TN Reference Guide: First Things First

This TN Reference Guide is provided for Canadian and Mexican citizens who are currently at the University of Washington in TN non-immigrant status, or who have been offered employment at the UW and will be arriving in TN status in the near future. The TN status provides an opportunity for you to participate in the teaching and research mission of the University of Washington, and allows the University to take advantage of the skills, knowledge and perspectives represented by member nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The TN classification is available to Canadian and Mexican citizens who seek to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis to work in a professional-level job under provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The process for Mexican citizens to apply for TN status involves additional steps not described in this reference guide. If you are a Mexican citizen applying for TN status, contact your hiring department and ISS for assistance. The procedures outlined below apply only to Canadian citizens.

• You must be employed in one of the professions listed in the NAFTA Professional Job Series List and have at least a baccalaureate degree unless an alternative credential is specified. The list includes university professors and researchers.
• Although the regulations do not limit the number of years you may remain in the U.S., TN is a nonimmigrant status. You must establish to the satisfaction of USCIS that the employment opportunity is both temporary and short-term.