POE - Buffalo NY Peace Bridge

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arun2681

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

Can anyone share their experiences with getting your second TN visa stamped in Peace Bridge Buffalo NY POE?

Thanks,
 
Two of my three TN's were done in person at the Peace Bridge POE and both times were good experiences. The first time my TN was adjucated by officer Sam Tirrano who was very friendly, knew what he was doing and approved my TN in about 20 minutes.

The second TN (I did back in July 06) wasn't a bad experience either. My offer letter was missing a brief statement and I needed a copy of my employers P.E. (Professional Engineer) certificate to prove that I was indeed working under direct supervision of a licensed engineer (as is the requirement under the Sci. Tech category). The officer, while not smiling cheerfuly happy, wasn't bad either and allowed me to temporarily withdraw my application, gave me the Fort Erie POE fax number, call my boss and get my employer to quickly rewrite the offer letter and fax it to the POE that same instance at which point my TN was instantly approved.

My third TN was done via mail so that don't really matter for this thread.

Also, I have re-entered the U.S via the Fort Erie POE on a bunch of occasions using my valid TN's and have NEVER had a problem. Overall Fort Erie Peace Bridge POE is a good POE in my experience. It shoul dbe known that my TN application packages were very straightforward (even for the Sci. Tech category) and my application & documents were prepared relatively well by myself. Just make sure yours is too.
 
I have also gone to the peace bridge twice for TN, once for original TN and the second time to renew. As long as you have all your paperwork the process was very painless. i handed a guy a folder with my paperwork, he called me to the back 15 minutes later, asked me a few questions and gave me my visa.

I am thinking of doing it by mail this time after hearing all the stories of people getting denied for little to no reason lately
 
Problem the 7th time

I just recently tried to renew my TN-1 at the peace bridge and was denied. I have been using the Sci Tech class for the last 7 years with no problem. The officer asked me for the PE certificate for the engineer I am supporting. The engineer I'm supporting has a BS in ENG but he is not a PE. I can't find anywhere that states it must be a PE I'm supporting. BS in ENG or PE. Anybody have any comments on this?? The officer granted me access to the US but told me I can no longer work even though my current TN is good until April next year. My plan is to head back with a copy of my engineer's Diploma and hope I get some other officer. Again please give me your thoughts.

Thanks.
 
i doubt hoping another officer will solve your problem, the new officer will also ask for the same. One thing in my opinion make sure you go back to the same POE otherwise theyll think you are shopping ports.

You can also try your previous port from where you got the previous TN but disclose that you already tried and were asked to bring the following documents which you are now.

When i went to buffalo poe to get my TN they carefully looked at my degrees that was the only thing they asked and checked.

Try to get what is asked, Nelson here can help you more then anyone else can i will seek his advice
 
Well thats the thing, the engineer I'm supporting is not a PE just a BS in enigineering. So if I get the same guy I'm screwed. I can only bring a copy of his BS and go to the closest poe in port huron and hope for the best. Just bought a house in Nov. figures now is the time they decide to reject me.
 
I've never heard of the PE requirement either, and obviously you didn't need that in the past.

Of course, you realize that one of the things that messed you up was asking for a TN renewal when you still had over 3 months to go on your current one. This no doubt raised a red flag.

The requirement for the person you are working in support of is that the y be a 'professional' in Engineering. The requirement for getting a TN as a 'professional' Engineer is degree of license. So I do not know why the person you are working would not be considered a 'professional', since if he were applying for TN, he would get it based onhis BS.
 
Registration as a PE is very different from a university degree in engineering. The practice of engineering is covered in state statutes.

A degree in engineering is requried for PE certification but is not sufficient for registration.

A PE certification is required for the practice of engineering in certain instances. In my state, an "engineering" company must have licensure as a corporate entity and there must be a supervising Registered Professional Engineer.

I suspect that the specific corporation type and employer-employee relationship is the issue.

The question needs to be directed to an attorney with very specific knowledge of engineering issues.
 
One must be very careful about holding themself out as a consulting engineer or practicing as an engineer without registration. An engineering firm has specific statues to which they must conform which are state dependent; one requirement is likely that all individuals in the firm working as engineers be suopervised by a PE if the worker is not licensed as a PE. PE registration is state dependent; a person must be licensed in each state in which they practice.

It may also be the case that the earlier admission was in error. Since the forum is not privy to all the information about the individual or the sponsor, it is hasty to assume that the IO was in error. Thus, a consultation with an attorney is good advice.
 
a consultation with an attorney is good advice.
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Of course.

However, since the engineer in question is not the foreigner, and CBP has no jurisdiction over state engineering requirements, the hangover explanation is much more plausible.

And it was several previous admissions.
 
But he should not admit someone who is not entitled to work or whose petition is from a company not licensed to practice.

There could have been directives posted since the last entry or there could have been actions against the company - such as an order to cease the practice of engineering in that state.

The OP himself does not have enough information.

Engineering professional registration is a topic that is not often seen by non-engineers and is state specific. It is best to defer to an attorney with experience in this area for the best advice as there are issues with even inadvertant violations of the laws governing this.
 
as am I - now retired

Unfortunately, many people - especially people with foreign engineering degrees - do not understand the limitations placed on practitioners in the US. It would be unfortunate for someone to be disciplined for practicing improperly due to lack of knowledge of the requirements. In following the disciplinary actions in my state, it is not unusual to find companies sanctioned for improper practice; if the corporate management is so lax as to not maintain their corporate registration, I would not expect them to properly advise their employees of the requirement. US schools could also better inform their students although now some are requiring the students to sit for the Fundamentals exam as a requirement for graduation; I personally think that is a good idea. I am surprised though at the number of US faculty that are not PEs.

Having worked in an area where PE registration was required for the product certification, I am hyper-sensitive.
 
I have never been a PE neither in US nor Canada but have always worked as an engineer.

I'm starting to get your CBP officers hangover....
 
The timeout threw away my message in progress. I am not going to take the time to retype everything but suggest that you look at the Wikipedia article on Professional_Engineer. As of 1/2/2010, it is an accurate summary of the issue.

While you have practiced as an engineer without rgistration, you likely worked in a company where a senior member of your team had ultimate control over your work and also professional registration. That is sufficient at this time to make your work legal.

Never hold yourself out as a consulting engineer without registration. It is one area where professional registration is required.
 
You're correct: You are indeed over-sensitive to this area of state regulation. So was the CBP officer outside his juriscdiction.

Curious that you would on the one hand suggest legal consulation, and on the other wikipedia?
 
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Yesterday I went to peace bridge to get new TN for new job. I am Civil Engineer ( my undergraduate degree from India). TN offer letter issued by Project Manager who has RA,PMP. Officer did not ask me about my P.E. or Supervisor P.E. designation. But he issued new TN only up to May-2010 because my passport will be expired in May-2010. He told me that ur passport is going to expire in May so we can not issue TN longer than that period.Even he issue new I-94 for my current TN up to May-2010. He assured me that he put note in their data and I have to come back again with same letter, does not require new letter and any officer will issue new TN I-94 for three years.

Thanks Nelsona again for his help
 
nelsona said:
You're correct: You are indeed over-sensitive to this area of state regulation. So was the CBP officer outside his juriscdiction.

Curious that you would on the one hand suggest legal consulation, and on the other wikipedia?
Click to expand...

Since you appeared to be unfamiliar with the requirements of professional registration, the Wiki article is an easier read than the PE registration website for an overview of the requirements. If you want complete information about registration, go to their website. It is a non-trivial process for comity (even for someone who has been a PE for over 30 years) or for new PhDs with industrial expperience.

Anyone involved in the practice of engineering needs to be familiar with their obligations under state laws. Ignorance of the law is no excuse for violating it. Certain disciplines are at greater risk of personal and professional liability in the result of the failure of a design - ME, CE, ChE, ArchE come to mind. EE is less so unless in power area.

It would be interesting to know how the states' PE boards interact with immigration in the reporting of sanctioned or terminated engineering companies and the effect of visa holding engineers. If you hald a work visa for an engineering position in a company not licensed to perform engineering .... See the problem? I don't often see my friend who has been involved in professional development for many years; the next time I see him, I'll try to remember to ask if he knows.

Actually, I think it would be reasonable to require anyone hired into an "engineering" position be required to have at least passed the FOE exam and anyone in a supervisory position over engineers and technicians to be a PE.
 
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