Read the general professional work overview
A Foothills County applicant can use the period before resignation to identify missing TN evidence and clarify the proposed position. The purpose is to understand the actual route and its dependencies, not to obtain certainty from a calendar. A signed offer and a planned final Canadian workday do not authorize U.S. employment.
Read one recurring task against the profession
Choose a real responsibility from the proposed role and explain the work product, knowledge and qualifications it requires. Compare the position with the actual listed profession and credential rules. If the employer’s description is unclear, resolve the facts before preparing a letter that merely sounds suitable. 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.
Collect evidence while access is available
Gather citizenship, qualifications and relevant employment or arrangement records. Hypothetical example: an applicant expects to lose access to an old credential portal after changing jobs. Identify legitimate ways to obtain the record now. Preserve authentic documents and explain gaps rather than filling them with unsupported claims.
Mark four distinct events
List offer acceptance, Canadian employment ending, the applicable U.S. immigration step and the proposed start of work. Ask what can change if one event moves. Describe onboarding and travel activities separately for review; calling them preliminary does not establish that they are permitted under the applicant’s status. 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.