Read the general eligibility basics overview
A Richelieu household may hold a mixture of Canadian citizenship and permanent-resident documents. Prepare the U.S. assessment person by person rather than describing the whole family as Canadian for every purpose. Make a person-by-person status sheet showing passport, citizenship evidence, Canadian residence record, intended role and expiry. For a prospective L-1 principal, dated employment evidence must show at least one qualifying foreign year during the three-year window before the relevant filing or admission event. L-1A time generally has a seven-year limit and L-1B time a five-year limit. Hypothetical example: a museum collections registrar has Canadian permanent residence and a foreign passport when a U.S. employer offers records work. The household must assess the passport actually held, not a hoped-for citizenship change. The record that settles nationality is the valid passport, while the status sheet determines which route can be assessed and when.
Identify the principal’s actual citizenship
Canadian permanent residence does not establish Canadian citizenship for TN. TN requires a Canadian or Mexican principal with the listed professional qualifications and arrangement. A household member’s citizenship does not supply that condition to another proposed principal. Treat an expired passport or pending citizenship step as a timing fact, not completed evidence. If a passport will expire near travel, obtain the timing facts before treating the proposed route as available.
Distinguish investor nationality from transfer evidence
E-2 requires the relevant treaty nationality, qualifying enterprise ownership and control and substantial lawful funds committed at risk in a real nonmarginal enterprise. L instead needs qualifying foreign employment, related organizations, required international business and the intended U.S. role. The same set of Canadian residence cards does not establish these different conditions. Keep nationality, ownership, foreign-employment and U.S.-role records in separate folders before choosing a route and filing timeline. This separation prevents a citizenship document from being used as a substitute for proof of corporate relationship, funds, or qualifying employment.
Create an individual document map
For each person, record actual citizenship, Canadian status, intended principal or dependent category and authentic evidence still needed. Hypothetical example: one spouse is the proposed professional while the other would be a dependent. Assess the relationship and that relative’s document requirements rather than copying the principal’s travel assumptions into the spouse’s file. Give every traveller a row for relationship proof, intended activity and the principal status supporting the plan. Before booking travel, decide who is principal, who follows as dependent, and which missing document controls the earliest realistic date.
What else is on your mind?
Does Canadian permanent residence give me access to TN?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?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.