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TN Work visas for NURSES
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TN Work Visas for Canadian Nurses
Canadian citizens seeking to work in the U.S. as a Registered Nurse are eligible for a TN work visa under NAFTA.
TN Work Visa Eligibility Requirements for Canadian Nurses
You must be a Canadian citizen (Canadian Landed Permanent Residents do not qualify).
You must possess a nursing license in the U.S. state where you intend to work.
You must obtain a VisaScreen healthcare worker certificate from either the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) or Josef Silny & Associates.
You must have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer for a qualifying nursing position (Nurse Manager positions and other nursing positions with limited direct patient care responsibilities may not qualify).
TN Work Visa Application Process for Canadian Nurses
Canadian citizens have two options for submitting an application for TN work authorization:
An application can be submitted directly at a Port of Entry on the United States - Canada border, including certain Canadian airports with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) preclearance services. A CBP officer will review the TN work visa application in-person and either approve or deny the application. If the application is approved, the CBP officer will issue a paper I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which serves as the Canadian nurse’s official TN status documentation.
An application can be submitted with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center. A USCIS officer will review the TN work visa application and either approve or deny the application. If the application is approved, USCIS will issue an approval notice, which the Canadian nurse must present to a CBP officer at a U.S. Port of Entry to be admitted to the U.S. in TN work visa status. The CBP officer will issue a paper I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which serves as the Canadian nurse’s official TN status documentation.
Note: Unlike Mexican citizens, Canadian citizens do not have to obtain an actual TN visa stamp for their passport from a U.S. Consulate.
TN Work Visa Terms of Status for Canadian Nurses
Duration of Status: TN work visa status is granted for an initial period of up to three years and can be extended in three year increments. The NAFTA treaty does not provide for a specific limit on how long an individual may work in TN work visa status.
Employment Authorization: A TN work visa provides authorization to work with your sponsoring employer only. TN work visa status does not provide open market employment authorization.
Employment Status/Concurrent Employment: Full-time, part-time or contingent employment status is permitted if properly documented in the application. Concurrent employment with multiple employers is also permitted, but a separate TN application is required.
Country of Residence Options: A Canadian nurse with TN work visa status can live in the U.S. or they can live in Canada and commute daily to their U.S. job.
Status for Dependents: Spouses and children of Canadian nurses living in the U.S. can obtain TD dependent status, which authorizes them to live and study in the U.S. However, TD dependents are not eligible for work authorization.
Green Card Eligibility: Canadian nurses with TN work authorization are eligible to apply for U.S. permanent resident (“Green Card”) status. Canadian nurses living in the U.S. can apply for a standard Green Card. Canadian nurses who prefer to remain living in Canada while commuting to a job in the U.S. can apply for a Commuter Green Card.
More TN visa questions? Let’s talk.
TN Work Visas for Mexican Nurses
Mexican citizens seeking to work in the U.S. as a Registered Nurse are eligible for a TN work visa under NAFTA.
TN Work Visa Eligibility Requirements for Mexican Nurses
You must be a Mexican citizen.
You must possess a nursing license in the U.S. state where you intend to work.
You must obtain a VisaScreen healthcare worker certificate from the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS).
You must have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer for a qualifying nursing position (Nurse Manager positions and other nursing positions with limited direct patient care responsibilities may not qualify).
TN Work Visa Application Process for Mexican Nurses
Mexican citizens have only one option for submitting an application for a TN work visa. They must submit their application at a U.S. Consulate.
The Mexican nurse must complete a DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application form and schedule an in-person visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate. A Consular officer will review the TN work visa application in-person and either approve or deny the application. If the application is approved, the Consular officer will issue a visa stamp in the Mexican nurse’s passport. The Mexican nurse can then use the TN visa to seek admission to the U.S. at a Port of Entry, and upon admission, an electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure Record will be created, which serves as the Mexican nurse’s official TN status documentation.
TN Work Visa Terms of Status for Mexican Nurses
Duration of Status: TN work visa status is granted for an initial period of up to three years and can be extended in three year increments. The NAFTA treaty does not provide for a specific limit on how long an individual may work in TN work visa status.
Employment Authorization: A TN work visa provides authorization to work with your sponsoring employer only. TN work visa status does not provide open market employment authorization.
Employment Status/Concurrent Employment: Full-time, part-time or contingent employment status is permitted if properly documented in the application. Concurrent employment with multiple employers is also permitted, but a separate TN application is required.
Country of Residence Options: A Mexican nurse with TN work visa status can live in the U.S. or they can live in Mexico and commute daily to their U.S. job.
Status for Dependents: Spouses and children of Mexican nurses living in the U.S. can obtain TD dependent status, which authorizes them to live and study in the U.S. However, TD dependents are not eligible for work authorization.
Green Card Eligibility: Mexican nurses with TN work authorization are eligible to apply for U.S. permanent resident (“Green Card”) status. Mexican nurses living in the U.S. can apply for a standard Green Card. Mexican nurses who prefer to remain living in Mexico while commuting to a job in the U.S. can apply for a Commuter Green Card.
More TN visa questions? Let’s talk.
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