How TN status works

What is TN status?

TN is a US work status created by the trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada (the USMCA, formerly NAFTA). It lets citizens of Canada and Mexico work in the US for a US employer in one of the professions the agreement lists.

For Canadians it is not a visa in the usual sense. There is no consulate appointment and nothing stamped in advance. You bring your package to the border, an officer decides on the spot, and if approved you are admitted in TN status that day.

How long does it last?

Up to three years at a time. The officer sets the end date, and it is commonly limited to the date your passport expires, so check your passport before you apply.

Can it be renewed?

Yes, in further periods of up to three years, and the rules set no specific limit on the total time you can spend in TN status, as long as you keep working in your profession for a US employer and keep to the terms of the status.

There are two ways to renew: apply again at the border with a fresh package, or have your employer file for an extension with US immigration from inside the country. Either way, each renewal is a new application, and the officer looks at it fresh.

Why does it have to be temporary?

The rules define TN as entry without the intent to live in the United States permanently. Every time you apply, you have to satisfy the officer that your stay has a reasonable, finite end.

That can sound odd next to unlimited renewals, but both are true: you can renew many times, and each time the stay you are asking for must still be temporary. This is why officers ask about your plans and your ties to Canada, and why we include a declaration of those ties in every package.

Does a TN lead to a green card?

No. TN status does not turn into permanent residence, however long you hold it, and it is not designed for people who intend to stay for good.

Some TN holders do later become permanent residents through a separate process, usually employer sponsorship. The timing of that alongside a TN is delicate, and it is exactly the kind of question to take to a US immigration lawyer rather than a website. If a green card process has been started for you, answer truthfully if an officer asks about it.

Is it tied to one employer?

Yes. Your TN is for the employer and the job in your support letter. Changing employers means a new TN application. A real change in your duties with the same employer can need one too.

You cannot be self-employed on a TN. The rules treat you as self-employed if you would be working for a company you solely own or control.

What about my family?

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can come with you in TD status, for the same period as your TN. They can live and study in the US. They cannot work unless they qualify for a work status of their own.

How is it different from an H-1B?

There is no annual cap and no lottery, so you can apply at any time of year. For Canadians it is decided in person at the border rather than through months of paperwork, and the government fee is small. The trade-offs are the ones above: it covers only the listed professions, and it must be temporary.