TN visa is designed to allow certain professionals from Canada and Mexico – NAFTA professionals, to work in the United States.
This article will explain how Computer Systems Analysts from Canada and Mexico can apply for a TN nonimmigrant visa.
The complete list of NAFTA professions you can find here.
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) created by the Department of Labors, computer systems analysts collect information, analyze the organization’s computer systems and procedures, and create an improved, efficient system solution that will replace the current one. Computer systems analysts are expected to be I.T. experts, capable of data analysis and utilization. They can monitor or mentor the work of computer programmers too.
What are the Duties of the Computer System Analyst?
Generally accepted job duties are:
- Collect data and information from managers to build the most efficient system which will respond to the needs of the organization
- Research and implement innovative technologies
- Prepare financial analysis and budgeting
- Design new systems based on data analysis
- Improve the functionality of the computer system
- Perform testing of the new computer system before making it available for employer and users
- Create and share instruction manuals with users of the new system
What are the TN Visa Educational Requirements?
The computer systems analyst has to obtain one of the following:
- Bachelors or Licenciatura degree.
A bachelor’s degree is common in computer, information science, or other related fields. - Post-Secondary Diploma and three years of related experience.
Post-Secondary Diploma is a credential issued to a TN nonimmigrant who completed two or more years of post-secondary education by an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada or the US - Post-Secondary Certificate and three years of related experience.
Post-Secondary Certificate is a certificate issued to a TN nonimmigrant who completed two or more years of post-secondary education by an accredited post-secondary institution by the federal or state government in Mexico. The federal or state government can also recognize the academic institution, or their law can establish it.
Additional requirements for TN visa eligibility refer to:
- Proof of Mexican or Canadian citizenship;
- A proof of the job offer written as the employer’s letter of support, with all job details;
- A proof that a nonimmigrant does not have intentions to stay in the U.S. permanently.
Where to Seek Admission as TN Nonimmigrants?
The application with all required documentation can be filed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. Port of Entry for the Canadian citizens since they are not required to obtain a visa first. It is also possible to apply at pre-flight clearance or an airport after arriving in the United States.
On the other hand, Mexican citizens should apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico. After the TN visa is approved, they can seek admission at the U.S. Port of Entry.
Both Canadian and Mexican citizens can file the online I-129 petition with USCIS.
What are the Possible Issues?
It is a common mistake to confuse a computer analyst with a computer programmer or a programmer analyst. The possible complication arises from the fact that the U.S. Department of Labor states that programmer analyst job titles can be used for both of the previously mentioned jobs.
Additionally, a part of the computer system analyst job can include some computer programming assignments.
However, only the computer systems analyst is listed on the TN Visa Occupation List, so the consequences of the confusion can be a TN visa denial.
It is helpful to know that it is possible to reassess the job description and change the job title from a programmer analyst to a computer system analyst. The requirement that needs to be fulfilled is that the job descriptions are matching. Also, the employer can leave out the job title when he/she is filing the letter of support.
Special derivative visa status is granted for the spouse or the minor children, which allows them to follow the computer systems analyst. However, they will not be able to get employment in the United States during that period.
A TN visa is designed to allow certain professionals from Canada and Mexico – NAFTA professionals, to work in the United States.
This article will explain how Management Consultants from Canada and Mexico can apply for a TN nonimmigrant visa.
The complete list of NAFTA professions you can find here.
A TN visa provides temporary stay and employment opportunities for Canadian and Mexican citizens of various professions, including management consultant professionals. This category is one of the few occupations that do not require a degree, which led to its popularity and, at the same time, numerous misuses. Consequently, USCIS stated that the management consultant TN visa category is the hardest to obtain under The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
What are the Job Duties of a Management Consultant?
The TN visa policies do not regulate allowed job duties. Therefore the guideline directions can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Management consultants work as outside consultants on improving private and public entities ‘ managerial, operating, and economic outputs, focusing on particular problems and resolving them through analysis. The petitioner has to present how the services will improve administration, objective, and operations overall.
Management consultants can be independent consultants or employed in a consulting company hired by a U.S. entity. He or she can not apply for a new permanent position; neither can he or she be hired as a replacement, except if the role in question is a supernumerary temporary position. It is common that their services fall under short-term projects and have a temporary character rather than full-time.
In some cases, if the job description covers implementation together instead of just advice services, the petition will be denied, which depends on the officer`s will in a particular case.
To be qualified to obtain a TN visa as a management consultant, the nonimmigrant has to earn one of the following educational requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree; or
- Licenciatura Degree.
Although most of the TN occupations requires a bachelor degree, management consultant is one of the rare professions where a petitioner can possess equivalent professional experience instead:
- Five years of experience as a management consultant; or
- Five years of experience in a specialty field close to the consulting agreement.
Non-degree petitioners have to prove equivalent professional experience through a previous employer statement or a professional credential evaluation. A resume can be helpful to indicate job-related skills and knowledge.
The supporting required documents include a valid identification document, copied educational or experience evidence, copied and signed agreement, and a cover letter with a detailed consulting job description.
How to Seek Admission as a TN Nonimmigrant?
Canadian citizens can apply with all required documentation to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. Port of Entry since they are not required to obtain a visa first. It is also possible to apply at a pre-flight inspection or an airport after arriving in the United States.
On the other hand, Mexican citizens should apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico. After the TN visa is approved, they can seek admission at the U.S. Port of Entry.
Both Canadian and Mexican citizens can file the online I-129 petition with USCIS.
Management consultant TN visa is usually granted only for one year, which can be avoided by solid argumentation why the job duties will take more time to perform.
Due to the high rate of the denied petitions, it is recommended to pay special attention and prepare all the required documentation to address the application’s specifics and details.
ATN visa is designed to allow certain professionals from Canada and Mexico – NAFTA professionals who can seek employment in the United States under The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
This article will explain how Nutritionists from Canada and Mexico can apply for a TN nonimmigrant visa.
The complete list of NAFTA professions you can find here.
Regulations concerning this profession do not fall under the TN visa regulations but can be in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor. According to OOH, nutritionists are food, and nutrition experts focused on achieving the client’s health goals and living a healthy lifestyle. They accomplish this by creating healthy meal programs. The general job duties of a nutritionist are:
- Get familiar with a person’s health condition and needs,
- Inform clients about nutrition and healthy food choices,
- Create nutrition and meal plans, adjust and modify them as needed, and under the financial possibilities of a client,
- Counseling about food impacts on health, promoting benefits of healthy diet and nutrition, pointing out the connection between healthy lifestyles and preventing or managing diseases
- Produce materials to educate about good eating habits
- Conduct science researches in the field of food and nutrition and be up to date with innovation in this area
- Monitor and record clients progress
It is necessary to have one of the following educational requirements to be eligible to obtain a TN visa as a Nutritionist:
- Bachelor’s degree or
- Licenciatura degree.
Guidance for the degree requirement is also in the OOH. The degree typically has to be in dietetics, foods, and nutrition or a closely related field.
Some states additionally require an advanced degree, license, which can be obtained by attending and completing a supervised internship and passing an exam.
Petitioner has to be able to submit proof that educational requirements are fulfilled.
There are two types of nutritionist specialties:
- Clinical nutritionists – They work in hospitals and other medical institutions on creating nutrition therapies for disease patients and residents.
- Community nutritionists – They work with people in communities or schools by counseling and creating nutrition programs through different agencies and public health clinics.
Additional requirements that TN nonimmigrants have to submit are:
- Proof of Mexican or Canadian citizenship (passport);
- A proof of the job offer written as the letter of support by the employer, with all job details;
- A proof that a nonimmigrant does not intend to stay in the U.S. after the TN visa expires.
How to seek admission as a TN nonimmigrant?
Canadian citizens should apply with all required documentation to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the U.S. Port of Entry since they are not required to obtain a visa first. It is also possible to apply at a pre-flight inspection or an airport after arriving in the United States. The decision is made immediately.
On the other hand, Mexican citizens should apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate in Mexico. After the TN visa is approved, they can seek admission at the U.S. Port of Entry.
Both Canadian and Mexican citizens can file the online I-129 petition with USCIS.