Read the general professional work overview
A Sainte-Catherine applicant may receive an employment document with one end date and a project schedule with another. Clarify the actual temporary work proposed instead of selecting the date that appears most convenient. A first review should produce a table naming the employer, professional activity, credential and record for each fact. A Canadian ordinarily requests TN classification during inspection, while an employer can request it through a Form I-129 petition. Neither procedure permits a self-employed U.S. arrangement. Decide whether the temporary prearranged engagement is supported as written or needs correction before the next step. Add the employer’s signed explanation of remaining professional duties to the review set.
Separate the employment term from the customer milestone
Identify what each date represents and who issued the document. Hypothetical example: the customer expects a project phase to finish before the employer’s proposed professional assignment ends. Ask the employer to explain the remaining actual work rather than assuming both dates must describe the same obligation. Hypothetical example: a medical illustrator is hired for a hospital publisher’s anatomy atlas, but a later production calendar runs beyond the stated employment term. The signed offer and publisher schedule settle different points. The applicant must decide whether the employer will amend the engagement letter or explain the fixed period honestly. Compare the letter, schedule and payroll arrangement before choosing a procedure.
Retain the professional and credential conditions
TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship, a listed professional activity and its prescribed qualifications. An explained period does not resolve unrelated duties or a missing qualification. Experience is not a universal degree substitute; degrees from institutions outside Canada, Mexico or the United States require reliable foreign-credential evaluation, separate from translation.
Present the actual temporary arrangement
Describe employer, duties, compensation and intended duration consistently. Services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant are prohibited under TN. A longer project calendar does not itself extend an authorized stay, and a clarified contract does not independently authorize work. Identify the actual immigration step that the proposal requires.
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.