Home Blog Apply for TN Visa

Apply for TN Visa

Jump to Section

Canadians and Mexicans can apply for a TN visa, a non-immigrant visa category that allows employment in select US professional fields. The TN visa was created as part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to facilitate the movement of professionals between the three member countries.

Application Process of TN Visa

  1. Confirm Eligibility

    The TN visa is available to citizens of Canada and Mexico who are seeking employment in one of the approved TN visa professional occupations. Applicants must have the educational qualifications, work experience, or licensure required for the specific profession.

  2. Obtain a Job Offer

    A job offer from a U.S. employer is required to apply for a TN visa. The employer must provide a letter detailing the position being offered, the duties to be performed, the applicant's qualifications, and the proposed compensation.

  3. Complete the DS-160 Form

    The DS-160 form is an online nonimmigrant visa application. It must be completed and submitted electronically.

  4. Pay the Application Fee

    The TN visa application fee must be paid online using a credit or debit card.

  5. Schedule a Visa Interview

    The applicant must schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada or Mexico.

  6. Attend the Visa Interview

    The applicant must attend the visa interview with all required documentation, including the job offer letter, educational certificates, and proof of citizenship.

  7. Receive the TN Visa

    If approved, the applicant's passport will be stamped with the TN visa, allowing entry into the U.S. for the specified period.

It is important to note that the TN visa application process can be complex, and it is recommended that applicants seek the advice of an experienced immigration attorney to ensure a successful outcome.

How to Modify TN Visa

  • Change of Employer : If you want to change your employer while on a TN visa, you must apply for a new TN visa with your new employer. Your new employer must provide you with a job offer letter and supporting documentation. You must submit a new TN visa application at your home country's U.S. consulate or embassy.
  • Change of Job or Position : If you want to change your job or position within the same company while on a TN visa, you do not need to apply for a new TN visa. However, you must ensure that the new job or position still qualifies under the TN visa category and that you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
  • Extension of Stay: If you need to extend your stay in the United States on a TN visa, you can request an extension with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your current TN status expires. You must provide evidence of your continued employment and eligibility for TN status.
  • Change of Status : If you want to change your status to a different visa category, you must file a new visa application with USCIS. You cannot change your status from TN to another nonimmigrant status while in the United States, but you may be able to change to an immigrant status.

It is important to consult with an experienced immigration attorney to determine the best course of action for your specific situation and ensure that you follow the correct procedures for modifying your TN visa.

Cost Details of the TN Visa

The cost of the TN visa application varies depending on several factors, including the applicant's country of citizenship and the location where the visa interview will be conducted.

As of March 2023, the filing fee for a TN visa application is $160. In addition to the filing fee, applicants may also be required to pay additional fees for other services, such as visa issuance or medical examinations.

It is important to note that the TN visa application process may involve additional expenses, such as obtaining educational transcripts, obtaining a job offer letter, and travel expenses associated with attending the visa interview.

It is recommended that applicants consult with an experienced immigration attorney to understand the full range of costs associated with the TN visa application process.

Meet some lawyers on our platform

Edward B.

73 projects on CC
CC verified
View Profile

Kristen R.

55 projects on CC
CC verified
View Profile

Dolan W.

873 projects on CC
CC verified
View Profile

Lori B.

187 projects on CC
CC verified
View Profile

Key Terms for TN Visas

  • NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement is between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The TN visa was created as part of NAFTA to facilitate the temporary movement of professionals between the three countries.
  • Professional Occupation: The TN visa is available to individuals seeking employment in one of the approved TN visa professional occupations. These occupations require specialized knowledge and educational qualifications.
  • Labor Condition Application (LCA): The LCA is a document required for TN visa applicants working in the U.S. It is issued by the U.S. Department of Labor and contains information about the wages and working conditions for the TN visa holder.
  • Port of Entry: The port of entry is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility where the TN visa holder enters the United States. The TN visa holder must present their passport and TN visa at the port of entry to gain entry into the U.S.
  • I-129 Petition: The I-129 petition is a form filed by the U.S. employer on behalf of the TN visa applicant. It requests that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approve the TN visa application.

Final Thoughts on TN Visas

The TN visa is valuable for Canadian and Mexican citizens seeking temporary employment in the United States. It offers a faster and less cumbersome process than other work visa types, making it a popular choice for U.S. employers seeking highly-skilled workers from Canada and Mexico.

However, it is important to note that the TN visa application process can be complex, and applicants must meet specific requirements to be eligible. Additionally, it is essential to work with an experienced immigration attorney to ensure a successful outcome. With careful planning and preparation, the TN visa can provide an excellent opportunity for professionals to gain valuable work experience in the United States.

If you are looking to get free pricing proposals from vetted lawyers that are 60% less than typical law firms, you can Click here to get started. By comparing multiple proposals for free, you can save time and stress of finding a quality lawyer for your business needs.


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


How ContractsCounsel Works
Hiring a lawyer on ContractsCounsel is easy, transparent and affordable.
1. Post a Free Project
Complete our 4-step process to provide info on what you need done.
2. Get Bids to Review
Receive flat-fee bids from lawyers in our marketplace to compare.
3. Start Your Project
Securely pay to start working with the lawyer you select.

Meet some of our Lawyers

John M. on ContractsCounsel
View John
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
June 4, 2024

John M.

Senior Corporate Counsel
Free Consultation
Foxboro, MA
26 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA, NY
Boston University School of Law (J.D.)

John Mercer is a distinguished corporate counsel who is well-known for turning legal challenges into strategic assets. He possesses a deep understanding and expertise in intellectual property (IP), compliance, and corporate law, particularly in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. His proficiency lies in transforming legal complexities into strategic advantages, ensuring operational excellence, and driving innovation forward. John excels at safeguarding an organization's legal interests and integrity, ensuring operations adhere to the law. As a strategic leader, John excels at safeguarding an organization’s legal interests and integrity, ensuring operations adhere to the law. He also brings immense value to his profession through his skills in drafting, negotiating, and managing significant agreements that secure organizational interests with widespread industry impact. His unparalleled expertise in legal advisories significantly enhances compliance and develops risk management frameworks that protect and advance company ambitions. Moreover, John's command over patent and trademark portfolios, alongside his ability to drive innovation initiatives and design incentive schemes, substantially bolsters intellectual property prowess. John's areas of expertise are extensive, covering skills vital to corporate law, legal contract negotiations, material transfer agreements, and more. He is particularly adept in regulatory compliance, legal consulting, clinical trials, biotechnology, patents, and patent portfolio analysis, to name a few. His leadership is complemented by active listening, analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and other soft skills that make him a leader and visionary.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Thank you John, I appreciate your very personal effort with quality and practicality in mind."

Jorge R. on ContractsCounsel
View Jorge
5.0 (15)
Member Since:
June 3, 2024

Jorge R.

Managing Attorney
Free Consultation
Burien, Washington
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in WA
Seattle University

**Bio:** My name is Jorge Ramos, and I am an experienced family law attorney practicing since 2011. Over the years, I have honed my skills and knowledge in family law, having worked with prestigious law firms before establishing my own solo practice. My expertise spans a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, child custody, spousal support, and property division. I am dedicated to providing personalized and compassionate legal representation, ensuring that my clients receive the support and guidance they need during challenging times. My commitment to excellence and client-focused approach have earned me a reputation as a trusted advocate in the field of family law.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"I had a fantastic experience working with Jorge. He was incredibly responsive and maintained a high level of detail throughout the entire process. Jorge was able to push things along efficiently and completed everything I asked for much faster than expected. If you need someone who is thorough, quick, and reliable, I highly recommend him!"

Jim Z. on ContractsCounsel
View Jim
Member Since:
May 31, 2024

Jim Z.

Associate
Free Consultation
New York/Los Angeles
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
Brooklyn Law School

I graduated honors from the University of Iowa, University of Chicago and Brooklyn Law School. I’m an innovative corporate M&A attorney with 7 years of experience and a software developer experienced in front end development. A highly experienced and entrepreneurial lawyer, I work primarily with business owners and founders in connection with mergers and acquisitions, securities law and software contracts.

Beth M. on ContractsCounsel
View Beth
Member Since:
June 4, 2024

Beth M.

Corporate Counsel
Free Consultation
Nashville, Tennessee
15 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TN
Vanderbilt University Law School

Highly skilled attorney with more than 12 years of experience in delivering ongoing support to an international organization, government organizations, law firms, and long-term healthcare facilities. Eager to leverage experience in negotiations, contracts, and strategic planning into a corporate attorney role with room for growth in the organization.

Colin M. on ContractsCounsel
View Colin
Member Since:
June 3, 2024

Colin M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Hanover, MA, USA
9 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA
Suffolk University Law School

Experienced attorney with a substantial history of crafting, evaluating, and bargaining multimillion-dollar commercial and government contracts across diverse sectors, encompassing the US Army, DoD contractors, employee benefits, NASDAQ, Pharmaceuticals, and Finance.

Mark L. on ContractsCounsel
View Mark
Member Since:
June 7, 2024

Mark L.

Transactional & IP Attorney
Free Consultation
Boston, MA
19 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA
Suffolk University Law School

I worked in the Intellectual Property Group at Fidelity Investments for almost 25 years, including managing the group from 2017-2021. I managed and developed the same high-performing group of three legal professionals from 2007-2021. Early in my career at Fidelity, I focused primarily on trademark matters, including trademark searching and clearance, as well as enforcement of trademark rights. In fact, I created Fidelity's trademark and brand protection programs and advanced them over more than two decades, eventually bringing the domestic trademark portfolio in-house and realizing savings of well over $2 million in outside counsel expenses for searching, prosecution and maintenance of US registrations from 2008-2021. Fidelity put me through law school, and I continued working full time while attending law school at night over four years. Upon graduation and passing the bar in 2006, I was promoted to an attorney position effective 1/1/2007. My practice broadened, and I began working on more transactional matters. I became a key transactional attorney for major technology groups and businesses within Fidelity, and negotiated numerous mission critical tech deals, transforming Fidelity's business. I provided transactional and IP support for Fidelity's software development and services affiliate in Ireland, and worked extensively with many of Fidelity's other foreign affiliates. Fidelity's General Counsel handpicked me to provide transactional and IP support to a new business initiative in 2017. That initiative became fintech startup Akoya, LLC, a paradigm-shifting business that enables secure, customer-controlled sharing of personal financial information between financial institutions and service providers. I developed template agreements between Akoya and data providers (financial institutions) and also between Akoya and data recipients (e.g. tax preparation services and financial advisors). Akoya had matured enough to be spun out by Fidelity in early 2020 to a consortium of financial services companies. In 2021, Fidelity offered a voluntary buyout to long-tenured associates, and following the pandemic, coupled with the financial and health benefits included in the package, it was an offer I could not refuse. Days later, my elderly father-in-law broke his hip, and my wife and I became his primary caregivers. It's been a blessing that I was able to contribute to his care and alleviate some of the burden on my wife. He is now in a long-term care facility, and I am eager to return to work as in-house counsel, whether on a contract basis, part time or full time. I did work briefly as a sole practitioner in 2021 and 2022, primarily helping friends, family and pro bono clients with NDAs, business formation issues, consulting agreements and license agreements. From August 2022 - July 2023, I was on the staff of Flex by Fenwick, an in-house counsel on demand business that is a subsidiary of the IP firm Fenwick & West, but did not get any engagements. My wife and I have volunteered for over a year with a dog rescue, Last Hope K9 Rescue, and have fostered several dogs, and adopted two of them!

Robert C. on ContractsCounsel
View Robert
Member Since:
June 5, 2024

Robert C.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Elkhart, Indiana
39 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY, VA
University of Buffalo Law School

A highly motivated, dedicated attorney (and military veteran) with proven experience in executive corporate leadership, legal risk mitigation, litigation, and legal department management. Skilled in collaborating with all members of the organization to achieve business and financial objectives with high-profile corporations. Instrumental in streamlining and improving processes, enhancing productivity, and implementing sound legal and business solutions.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a TN1 Visa?

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

CONTRACT LAWYERS BY TOP CITIES
See All Immigration Lawyers

Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.

View Trustpilot Review

I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.

View Trustpilot Review

I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.

View Trustpilot Review

How It Works

Post Your Project

Get Free Bids to Compare

Hire Your Lawyer

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city