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Work visas - NAFTA

TN Visa

The TN (Treaty National) Visa was created after the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 to facilitate the temporary movement of qualified professionals from Canada, Mexico and the United States. The nonimmigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico as NAFTA professionals to engage in pre-arranged business activities for a US or foreign employer. This is a nonimmigrant status. Only Canadian or Mexican passport holders are eligible for TN visas. Mexican citizens should apply for the TN visa at U.S. Embassy – Mexico City or at any U.S. Consulate in Mexico.

TD Visa

TD Visas may be issued to spouses and minor unmarried children (under the age of 21 years) who are accompanying or following to join TN professionals. TD applicants must establish a bona fide relationship to the TN professional.

Who Is Qualified for the TN Visa?

Professionals of Mexico may work in the U.S. under the following conditions:

• Applicant is a citizen of Mexico
• Profession is on the NAFTA list. Please visit:
  http://www.nafta-sec-alena.org/DefaultSite/index_e.aspx?DetailID=167#Ap1603.D.1
• Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional;
• Applicant is to work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job, for a U.S. employer. Self employment is not permitted;
• Applicant must possess the specific criteria, educational and/ or experiential, required for the profession.

Please note that all of the jobs are professional positions with certain qualifications. Most jobs require a bachelor’s degree from a certified undergraduate institution. Other jobs require a specified number of years of work experience. In each case, the applicant must prove to the adjudicating consular officer that he/she has the required educational and/or work experience for the TN visa.

How to Arrange an Interview for the TN Visa at U.S. Embassy - Mexico City

The Embassy of the United States in Mexico City processes visa applications each working day, Monday through Friday (please keep in mind the non-immigrant visa unit is closed on American and Mexican holidays). An appointment is required. Please make an appointment to visit the non-immigrant visa unit well ahead of your planned travel. Please call the telephone number indicated in "How to apply," with passport in hand, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Documents to Bring to the TN/TD Visa Interview

Once a TN Visa applicant has an interview appointment for the visa, the applicant must bring the following documents to the interview:

1. Job Letter

Signed original company petitioner’s job offer letter, written on company stationary (please note: emailed, faxed and desktop published letters are NOT accepted).

The petitioner’s job offer letter needs to be written in English and should be written by the company for whom the TN Visa applicant will work. The letter should also state clearly the following 6 key points:

a) The TN Visa applicant’s full name
b) Job title and description of duties
c) Salary in U.S. dollars and whether it will be paid in dollars or pesos
d) Length of contract
e) Degree and/or experience required for position
f) State whether English is required for the position

Below is the format of a sample petitioner’s job offer letter:

Date Addressed to: U.S. Embassy- Mexico City Non-Immigrant Visa Section Mexico City, Mexico Re: Petition for TN/ TD Nonimmigrant Visa Application Petitioner: Company Name and phone number of petitioner Beneficiary: Full name of applicant (i.e. two first names and two last names) DOB of applicant Phone number of applicant Position: (Position Title, which must be on the NAFTA list of professions) Dear Sir or Madam: Introduction paragraph I. Petitioner: Name of Petitioner      (Petitioner Profile is the general company background information) II. Position: Position Title      (Position description includes duties, definition of degree      and/ or experience required for the position) III. Beneficiary: Name of Applicant      (Beneficiary Profile describes applicant’s qualifications,      including education degrees and/ related work experience) IV. Terms of Employment:      (Describes salary to be paid, length of contract –in months or years–      and other terms of employment) Conclusion paragraph      (Summary of major points of the petition)

2. Valid Passport

Applicants should be able to present a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity and available empty pages. Applicants should check their passports prior to their appointment. If applicants have prior passports with U.S. visa stamps, applicants should bring them as well.

3. Visa Application

Applicants should also present a fully completed and signed visa application form DS-156 and, for males between the ages of 16 to 45, a DS-157 supplementary form. Please note that only DS-156 forms printed from the Internet are accepted. The Embassy will no longer accept handwritten applications.

4. Visa Interview Fee

Every applicant –including children– must bring the original Banamex receipt for the EQUIVALENT IN PESOS of $131 USD for an interview. This fee is non-refundable and should be attached to the applicant’s passport.

5. Evidence of Professional Licensure and/or Work Experience

Applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as NAFTA Professional for a TN visa, under U.S. law by:

Education Requirement: The applicant's employer must submit proof that the applicant meets the minimum education requirements or has the alternative credentials set forth in NAFTA agreement, Chapter 16 Appendix 1603.d.1. Evidence of professional qualifications may be in the form of degrees, certificates, diplomas, professional licenses, or membership in a professional organization. In Mexico, an original college degree and/or a professional credential (cédula professional) is required.

Degrees, diplomas, or certificates received from an educational institution outside the United States, Canada, or Mexico must be accompanied by an evaluation by a reliable credentials evaluation service specializing in evaluating foreign documentation.

Work Experience Requirement - Documents proving the applicant's experience should be in the form of letters from former employers. If the applicant was self-employed, business records should be submitted proving the period of self-employment.

6. Other Supporting Documents

Any other supporting documents, such as the company’s brochure, company profile, financial statement and/or tax returns, etc. will also be considered.

For the TD Visa Interview

TD applicants who accompany the TN applicant to the interview must present an original marriage certificate. Children under 7 do not need to be physically present for the TN/TD interview; parents should bring the following documents.

a) Original Marriage Certificate
b) Original Birth Certificates for Minors
c) Passport
d) DS-156 Form
e) Visa Interview Fee: Original Banamex receipt for the EQUIVALENT IN PESOS of $131 USD
f) Photograph
One 2x2 inch photograph is required of dependent applicants under the age of seven. A photograph of other applicants is NOT required.

In addition, TD applicants who are following to join TN professionals must bring:

a) Valid Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record of TN Professional
b) Copy of TN Professional’s Visa and Passport Information Page

For interviews at Consulates in Mexico, please visit the appropriate website below:

Ciudad Juarez 
Guadalajara 
Hermosillo 
Matamoros 
Merida 
Monterrey 
Nogales 
Nuevo Laredo 
Tijuana 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who must be interviewed?

Every individual over the age of 6 must be interviewed in person for a TN or TD visa.

2. Who must attend the interview for a minor?

Every Child under 17: Must present both parents’ passport and visas (if they hold one), the child’s original birth certificate, and the parents’ marriage certificate (if applicable). If the child is not traveling with a parent, a notarized letter from the child’s parent is required to determine that the child has permission to travel with another adult. If you are the legal guardian, you must present court documents indicating that you have permission to travel with the child.
Children ages 0 to 6: If your child is between 0 and 6 years of age on the day of your appointment, your child is not required to attend the interview, but is allowed to enter the Embassy. All children 0 to 6 must submit a 2x2 inch photograph with the application whether or not the child is attending the interview. At least one parent must attend the interview on behalf of the child, and both parents are welcome. If both parents are also applying for a visa and have appointments, both parents must be present.
Children ages 7 to 16: All children between 7 and 16 years of age are required to attend their Consular appointments. At least one parent must attend the interview on behalf of the child. If both parents are also applying for a visa and have appointments, both parents must be present.
Applicants ages 17 to 21: All applicants between 17 and 21 years of age are considered adults and are required to attend their Consular appointments. A parent may accompany an applicant, but is not required to do so.

3. Can a TD Visa holder work or go to school on the TD visa?

Family members are not permitted to work. However, children with a TD visa may attend public or private school. The TN applicant must prove that he/she can support his/her family financially during the stay in the U.S.

4. How Long Can a TN Applicant Stay?

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials make the determination to permit or deny admission to the United States and to determine length of stay.

The maximum period of admission into the U.S is one year. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants extensions of stay in periods of one year. There is no limit on the number of years a TN visa holder can stay in the United States. However, the TN visa status is not for permanent residence.

5. How can I extend my stay in the U.S.?

Mexican citizens admitted as a NAFTA Professional may seek an extension of stay, which may be granted up to one year.

If the applicant is in the U.S., the employer may file Form I-129 Petition for Non-immigrant Worker with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) Nebraska Service Center; or

The applicant may apply at a port-of-entry using the same application and documentation procedures above as required for the initial entry.

6. Can I get a TN visa that is valid for more than 12 months?

Yes, a TN visa may be issued with a validity of 36 months, if and only if the 36 month period is stipulated in the job petitioner letter. Note that the Department of Homeland Security may only allow you to enter for a stay of up to twelve months, at which time you may file an for an extension of stay with USCIS.

7. How can I renew my TN/TD visa?

TN/TD renewals need to submit the same documentation as first time TN applicants.

8. How can I find more information about the NAFTA Professional Job Series List?

For a complete list of professions with minimum education requirements and alternative credentials, see NAFTA's website.

9. I still have some more questions. Who can I contact to get more information about the TN/TD visa?

Please send an email to: MexicoCityTNVisas@state.gov