Mexican and Canadian NAFTA Professional Worker

NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement. It creates special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The nonimmigrant NAFTA Professional TN visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico, as NAFTA professionals to work in the United States. Permanent residents, including Canadian permanent residents, are not able to apply to work as a NAFTA professional.

Professionals of Canada or Mexico may work in the U.S. under the following conditions:

• Applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico; 
• Profession is on the NAFTA list; 
• Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional; 
• Mexican or Canadian applicant is to work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job, for a U.S. employer (see documentation required). Self employment is not permitted; 
• Professional Canadian or Mexican citizen has the qualifications of the profession

Requirements for Canadian Citizens 

Canadian citizens usually do not need a visa as a NAFTA Professional, although a visa can be issued to qualified TN visa applicants upon request. However, a Canadian residing in another country with a non-Canadian spouse and children would need a visa to enable the spouse and children to be able to apply for a visa to accompany or join the NAFTA Professional, as a TD visa holder. To apply for visa, please see the requirements under the section Mexican Citizens - Applying for a TN Visa - Required Documentation. 

A Canadian citizen without a TN visa can apply at a U.S. port of entry with all of the following:

• Request for admission under TN status to Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. immigration officer; 
• Employment Letter - Evidence of professional employment. See Employment Letter below; 
• Proof of professional qualifications, such as transcripts of grades, licenses, certificates, degrees, and/or records of previous employment; 
• Proof of ability to meet applicable license requirements; 
• Proof of Canadian citizenship- Canadian citizens may present a passport, as visas are not required, or they may provide secondary evidence, such as a birth certificate. However, Canadian citizens traveling to the United States from outside the Western Hemisphere are required to present a valid passport at the port-of-entry; 
• Fee of U.S. $50 

Requirements for Mexican Citizens 

As of January 1, 2004 the procedures were simplified for Mexicans by removing the requirement for petition approval and for filing of a labor condition application. Mexicans are no longer subject to numerical limitation for these professionals. Mexican citizens still require a visa to request admission to the United States. 

Mexican Citizens - Applying for a TN Visa - Required Documentation 

Mexican citizens may apply at consular sections around the world for a NAFTA professional (TN) visa. As part of the visa application process, an interview at the embassy consular section is required for most visa applicants. Interviews are generally by appointment only. As part of the visa interview, an ink-free, digital fingerprint scan can generally be expected. The waiting time for an interview appointment for most applicants is a few weeks or less, but for some embassy consular sections it can be considerably longer. Visa wait times for interview appointments and visa processing time information for each U.S. Embassy or Consulate worldwide is now available on our website at Visa Wait Times, and on most embassy websites. Visit the Embassy Consular Section website where you will apply for your visa to find out how to schedule an interview appointment, pay the fees and any other instructions.

Contact Malee about how to obtain a NAFTA TN Visa.

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