TN Renewal / TN to H1-B?

Y

Yupper

Registered Users (C)
Hi, I'm in a Mexican citizen in a TN status which my employer is currently renewing (expires April 19, 2007, but they are doing premium processing).

1) They are filing premium processing for the renewal next week. Is that too late?
2) What is the best way to go to switch from a TN to an H1-B? I'm weary of the immigrant vs. non-immigrant intent b/c I've been in the US for a while.

Thanks! :)
 
The TN renewal can be sent the day before expiry, and this is fine. Once submitted in time, you get 240 days of grace for approval. Obviously filing now, with or without premium processing is PLENTY of time.

The ONLY way is for your firm to apply for you. They need to submit it April 1st this year, and it would be good October 1. If you miss the boat next week (which is pretty obvious you will), the earliest you will be able to apply is NEXT April, for approval October 01, 2008. You should ahve been priming your firm months ago on this.

You will be on TN for another while yet.
 
Thanks for your reply :) So, can you continue to work in those 240 days of grace period? How about traveling abroad? I'm just curious.
 
If you travel abroad after April 19, but before renewal, you will need to get your TN BEFORE coming back. Cdns can get renewals right at the border; while mexicans are no longer required to get TN extensions by mail, I'm unsure however if you would need to go to a consulate first, or merely go to the border. In either case, you would need full documentation just like you had when you got your initial TN.

At that point you would want to cancel the mailed-in TN application, to avoid it being denied later.

That is probably why your firm is filing Premium Processing. I would avoid travel until I got the renewal by mail, unless absolutely necessary to do so.
 
Thanks I was just curious. I'm not planning to travel until the renewal is complete.

Also, what do you get when you renew the TN? Right now I have a full page visa on my passport.

This is my first year in a TN status, sorry for the newbie question. :)
 
You will get an I-94. I'm unsure if mexicans need to keep a valid visa throughout their TN history. Usually a valid I-94 is sufficient.
 
One more question. How do you do international travel with a renewed TN visa? It is my understanding that you need to surrender your I-94 form as you are leaving the US.

If after a renewal, all you have is an I-94, and then you give it up, how does the immigration officer at the airport know that you have renewed your visa when you try to re-enter? I'm confused.
 
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