Read the general professional work overview
An agency arrangement needs a clear account of the specific professional position, the parties and the applicant’s qualifications. A recruiter’s general promise of future placements is different from identified work. Establish the actual arrangement before the employer prepares a letter describing it as settled. A first review should produce a party-and-position chart: the legal employer, client, supervisor, worksite, compensation source, duties and term. TN requires an eligible Canadian or Mexican citizen, a listed profession and the required credentials; it does not permit self-employment. Hypothetical example: a Canadian dietitian receives an agency assignment to revise meal plans for a rehabilitation clinic. The decision is whether the signed client scope, agency agreement and support letter identify one genuine professional engagement before travel is planned.
Identify what is already arranged
Hypothetical example: a Beaconsfield resident receives an agency offer naming a U.S. client but leaving the assignment uncertain. Ask which position is confirmed, what duties it entails and which agreement supports it. Keep alternative placements separate from the position actually proposed for assessment. Collect the executed client agreement, a dated duty description and the signer's authority record before drafting the support letter. The decision is whether the named assignment exists now, rather than whether possible future work might eventually resemble it.
Compare the parties’ descriptions
Request an explanation of who employs, pays and directs the applicant and who receives the services. Compare the agency offer with any client description. If they differ, have the responsible parties explain the real arrangement. Do not resolve a contradiction by borrowing the most convenient sentence from each document. Put payment, supervision, evaluation and termination provisions in one comparison table. The decision is whether the documents tell a coherent story about who directs the professional work, instead of leaving the reviewer to reconcile unexplained inconsistencies.
Check the profession against the identified duties
Match the proposed duties to the listed TN profession and its actual credential rules. Keep citizenship evidence separate from the employer’s account. Disclose any applicant ownership in a participating entity for review of the employment relationship. A specific client and a professional title still do not establish every condition of TN eligibility. Match each substantial duty to the profession's credential rule and retain the actual diploma, licence or evaluation where relevant. The decision is whether the applicant is entering an eligible employment relationship, not merely holding a title that resembles a listed profession.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.