TN Visa Lawyer for Canadian and Mexican Professionals in Houston, TX
The TN (Trade NAFTA, now USMCA) visa allows qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States in one of 63 designated professional occupations listed under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. At Prosperity Immigration Law, our immigration team, led by attorney Luis F. Hess, helps Canadian and Mexican nationals and their U.S. employers navigate TN eligibility, documentation, and the USCIS guidance updates that tightened eligibility standards.
What Is the TN Visa?
The TN nonimmigrant classification was created under the original NAFTA in 1994 and preserved under the USMCA, which took effect in July 2020.
It permits nationals of Canada and Mexico, and only these two countries, to work for a U.S. employer in a prearranged, full-time or part-time role in one of the 63 designated professional occupations.
TN status is granted in three-year increments with no limit on renewals, provided the position remains genuinely temporary. Self-employment is not permitted.
Canadians apply directly at a U.S. port of entry, no consulate visit and no USCIS petition required. The CBP officer adjudicates the request on the spot. Mexican nationals must obtain a TN visa stamp at a U.S. consulate in Mexico before entering.
The 63 USMCA TN Occupations
Only the 63 occupations listed in USMCA Appendix 1603.D.1 qualify. If an occupation is not on this list, TN status is unavailable regardless of the applicant's credentials. The list spans six broad areas:
General Professions
Accountant, Computer Systems Analyst, Economist, Engineer, Graphic Designer, Hotel Manager, Interior Designer, Landscape Architect, Lawyer, Librarian, Management Consultant, Mathematician, Range Manager, Scientific Technician/Technologist, Social Worker, Technical Publications Writer, Urban Planner, Vocational Counselor, and others.
Medical and Allied Professions
Dentist, Dietitian, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Nutritionist, Occupational Therapist, Pharmacist, Physician (teaching or research only, direct patient care not permitted), Physical Therapist, Psychologist, Registered Nurse, Veterinarian.
Scientists
Agriculturalist, Biochemist, Biologist, Chemist, Epidemiologist, Geneticist, Geologist, Geophysicist, Horticulturist, Meteorologist, Pharmacologist, Physicist, and related scientific disciplines.
Teachers
College, seminary, or university level only.
Most categories require at least a bachelor's degree (baccalaureate or licenciatura) in a directly related field. Nine categories accept a post-secondary diploma plus three years of relevant experience as an alternative. Management Consultant is the only category that may qualify solely on substantial professional experience.
Eligibility Requirements for the TN Visa
To qualify for TN classification, the following must all apply:
How to Apply for a TN Visa: Step by Step
- Step 1 - Confirm occupation eligibility: Verify that the actual job duties match a listed USMCA occupation and that the applicant holds the required credential. This is the most critical step — arriving at the border with a mismatch is a common denial reason.
- Step 2 - Obtain the employer support letter: The U.S. employer prepares a detailed letter describing the professional capacity in which the applicant will work, the temporary nature of the position, the anticipated duration, and the applicant's qualifications. This letter is the most scrutinized document in any Canadian TN application.
- Step 3 - Gather credential documentation: Degree transcripts, diploma, professional licenses, or alternative qualification evidence. Foreign degrees from outside Canada, Mexico, or the U.S. must be accompanied by a credentials evaluation from a recognized service.
- Step 4 - Apply:
- Canadian citizens: Present the complete package directly to a CBP officer at a designated port of entry or pre-clearance station. No advance USCIS filing. The officer adjudicates on the spot.
- Mexican nationals: Complete Form DS-160, pay the MRV fee, schedule a consular interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico, and present the supporting documentation at the interview.
- Step 5 - Enter and maintain status: Each TN admission is valid for up to three years. Extensions (additional three-year periods) are filed with CBP at the port of entry (Canadians) or with USCIS via Form I-129 (Mexican nationals or those already in the U.S.).
What Our Clients Say
Why Choose Prosperity Immigration Law
Frequently Asked Questions About the TN Visa
No. The TN category has no annual numerical cap and is not subject to a lottery. Applications may be submitted at any time, there is no registration window.
Three key changes: only U.S.-based entities may now sponsor TN applicants; experience can no longer substitute for a required bachelor's degree in degree-mandatory categories; and officers are evaluating actual job duties more strictly against USMCA occupation definitions, not just job titles.
Ready to Start Your TN Visa Process? Contact Our TN Visa Lawyer in Houston Today
Small details can determine whether a TN application is approved or delayed. From border applications to consular processing, TN filings require precision at every step. We help professionals understand their eligibility and prepare the right documentation before submission.
Schedule a consultation to move forward with confidence.
Our Offices
Houston
7322 Southwest Fwy, Tower One, 4th Floor, Suite 470
Houston, TX 77074
(281) 545-3607
Harris County
21815 Oak Park Trails Dr,
Katy, TX 77450
(281) 801-5726
The Woodlands
282 Ed English Dr,
Shenandoah, TX 77385
(281) 949-7126