at the same day .?

2.My hiring company HR told me that I must present SSN before the starting date and that I can applpy for SSN at the border.

For your information, I am in Montreal.

thanks in advance for your continuous support :roll:

[kelapstick]

You can apply for your TN before your flight by driving to any Point of Entry (Canada-US border) that will processes it (not sure if all of them do or not). I applied for mine over 2 weeks before I actually moved (drove to the border and back in the same day), but I have read here up to 3 weeks before, the one downside is that they may make your renewal date the same as the day you apply, not your actual start date (although mine was postmarked, I got some flack from the CBP guard when I crossed the second time), this is less of an issue with the new 3 year TNs.

If you apply for it on the day of your flight and are denied you probably will not be allowed to enter the United States as they will think you will have the intention of going to work when you get there without work authorization, so you will probably lose the money you spent on your flight.

As for a Social Security Number you have to apply for that at a Social Security Administration office, not at the border. You do not get your card on the day you apply, it is mailed to you. I forget if you get your number that day or not, but in my experience it is a pretty painless process, provided you have your I-94 with you.

[Steven]

They mail it (SSN) to you after you apply at the SSA office and you don't know what it is until you get it, IIRC. It's not like in Canada where they issue your SIN on the spot.

There's no particular reason you can't apply for TN-1 on the date of travel, just make sure you've got all the paperwork and you leave plenty of time before the flight.

[fiestagirl]

I had a similar problem with the SSN. You cannot apply for it at the border - it is at a SSN office. It took me 6 weeks to get mine from the day I applied. I've heard varying stories about it but my SSN office told me that was normal.

Your work will most definitely need a SSN before putting you on a valid payroll (probably). The way my work did mine was set up an accounts payable (they issued me a cheque and took off deductions but it was not through their payroll service). If they want you to wait for your SSN, it could be a looong wait. You're able to work; just ask them to pay you via another method until you SSN comes in.

[jefferysmith38]

thanks for you prompt answers,
What is the best border port near montreal where I will ask for TN. this is what i will do, I will cross the border and ask for TN and in the same day return home.
my company ask for TN number, and they insisting to have it?

[Reba]

There's no way you can present an SSN before your starting date, unless you intend to stay in Canada for 4 to 6 weeks after you get your TN-1. Which will then make your expiration 4 to 6 week early.

You can't apply for the SSN until you have the TN1. After you get the TN you have to go to the SSA office to apply for it, and they won't even be able to confirm your status in the US for about (minimum) 2 weeks. After your status is confirmed, they'll process your SSN and send you the card in the mail. Depending how busy the SSA office is where you go, it could be a long wait.

What you can do however is get your TN, go to the SSA and get a confirmation letter from them that you have applied for the number, and take that to your HR office. Proof that you *will* have a number, and proof why you don't have one yet.

I actually had my SSN within a week of applying for it, but they were able to confirm my status on the day I applied because I had a K3 visa, which is an entirely different kettle o' fish. Some offices are quicker than others, but it definitely will take more than 2 weeks to get it.

[Steven]

Mine took about 3-4 weeks, IIRC. Long time ago though.

It's important to know what your tax status is before you fill in the W-4 as well, because if you want to file as non-resident you have to write that on the W-4 so they know. Generally as TN-1 you would want to do it that way, at least to begin with. Read the bottom of page 24 and the top of page 25 of IRS publication 515.

However from a legal standpoint they don't need your SSN for you to start work, if you have one in process, they just want it for their payroll system. The only thing you need is enough paperwork to be able to fill in the I-9, and your I-94 is sufficient for that as they should have written "TN-1" on it at the POE. It's not a big deal really.

[jefferysmith38]

Here is my first experience with TN:
- Last monday I crossed the border at Champlain port, I was asked for what reason I am entering USA, my answer was simple : it's for work and I need to apply for TN status, they asked me if I am going now to work, my answer was NO, and that I am travelling in one week. then I was asked to park my car and go to an office where I was asked a bunch of questions like (where is the company? when to start? why did I apply for job in that company?where am I going to live?.)
because I am going to live in the company house, I did not know the adresse, the custom officer called the company to make a simple check for the accuracy of the documents.
and they gave me a one year visa. It was simple. they did not ask me about original documents.
next saturday I will fly from Montreal airport to destination.

-Now I have some questions for experienced people :
1.I want to send my car, and need to know if there are some procedures,.
2.what about driving licence, do I need to ask for an other one .
3.are there some expert tricks to pay attention to
4.
:?:
thanks