Floater Pharmacist on TN Visa

[patelaa11]

I was offered a position as a floater pharmacist (meaning that I would work randomly at many different locations in one state of the same chain pharmacy). The company's lawyer who is to write me a job letter has told me that it is not possible for me to get a TN visa as a floater pharmacist. I wanted to see if this was true since everyone who hired me into this company believes this to be false.

Thanks,
patelaa11

 

[gunt]

I assume that your paychecks will all come from one location; that is one legal entity with one address. This is important as it will be this legal entity that will sponsor your TN, although you will be spending time in different locations of their business enterprise. Also the TN letter the company is going to write for you shouldn't mention anything about "floater" or that you will be working at multiple locations. The letter should just say that company "CVS, for example" hires you as a pharmacist to work for them for a period less than 3 years. The company is located at XYZ Elm St, Littletown, GA, USA. Do not mention the other locations or the word floater. There is no need for that language, it will just confuse the CBP official. Try to make the TN letter as straightforward and simple as possible. As long as you are not being paid by different companies, then you would not be violating the TN status.

 

[nelsona]

As gunt mentions, IF your employer (and thus your TN sponsor) remains the one entity, then you should have no problem gettin gthe TN, whether or not you mention that you will be working in various locales (I would mention it -- it will not confuse CBP, and is more accuarate than implying you work at head office).

However, if you will be paid by each outlet (which is what I suspect), you would need separate TNs for each outlet.

Much will depend on the structure of the company. Walgreens and CVS for example, only has outlets that are 100% company-owned. You would always be working for Walgreens. RiteAid and OSCO, for example, operate under different models, both of which include franchises.

Working for franchises would be problematic.