Required TN documents?

G

GMJim

Registered Users (C)
Hello everyone
I have been watching this forum for a while but haven't posted any questions because I was counting on my attorney to keep all of her promises. My situation is fairly straight forward but I think I'm a low priority for her. Anyway I'm down to the crunch, running out of time and need some help with information. I have decided to take the situation into my own hands and need to know what documents I need to get a TN Visa. I have a job offer for a management consultant position in Carlsbad California and plan to apply for the visa at Pearson airport in Toronto. My attorney told me that just showing up at the airport even with the correct docs is risky and I may not be granted a TN. She told me that she needs to contact the port of entry and speak to an officer (her words) and have me go to this officer on a planned date where they will process my application. From what I've read on this site and others, showing up at the poe with all my documents and plane tickets in hand is the way to do this. I don't want to spoil my chances or ruin any possible future applications by doing this my self but I'm running out of time. Can anyone help me? Is my attorney right or should I get my stuff together and just do it? I will also need to know what documents I need to satisfy the poe immigration authority.
Thanks in advance.
Jim
 
There certainly is no requirement to pre-arrange anything at the POE. In fact I don't know of any Cdn POE that currently has a mechanism for handling 'appointments'. You show up to board your flight with your documents. When she has this 'all-important discussion' with the officer, he will inform her of this... when he has stopped laughing.

Now, *some* Mexican POEs need you to make an appointment (just an appointment) and this may be what is confusing her.

But it sounds much more like foot-dragging and account-padding and general lack of knowledge to me.
 
Thanks for the reply. I would like to go forward with my plan to show up at Pearson airport but I don't know what documents to bring with me. I must confess I have been following instructions from my attorney and have not been asking enough questions but that ends now. Could I impose on you to list the documents I would need when I arrive at the poe. Also, is Pearson the best place to go or should I go somewhere else? I live in the Toronto area.
Thanks
Jim
 
Tn Visa

I arrived by car for my TN visa in Blaine Washington.

I had to show a copy of the Degree from the engineer that I was working with as well as my own copy of my degree and I had to have a letter from the company stating the terms of my employment....I was turned away at one crossing in Suma Washington because I did not have the copy of the degree from my employer but the next day I was given my visa at another crossing.

This was back in 1997 so things may be easier now.
 
Here is what I suggest you have:

Letter from employer, there are examples out there but not sure exactly where.
An up to date resume.
Your university degree (original if possible).
University transcripts.
Job description, if it is not covered in the letter from the employer.
A valid passport.

I would have everything in duplicate, that way you can put together a nice neat package of all your documents to leave with immigration officer (saves them the time to go make the copies). They sometimes want to see the original documents so it is always best to be prepared.
 
Resume is not required, nor is transcript if your degree-job link is obvious. If you need to show experience (because of lack of degree) you will need actual letters covering the work period, resume will not suffice.

The passport is not required at land crossings.
 
Thanks for the responses
Though I have trade licenses in my field, my experience is all hands on over many years. There are NO schools that teach what I do. I am a fabricator and builder of automotive parts. I am basically an inventor of sorts. My job offer is to consult management staff as it relates to research and development of classic car parts and technical support to design staff. All I will have as proof of experience is my licenses and letters from companies I have done work for. I have been self employed for years. Do you think they will accept letters indicating my talent?
Thanks
 
TN documentation does not document 'talent'. It is presumed that if a firm is willing to hire you, you are sufficiently talented.

So, since you are a management consultant, the letter provided by the firm hireing you is the key, as it must indiciate that you are a consultant, filling a role that is not a regular postition in the company (superannuary).

You need to then provide letters documenting FIVE years of industry experience. Licenses won't do, but letters covering five years will. Being self employed is fine, but you need to show that you have worked 5 years

I will warn you that MC is the most difficult TN category to get, since it is usually sought by those with no 'professional' credentials, which really rubs most POE officers the wrong way.
 
Management Consultants are usually independent contractors or employees of consulting firms under contracts to U.S. entities. A Management Consultant should generally not be a regular, full-time employee, of the entity requiring the service.

Individuals may qualify for this position by holding a baccalaureate degree, by having five years of experience in the field of management consulting, or by having five years of experience in a field of specialty related to the consultant agreement.

Read more here, about higly scutinzed TN occupations.

Additional documentation that you want to have is work experience letters or contracts showing your experience for the past 5 years.

Here's an article on how to write a great TN Application letter.
You can obtain a Management Consultant Sample letter from the TN Visa Expert Kit.

Hope this helps.
 
Talent may not have been the right choice of words but I think you know what I mean. This is all very new and frustrating for me. As I said earlier, I put my trust in my attorney and she is not following through with time frame promises. Enough about my attorney. I'm sure there are some good ones out there. Are the TN kits out there like the one mentioned by tnvisaexpert worth the money or is all this just common sense? If I apply at a drive across poe it's going to be much cheaper because I won't be holding non refundable airline tickets but If I'm not successful will this lead to bigger problems? I'm afraid I might mess this up and If I do It will cost twice as much to fix It, If It can be fixed at all.
 
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