In July 2024, after 9 long and hard months looking for a new job, I finally landed an (amazing) one. In this post, I will explain how I obtained my TN status. My situation was quite easy and straightforward, but I still want to share my experience for others who might be in a similar situation as I was.
What is a TN status?
A TN status is a non-immigrant work authorization created under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA in 2020. It allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work temporarily in the United States for a U.S. employer. It is not a visa, but a status granted at the border, which makes it much more accessible for Canadians than most U.S. work visas.
TN status is granted for up to three years and can be renewed indefinitely, as long as you continue to qualify.
Note: this only applies to Canadian and Mexican citizens — permanent residents are not eligible.
Who can get a TN status?
Not every profession qualifies for a TN. The USMCA defines a specific list of eligible professions (63 in total), including engineers, accountants, scientists, lawyers, and more. Each profession also has specific educational or licensing requirements — typically a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
For tech workers, the most relevant categories are Engineer and Computer Systems Analyst. Notably, “Software Engineer” is not listed word for word, but the Cronin memo (more on that below) officially clarified that software engineers do qualify under the Engineer category.
How to apply for a TN?
The great news for Canadians is that you do not need to apply in advance at a U.S. consulate. You simply show up at a U.S. port of entry with your documentation, and a CBP (Customs and Border Protection) officer reviews your application on the spot. If approved, you are granted TN status right then and there.
For Mexicans, the process is different — a TN visa must be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate beforehand.
When can you apply?
You can present yourself at the border up to 10 days before your start date. I wouldn’t recommend cutting it any closer than that, given that there’s always a chance of questions or complications at the border!
My situation
I have a Software Engineering degree from ÉTS, and “Engineer” is listed word for word as an eligible profession under the USMCA. My job offer title was “AI Engineer,” which aligned perfectly with the Engineer category. This gave me a very clean, straightforward application — no ambiguity about whether my degree matched my job title.
This matters a lot, because the Engineer TN category can get complicated when someone has a Computer Science degree (rather than an Engineering degree) or a job title that doesn’t clearly map to a USMCA-recognized profession. In those cases, officers have more discretion, and there’s more risk of a denial. I was lucky not to have to worry about any of that!
Documentation
In a binder, properly identified and separated with labeled tabs, I had the following documentation with me. Please note that I am someone who likes to be over-prepared and have everything ready to go, so this is an exhaustive list!
1. Letter from my employer drafted by a lawyer [required]
This is the most important document of your application. I wanted to be sure to have a solid, well-crafted letter, but I had some trouble identifying exactly what the letter needed to contain. Rather than guessing, I decided to hire a law firm that specializes in TN cases and handles many applications every year. The letter needs to specify, at minimum: your job title, your duties, the professional category under which you’re applying, your expected length of stay (maximum 3 years), and your educational qualifications.
2. The Cronin Memo
The Cronin memo is a 2000 policy memo issued by the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service, the predecessor to USCIS) that officially clarified that Software Engineers qualify as “Engineers” under the NAFTA/USMCA TN classification. My lawyer included it in my application package as a supporting document. Even if your situation seems obvious, having the memo on hand is good to have. Not every border officer is equally familiar with TN case law, and this memo prevents any discussion about whether your role truly qualifies under the Engineer category. Think of it as a backup in case the officer raises an eyebrow at the words “AI Engineer.” 😉
3. Professional Engineer License
I am registered on the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) roll, so I brought my official engineer’s license as additional proof of my qualifications. If you’re not sure whether you should register with the OIQ, I actually wrote a whole post about that! Making it easier to get a TN status was definitely one of the reasons why I became a member of the Order.
4. Original transcripts
I made a request to my university to obtain official transcripts. I actually ordered two sets — both for my undergraduate engineering degree and my master’s degree — because I wanted one open copy and one sealed in its original envelope. Some border officers specifically ask for sealed copies, so it’s better to have both ready.
5. Diplomas
I also brought my actual diplomas (still in their frames 😂) for both my Software Engineering undergraduate degree and my master’s. It might seem like overkill, but agents do sometimes ask to see official diplomas, and I wasn’t going to be caught unprepared!
6. A one-pager about my company
A short document describing what my new employer does, their industry, their size, and their U.S. presence. This helps the officer quickly understand the context of your employment without having to ask a lot of questions.
7. Birth certificate
This was to prove my Canadian citizenship.
8. Certified translations of everything
Since all of my documents were originally in French, I had certified English translations done of every single document — diplomas, transcripts, birth certificate, engineer’s license… literally everything. Border officers need to be able to read what you hand them.
My experience at the border
I went to the main Champlain port of entry (on the Quebec/New York border) at around 8:30 am, 7 days before my start date. I waited about an hour for my name to be called — the wait wasn’t too bad for a weekday morning.
Once an officer called me over, he didn’t actually dig very deeply into my binder of documents. He asked me a series of questions instead:
- What would my duties be at the new company?
- How long did my employer want me to work for them?
- How did I find the job?
- Did I already have an apartment lined up in the U.S.?
- How long had I been working as a software engineer?
He worked on the application for about 15 minutes, and then — approved! I was on my way. Honestly, it was easy, and my preparation was more complicated than the interview itself. But as usual, I am happy to be more prepared than needed.
One piece of advice my lawyer gave me: do not do a U-turn at the border immediately after getting your TN status. Spend a little time on the U.S. side first. So I drove to a nearby coffee shop, sat down for about an hour and a half, and then made my way back home to Canada.
Conclusion
Getting a TN status was one of those things that felt really intimidating from the outside but turned out to be manageable. I know my situation was quite straightforward. The key is preparation: having the right documents and the right drafted offer letter.
If you’re a Canadian tech professional considering a move to the U.S., I hope this post showed you that the TN process is accessible. The hardest part, honestly, was the 9 months of job searching before all of this! 😅
Do you have questions about TN status? Drop them in the comments below. I’m happy to share more about my experience!
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