sadtnvisanewbie
New Member
Hello everyone. First of all I really wish I had found this forum before my recent TN encounter; I could have learned and prepared so much better with all the advice and experience sharing here. Thank you to everyone that have contributed your wisdom and kind words in ways possible!
I read many posts here but have yet to come across one with a similar story / background as mine. So any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Here is background to my story:
1) Am Canadian citizen with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and applying under the TN category of Mathematician
2) My new offered job title is Senior Investment Consultant, with a well-known investment consulting company that provides sophisticated investment solutions to institutional companies
3) My lawyer is Fragomen
4) My first attempt at presenting my petition was on a Sunday at Peace Bridge. I was turned away due to the officer (who is not a free trade officer) claims that my job title does not sync up with a typical Mathematician and she suggests I make an appointment and come back I have to blame this one on the lawyer as they did not even know that Peace Bridge uses an appointment system now.
5) After conversation with my lawyer, she gave me a slightly revised letter that elaborates on the job duties, by adding more verbiage around the mathematical and analytical aspects of my role. I then went to Detroit PoE for second attempt.
6) At Detroit PoE the free trade officer again questioned the job description and asked for an Org Chart (showing who I report to, if anyone reports to me etc) and the original job posting showing the job description. And turned me away once again!
7) I went back to the city and asked HR/lawyer to prepare these documents and tried again with the same officer the next day. She liked the org chart; but not the job posting claiming that the description look like they were pulled off the ONet site or something. At that point I didn't know what to say because I didn't alter the job posting, but the lawyer did edit it so that the verbiage matches with the border's handbook more closely so not to confuse them with very technical lingo. But this backfired and the CBP said they cannot approve it. They also think my role is more like a Financial Analyst's rather than a Mathematician. I was denied at that point.
Now I'm just super stressed and losing sleep because I'm concerned about the lawyer's capabilities and the quality of their legal advice. I know I can't just go to another port and try my luck again, so the next attempt will be to apply through USCIS.
I'm looking for advice or share of experience on petitioning under the Mathematician category while employed in a consultant's role that involves computations, analysis and modelling of data. Specifically:
- should the letter to USCIS have a more detailed description of my role?
- would I get scrutinized if in the letter to USCIS, I change my title to "Consultant" or "Quant Investment Consultant", vs currently "Investment Consultant"?
- what is the typical success rate for USCIS approval, given a prior denial at the border was given?
- what can the USCIS see in their system when reviewing my application? Can they read the notes from the CBP officer?
- how high is the risk of the PoE denying a pre-approval from USCIS? I read that crossing at Peace Bridge is more recommended than Pearson.
Thank you for reading and helping me out!!! I really appreciate it.
I read many posts here but have yet to come across one with a similar story / background as mine. So any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated!
Here is background to my story:
1) Am Canadian citizen with a Bachelor degree in Mathematics and applying under the TN category of Mathematician
2) My new offered job title is Senior Investment Consultant, with a well-known investment consulting company that provides sophisticated investment solutions to institutional companies
3) My lawyer is Fragomen
4) My first attempt at presenting my petition was on a Sunday at Peace Bridge. I was turned away due to the officer (who is not a free trade officer) claims that my job title does not sync up with a typical Mathematician and she suggests I make an appointment and come back I have to blame this one on the lawyer as they did not even know that Peace Bridge uses an appointment system now.
5) After conversation with my lawyer, she gave me a slightly revised letter that elaborates on the job duties, by adding more verbiage around the mathematical and analytical aspects of my role. I then went to Detroit PoE for second attempt.
6) At Detroit PoE the free trade officer again questioned the job description and asked for an Org Chart (showing who I report to, if anyone reports to me etc) and the original job posting showing the job description. And turned me away once again!
7) I went back to the city and asked HR/lawyer to prepare these documents and tried again with the same officer the next day. She liked the org chart; but not the job posting claiming that the description look like they were pulled off the ONet site or something. At that point I didn't know what to say because I didn't alter the job posting, but the lawyer did edit it so that the verbiage matches with the border's handbook more closely so not to confuse them with very technical lingo. But this backfired and the CBP said they cannot approve it. They also think my role is more like a Financial Analyst's rather than a Mathematician. I was denied at that point.
Now I'm just super stressed and losing sleep because I'm concerned about the lawyer's capabilities and the quality of their legal advice. I know I can't just go to another port and try my luck again, so the next attempt will be to apply through USCIS.
I'm looking for advice or share of experience on petitioning under the Mathematician category while employed in a consultant's role that involves computations, analysis and modelling of data. Specifically:
- should the letter to USCIS have a more detailed description of my role?
- would I get scrutinized if in the letter to USCIS, I change my title to "Consultant" or "Quant Investment Consultant", vs currently "Investment Consultant"?
- what is the typical success rate for USCIS approval, given a prior denial at the border was given?
- what can the USCIS see in their system when reviewing my application? Can they read the notes from the CBP officer?
- how high is the risk of the PoE denying a pre-approval from USCIS? I read that crossing at Peace Bridge is more recommended than Pearson.
Thank you for reading and helping me out!!! I really appreciate it.
