A Toronto engineer accepts an offer in Seattle, books the movers and plans to sort out the paperwork at the airport. At the counter, the border officer asks a question the offer letter cannot answer: which listed profession is this job? Most TN problems start right there, long before anyone reaches a port of entry.
TN status was created under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for citizens of Canada and Mexico. For Canadians, a TN visa from Canada is one of the most direct US work routes, with no annual cap, no lottery and an application made in person at the border. Because the decision happens face to face, preparation matters far more than the volume of paperwork. These seven checks help you arrive with a file that answers the officer’s questions before they are asked.
1. Are you eligible as a Canadian citizen?
TN status is a citizenship benefit. You need Canadian citizenship, a job offer from a US employer, a role in a profession listed under USMCA, the credentials that profession requires and a position that is genuinely temporary. Canadian permanent residents who are not citizens do not qualify, whatever their residency history.
Self-employment does not qualify either. The TN depends on an offer from another employer, so a founder who wants to run their own US company needs a different category.
2. Does your job match a listed profession?
The USMCA list names around 60 occupations, from engineers and scientists to accountants, management consultants, medical and allied roles, and teachers. Your job title matters less than your duties: the officer compares what you will actually do with the definition of the profession you claim. Reviewing the TN visa professions list side by side with your job description is one of the most useful hours you can spend before travelling.
Titles cause trouble. “Software developer,” for example, is not itself a listed profession, although some technology roles fit a category such as computer systems analyst when the duties genuinely match.
3. Do your credentials fit that profession?
Each listed profession carries its own credential requirement, usually a degree and sometimes a licence. Where a profession accepts a licence or alternative credentials instead of a degree, the credential you present must match that specific profession rather than your general field.
If your degree is in a different discipline from the profession you claim, expect questions, and be ready to show the link with documents rather than assurances.
4. Does the employer support letter say the right things?
The support letter from the US employer is the most decisive document in the file. A strong letter names the position, confirms that it falls within a listed profession, describes the duties in concrete terms, states that the work is temporary and confirms the wage.
Each of those elements maps to something the officer checks: the duties against the profession, the credentials against the requirement and the temporary nature against TN intent. A vague, generic letter is a common reason a file stalls at the counter.
5. Is your document set complete?
A clean, consistent file keeps the inspection moving. Bring:
- A valid Canadian passport as proof of citizenship
- The employer support or offer letter
- Your degree, transcripts and any professional licences
- An up-to-date CV
Canadians do not need a visa stamp and do not file the DS-160 form, which belongs to the consular route used by Mexican nationals. What matters is that the letter, the credentials and the duties all tell the same story.
6. When and where will you cross?
Canadians apply at a US port of entry or at airport preclearance. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer reviews the file in person, a decision is usually issued the same day and the application fee is US$56. At the end of inspection you receive your TN admission and I-94 record.
Because status is granted on the day you travel, you cannot be admitted far ahead of your start date. Plan the crossing close to your first day of work. Admission is granted for up to three years at a time and can be renewed while qualifying employment continues.
7. What about your family, and what if the answer is no?
A spouse and children under 21 can accompany you in TD status. They can live and study in the United States, but TD status does not allow them to work, so a spouse who wants a job needs a qualifying status of their own.
A refusal at the border is a recoverable outcome, not a dead end. The reason given points to what needs strengthening, often a clearer letter, a better-matched credential or a cleaner fit between duties and profession. You can reapply with a stronger file or consider another US work category.
Prepare the File, Then Book the Crossing
Getting a TN visa from Canada rewards preparation. Confirm your eligibility, map the role to a listed profession, ask the employer for a precise support letter and time the crossing to your start date. If the TN turns out not to fit your situation, comparing the other US work visa options for Canadians before you sign an offer can save weeks of back and forth.
Which of these seven checks has been the hardest to pin down in your own move south?
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Fees and program details are stated as of November 2026; confirm current figures with US Customs and Border Protection before travelling.
About the Author
This article was prepared by the immigration team at Exeo, a law firm whose lawyers are members of the Barreau du Québec, with lawyers also admitted in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. From offices in Montreal, Lévis, Saguenay, Paris and Mexico City, the firm advises individuals, families and employers on immigration to Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe, in English, French and Spanish.
