types of visas

TN / NAFTA

NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement. It creates special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. The nonimmigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico, as NAFTA professionals to work in the United States. Permanent residents are not able to apply to work as a NAFTA professional.  PLEASE NOTE that the Consulate no longer pre-screens TN packets.  Applicants for TN visas should schedule their appointment and bring all requested information on the day of their interview.

Special Requirements:

Mexican citizens with a job offer in one of the professions listed in the NAFTA Treaty may be eligible for a TN visa. A TN visa holder’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be eligible for a TD visa.  Please click here for a list of NAFTA Treaty professions and their corresponding job requirements, as well as a list of required documents to bring to the interview.

Please note that TN jobs are professional positions with certain qualifications.  Most jobs require a baccalaureate degree from a certified undergraduate institution. Mexican citizens must hold a titulo to fulfill the baccalaureate degree requirement; a carta de pasante is not sufficient for NAFTA professions that require a baccalaureate degree. A carta de pasante is sufficient for professions that require only a postsecondary diploma or certificate. Some NAFTA professions require a specified amount of work experience. In every case, the TN applicant must prove to the adjudicating consular officer that he or she has the required educational and/or work experience to qualify for the TN visa.