TN with 12 Years Experience

Hello
I've looked through forums, trying to get a solid answer.

I'm a Graphic Designer with 12 years experience. Worked with multi-national companies (Home Depot, GM, Acura, Proctor and Gamble, Jelly Belly). I never received my diploma but that hasn't prevented me from working professionally in Canada (and some work in the U.S. remotely from Canada).

I know the H1-B does consider work equivalency, but is there no way a TN will accept work experience (in my case 12 years at a senior level). With the recession right now, a TN seems to be the easiest Visa from an employers standpoint

I'm considering going back to school (which is a nightmare, but if it's my only choice)....any thoughts would be appreciated.

Best
Adam

The regs say:

Graphic Designer—Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate and three years experience

That's statutory so you have to meet those requirements for TN-1.

I'm in a similar situation. I have been working as a Graphic Designer for 10 years, but have a semester of courses short of a degree when I dropped out of school. I am considering working in the US.

I had my brother, who works in Seattle, ask his lawyer about my situation and he confirmed I need a post-secondary certificate. So I have been considering finishing my degree (which, like Adam above said, is a nightmare to think about!) and am trying to figure out what is possible.

Does anyone know of someone who has obtained a certificate in Graphic Design from an online / distance learning university, and obtained a TN visa?

That's probably the only way I can finish my degree. The last thing I would want to is to find out the degree was, for some reason, rejected at the border (that's what I'm paranoid about with an online university).

Does anyone know of someone who has obtained a certificate in Graphic Design from an online / distance learning university, and obtained a TN visa?

The degree needs to be from a regionally accredited college or university, so when doing your research on institutions you should be aware of that. It also helps if the institution is a "brick and mortar" school (i.e., it is a regular school with a physical campus but also has an online component). You should look into the Academy of Art University; they are based in San Francisco and offer an associate's program in graphic design. You might be able to transfer some of your old credits to their program, allowing you to gain the degree in less time. The Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia also offers online degrees in graphic design, but I believe they only offer the BFA and MFA.