TN sanity check

[keyofdminor]

I am on a TN in US, as a computer system analyst.

If offered a speaking opportunity for a conference (not organized by my employer), within the US:

- I need a new TN, yes? (I'm almost certain, since it is income via another source)

- What if the only payment was travel re-imbursement / free attendance?

- Could the conference hire my employer, who assigns the gig to me? Is that acceptable?

thanks folks

 

[nelsona]

If you were not living in US, a conference attendee -- especially a participant -- would enter on B1 visa (Cdn would be undocumented, but it would still be B1).

An H1 for example is not allowed to be paid an honorarium by someone other than sponsor, so you are correct that you do need some sort of status for this gig, regardless of what the payment is for.

A TN would be possible, but I somehow doubt that the conference organizers will want to go thru that, and it would still mean leaving US to get it.

It would obviously be better for the employer to simply send you to the conference as their employee, and collect any honorarium from the conference for you.