Read the general professional work overview
A Carignan applicant may receive an offer involving several facilities. Organize the actual employer, duties and locations before preparing TN evidence. A list of addresses does not explain the professional activity, and a familiar job title does not show who has arranged the work. A first review should produce a single duty-and-employer map: who signs the offer, who pays the professional, where services occur, and whether each task fits the named USMCA profession. The record that usually resolves uncertainty is the signed employer letter supported by contracts or assignment schedules, not a travel itinerary. Canadian applicants may request TN classification at inspection or preclearance, or an employer can seek an I-129 classification request with USCIS; Mexican applicants generally need a TN visa. The route is for temporary prearranged professional employment, not self-directed U.S. business activity. Hypothetical example: a wildlife economist has one offer letter from a consultancy but spends two days each week at a client’s facility. The decision is whether the consultancy remains the actual employer and whether the letter explains the client work; the service agreement and payroll records provide the needed context.
Identify the employer and the work at each location
Ask the employer to explain the assignment, including relevant customer locations and the proposed period and compensation. Distinguish facilities from separate employers. Do not assume that every address creates a new employer or that work for a different entity is automatically included.
Apply the profession’s own qualifications
The principal must hold Canadian or Mexican citizenship and perform a listed professional activity with the required credentials. Check the actual profession’s degree, licence or permitted alternative; experience does not generally replace a required degree. Degrees from institutions outside Canada, Mexico or the United States require the relevant reliable credential evaluation.
Review changes before relying on the original letter
If another employer, different duties or a revised arrangement is proposed, have the appropriate procedure assessed before starting that work. A map of facilities is useful supporting context, but does not authorize activity outside the approved arrangement. The intended entry remains temporary.
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.