Visa Library
TN Visa for Canadian and Mexican Professionals (USMCA)
USMCA work visa for Canadian and Mexican professionals in 60+ designated categories — port-of-entry filing, fastest visa adjudication available.
You are a Canadian or Mexican citizen working in one of the USMCA-designated professional occupations (engineering, accounting, medicine, science, library science, and more). The TN was designed to grease cross-border professional movement.
Editorial summary
USMCA work visa for Canadians and Mexicans in 60+ designated professional categories.
Who it's for
- Canadian and Mexican professionals with US offers in USMCA-listed occupations
- Engineers, accountants, scientists, medical professionals, librarians, and others enumerated in USMCA Appendix 2
Eligibility
- Citizenship of Canada or Mexico.
- Job offer in one of the designated USMCA professional categories (Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A).
- Required credentials for the category (typically a bachelor's degree, plus license where applicable).
Process
Step 1
Confirm the job is in a designated category
USMCA Appendix 2 enumerates the qualifying occupations and required credentials.
Step 2
Gather credentials and offer letter
Degree certificates, licenses, and a detailed employer letter describing duties.
Step 3
Canadians: present at the US port of entry
CBP officer adjudicates on the spot. Some prefer a USCIS-filed I-129 instead for higher certainty.
Step 4
Mexicans: apply at a US consulate
Standard consular process with TN visa stamp issued for entry.
Timeline
- Canadians at port of entry: same-day adjudication
- Mexicans at consulate: 2-4 weeks typical
Cost
- Port-of-entry filing fee for Canadians: $50
- Consular MRV fee for Mexicans: $185
- I-129 filing if filed with USCIS: $1,015
- Attorney fees: $1,500-$4,000 typical (often optional for straightforward Canadian cases)
Where it works
- Fastest adjudication of any work visa for qualifying professionals
- No lottery, no cap
- Renewable indefinitely
- Lowest professional fees of any visa category for Canadian filers
Where it breaks
- TN is non-immigrant intent; pursuing a green card requires careful sequencing
- TD spouses are not work-authorized
- Limited to enumerated occupations; software engineering specifically is not on the list (computer systems analyst is)
Frequently asked
Why isn't software engineer on the TN list?
USMCA Appendix 2 enumerates 'computer systems analyst' but not 'software engineer.' In practice, software engineering roles are often filed under computer systems analyst with detailed duty descriptions matching analyst duties — but adjudication has tightened in recent years.
Can I switch employers on a TN?
You typically need a new TN for each employer. Filing at a port of entry for the new role is feasible for Canadians; Mexicans need a new consular interview.
Does TN lead to a green card?
Not directly. Most TN holders pursue an EB-2 or EB-3 PERM-based green card via a separate H-1B step or directly from TN with careful intent documentation.
Related visas
See all 12 in the Library →O-1
No lottery, no annual cap, no $100K filing fee — for those with sustained recognition in their field.
Read the breakdown →L-1A
Transfer executives or managers from a foreign office to a related US entity.
Read the breakdown →L-1B
Transfer employees with specialized knowledge to a US office of the same company.
Read the breakdown →Country-Specific Pathways: E-3, TN, H-1B1, and Treaty Investor Visas
Australians, Canadians, Mexicans, Chileans, and Singaporeans have dedicated lanes that bypass the H-1B lottery entirely. We summarize the rules and the catch in each.
Read the brief →Sources cited on this page
Where to go next
The Library curates the best of external research and the four sister properties used to act on the evidence above.
Visit the Library