Before drafting the employer letter, identify the claims the file must establish: citizenship, an identified professional position and the qualification required for the listed profession. Give each claim a record and a person who can verify it. This produces a useful review file without making the description more favourable than the actual job.
Begin with a duty that needs clarification
Hypothetical example: a Calgary applicant’s offer describes both technical analysis and operational coordination. Ask the hiring manager for an ordinary workweek and the deliverables expected. Preserve both types of activity in the working account. The reviewer needs to assess the actual position against the profession rather than choose a title first and remove inconvenient duties afterward. The threshold review is Canadian or Mexican citizenship, temporary professional activity and the particular listed profession’s qualifications. Canadian permanent residence alone does not qualify. Experience substitutes for a degree only where that profession permits it; a degree from an institution outside Canada, Mexico or the United States requires evaluation by a reliable service specializing in foreign credentials.
Separate employer facts from credential facts
The employer confirms the role, remuneration and intended period; the applicant supplies the actual qualifications and identity evidence. Keep original credential names and identify any required translation or evaluation. An employer’s confidence in the applicant is not proof of a degree or licence. Ask which listed qualification applies before collecting unrelated records or purchasing additional services.
Resolve differences before signature
Compare the offer, any client agreement and the proposed support letter. Identify the current version and ask the responsible issuer to explain material changes. Disclose any ownership interests and the actual employer relationship. The finished account should describe the job the applicant will perform, with uncertainties resolved through evidence or left for legal assessment rather than hidden by consistent-sounding wording. Check ownership of the actual U.S. service recipient: providing services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant is prohibited TN self-employment, while a foreign business interest alone is not a bar. Canadian citizens generally seek admission without a TN visa; Mexican citizens generally need one before admission.
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.