Software Engineer TN with math degree

D

darkhistory

New Member
Hi,

I am a Canadian fresh grad currently on a J1 internship. I got an offer for a software engineer position (starting before my J1 ends). I have several concerns.
1. If I end my J1 early and re-enter with a TN, will it cause any trouble?
2. My degree is in Math, will it be a problem being qualify for an engineer position?
Thanks
 
1. have you taken care of your j-1 waiver? Whether your reach the end of j-1 term or not, you need the waiver to enter on another work status. But if that is taken care of, as long as you have your degree in hand, you are eligible to get a TN.
2. that will be a much bigger problem. You might need to sit down with your sponsor and make sure that your TN letter makes very clear that your are being hired for your math skills, not your non-documented engineering skills. Or you transcript had better show engineering course all over it. Your degree must match the job and the TN category you are applying for, or it had better be heavily loaded with courses from that discipline.
 
nelsona said:
1. have you taken care of your j-1 waiver? Whether your reach the end of j-1 term or not, you need the waiver to enter on another work status. But if that is taken care of, as long as you have your degree in hand, you are eligible to get a TN.
2. that will be a much bigger problem. You might need to sit down with your sponsor and make sure that your TN letter makes very clear that your are being hired for your math skills, not your non-documented engineering skills. Or you transcript had better show engineering course all over it. Your degree must match the job and the TN category you are applying for, or it had better be heavily loaded with courses from that discipline.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply!

1. Regarding to J1 waiver, I believe Canadian are exempt from the 2 year rule, so I will not have to do any waiver. My concern is basically, in the J1 application, I have to agree that I will not seek change in visa status during this period of time. and I think this term might cause problem?

2. Will hiring me for my math skills work for an engineering position? I have a computer science minor but not specific engineering courses. I will have to talk to my sponsor about this.
 
1. I believe that the rule against changing statuses applies only to those not able to be waived. Since you are autoamitacally waived, that doesn't apply to you. There is a J-1 board on this site, ask that specific question there.
2. Probably not. You are not an engineer, nor a biologist or any of the other 30 or so categories for TN. you are a mathematician, eligible for a math TN. I will say not to get too hung up on the internal title of the job, but rather the tasks you will perform.

But, as an engineer myself, I'm not so keen on just anyone being able to fill an engineering position. But that is my bias. the TN regs though are as I said earlier: closely connected degree/job/TN category.
...and no need to quote my posts, it just clutters the page.
 
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