Depending on how you apply for a TN visa, there may be no government forms required if you are a Canadian citizen! If you are a Mexican citizen, there will always be forms required regardless of how you apply.
What forms are needed for your TN visa application?
Canadian Nationals
Let’s start with discussing the process and forms for a TN visa for a Canadian citizen. There are 4 different ways a Canadian citizen can apply for a TN visa, as follows:
- Land border
- Preflight clearance at an airport in Canada
- Customs in the U.S. at an airport
- Through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
If a Canadian citizen is applying for the TN visa status at a land border, preflight clearance in Canada or airport in the U.S. (see Find Out Where a Canadian Citizen Can Apply for a TN Visa for more info on this), no government forms are required for the application if you do not have legal representation.
If you do have legal representation, the application package will contain Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative. The Form G-28 conveys that an attorney prepared the application and represents the employer and/or the Canadian citizen applicant.
There are no other government forms required when applying via this method, but the application will need to contain other material pertaining to the request, such as the following:
- Detailed employer letter of support
- Copy of passport
- Copy of degree(s) and transcript(s)
- Resume
- Relevant certifications and/or work experience letters, if necessary
- Material pertaining to the employer connected to the TN application, such as corporate documents, financial documents, lease, website printouts, and/or any other items that might be helpful in establishing the operations of the business and need for the Canadian national’s employment
- Other material that may be relevant to the Canadian national, the job being offered and/or the employer
If a Canadian citizen is applying for a TN through the USCIS, then there will be government forms required, in addition to the Form G-28, if prepared by an attorney. The following forms are required for a mail application to the USCIS:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
- Form I-129, Free Trade, Supplement to Form I-129
- Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (if represented by an Attorney)
- Form I-907, Request for Premium Process Service (if premium processing is requested)
- *Unlike an H-1B visa or E-3 visa application, a Labor Condition Application is NOT a part of a TN visa application
The application will additionally require those other materials mentioned earlier like an employer letter of support, material pertaining to the employer connected to the TN application, and material that may be relevant to the Canadian national and their requirements/eligibility for the job being offered.
Mexican Nationals
If a Mexican citizen applies for a TN, they will always require forms in connection with their TN application. The reason for this is because a Mexican citizen, unlike a Canadian citizen, cannot apply for a TN directly at a port of entry (land border, preflight clearance or U.S. airport). They can only apply for a TN at a U.S. consulate or through the USCIS.
If applying through a U.S. Consulate, a Mexican citizen’s application will be very similar to a Canadian citizen’s port of entry application with minimal government forms. The forms that will be required include the following:
- Form DS-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
- This is completed online. You will receive a confirmation page with a barcode that you must printout and bring with you to your interview at the U.S. consulate.
- Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (if represented by an Attorney)
The application will additionally require those other materials mentioned earlier like an employer letter of support, material pertaining to the employer connected to the TN application, and material that may be relevant to the Mexican national and their requirements/eligibility for the job being offered.
If applying through the USCIS, the same forms mentioned above for Canadian citizens are required for Mexican citizens. They include:
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
- Form I-129, Free Trade, Supplement to Form I-129
- Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative (if represented by an Attorney)
- Form I-907, Request for Premium Process Service (if premium processing is requested)
Once again, the application will additionally require those other materials like an employer letter of support, material pertaining to the employer connected to the TN application, and material that may be relevant to the Mexican national and their requirements/eligibility for the job being offered.
