TN Newbie - CSA

mj2k23

mj2k23

New Member
Canadian citizen. in US on spousal E2 (dependent of E2) with EAD for past 7 years. I have picked up an IT job (CSA category - Systems Admin) on EAD since past 8 months. Would like to change the status to TN as planning to come out of business and E2.
Current employer has provided TN support letter with CSA job category.
Education is Post-high school diploma in electronics engineering from India, (12yrs school, 2.5 years diploma) with about 20 years of experience in IT (15 yrs in Canada) and may IT certifications (Microsoft, Cisco etc)
Education/Experience Eval done with a professor's letter, for the TN. (equivalent as Associate degree in technology)
Planning to apply for TN at San Ysidro POE - looking for inputs.
1. My education/experience - would it qualify for TN under CSA?
2. Does San Ysidro POE (Class A) process TN (1st timers) for Canadians?
Earliest reply would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
 
Are you saying your spouse is getting out of business? If not, then your EAD will still be valid to continue whatever work you want to do.

If your spouse is quitting the business (I presume they will become TD if you get TN), then I do not believe you qualify for CSA, since you have no bachelors degree and your diploma is not from N America. That is the requirement for diploma + experience.
Your various private certs do not qualify nor does you experience count without a N American diploma for TN.

You would qualify for an H1-B, because 4 yrs experience can replace 1 yr lack of degree, so you have the 16 years documented experience would be needed.

In the meantime, your spouse would need to keep their E status alive.
 
Thank you so much for your quick and insightful response. Greatly appreciated. I had the same doubts about the education.
As a follow up question: - while I still have the E-2, and EAD and the job, I am thinking of joining a community college here in Texas, for an associate degree in Information Technology - I may get half the credits based on my educations/certs/experience. . So if I complete such a degree in a year's time with all credits, would it qualify?

Also, any chance of getting my current education evaluated as a US Bachelor's degree equivalent (such as silvergate/park eval etc.)?

Thanks again
 
If it is a two-year diploma, that may work.

Even an evaluation of your past will not make it a bachelor's degree. Evals only work (and are required) when the foreign degree IS a bachelor;s degree).

As I said, since you current have the job, you and your firm may be better to put your collective efforts on getting an H1-B. where you would get credit for your past documented experience
 
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