Read the general professional work overview
A TN offer sometimes describes work that begins only if a client engagement is signed or renewed. That contingency is a fact about the proposed employment, so record it rather than smoothing it over. Before an appointment, gather what the employer can state today about dates, duties, supervision and remuneration, and mark which parts remain conditional and on what event, so the discussion starts from the arrangement that actually exists.
Write down what the offer actually commits to
Set out the proposed start date, the professional duties, the entity that will receive the services and how payment works, then mark every item that depends on the client engagement. A signed statement of work, a proposal awaiting signature and an internal revenue forecast are three different documents saying three different things. The TN category concerns prearranged professional employment in a listed profession, so what has actually been arranged is what a reviewer can consider. Keep the underlying records rather than a summary written afterwards, because the summary cannot show what existed on a given date.
Ask the employer for an accurate letter, not an optimistic one
Hypothetical example: a consulting employer drafts a support letter describing full-time analytical duties, while the engagement funding the role is still in the client's procurement process. A candid letter can give a start date or date range, a defined role and the employer's intention without asserting that any outcome is approved or that work may begin while something is pending. Ask the person who owns each fact to correct it. Where duties, dates or salary differ between the offer, the draft letter and the client scope of work, have the difference resolved before anything is submitted rather than choosing the most favourable wording.
Sequence the questions the contingency creates
List what would happen if the client engagement slips: other professional work available, any change in duties, who decides and how the applicant would be told. TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship and the accepted qualifications for the listed profession. A degree from an institution outside Canada, Mexico and the United States requires a reliable foreign-credential evaluation. Foreign-language records submitted to USCIS require full English translations certified for accuracy, completeness and translator competence. Review those evidence questions separately from the contingency, and identify the actual authorization needed before work starts.
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.