First time TN-Visa Applicant from Canada here.
I have a background in architecture, a 4-year bachelors degree from Canada and a 3-year Master's Degree from the US, and 4 years of experience working in an architecture office in Canada. I received a job offer for an architecture firm in Philadelphia, and tried to apply for TN status at the Alexandria Bay POE on March 5. I had a TN application letter from my employer with job title, position duties, salary and end date. I also brought the originals of my two degrees.
The officer said they POE took issue with the fact that the job title in the employer letter was "Architectural Staff", even though the letter also specified I was applying under the Architect category and had the proper prior experience and education. He said they could not establish what the roles and duties of someone with that title would be, as it wasnt in the NAFTA list of approved professions. I explained that I would be working as an architect, and that the title was only used by the company to refer to people in architecture (they also have sustainability material research departments) and would not verbally confirm that if I simply asked the company to change the title to "architect", I would be good to go, although his tone and manner implied it.
I am concerned as I was not at all expecting to be denied, and wonder if it is just as easy to make that title change or if I should bring additional documentation or have the letter re-written more thoroughly? I had always thought that the job title did not matter as long as the job description matched the appropriate NAFTA profession.
Attached a copy of the document (the one I brought to the border was a signed original, of course)
Thanks for any advice or insight
I have a background in architecture, a 4-year bachelors degree from Canada and a 3-year Master's Degree from the US, and 4 years of experience working in an architecture office in Canada. I received a job offer for an architecture firm in Philadelphia, and tried to apply for TN status at the Alexandria Bay POE on March 5. I had a TN application letter from my employer with job title, position duties, salary and end date. I also brought the originals of my two degrees.
The officer said they POE took issue with the fact that the job title in the employer letter was "Architectural Staff", even though the letter also specified I was applying under the Architect category and had the proper prior experience and education. He said they could not establish what the roles and duties of someone with that title would be, as it wasnt in the NAFTA list of approved professions. I explained that I would be working as an architect, and that the title was only used by the company to refer to people in architecture (they also have sustainability material research departments) and would not verbally confirm that if I simply asked the company to change the title to "architect", I would be good to go, although his tone and manner implied it.
I am concerned as I was not at all expecting to be denied, and wonder if it is just as easy to make that title change or if I should bring additional documentation or have the letter re-written more thoroughly? I had always thought that the job title did not matter as long as the job description matched the appropriate NAFTA profession.
Attached a copy of the document (the one I brought to the border was a signed original, of course)
Thanks for any advice or insight