Visa Lawyer Blog
As leaders in NAFTA visa processing we like to update our readers on different visa categories and updates. This article is provided by our TN Visa Lawyer, Attorney Andrew Desposito.
For many who come to the U.S. seeking work, there are only so many visas through which they may legally work. It is because of this issue that U.S. lawmakers have been strict on immigration enforcement of illegal immigrants trying to work in the U.S., in particular those coming from Mexico.
For Mexicans and Canadians, the nonimmigrant NAFTA professional (TN) visa allows citizens of Mexico and Canada, as NAFTA professionals, to work in the U.S. in a prearranged business activity for a U.S. or foreign employer.
So what does this mean for you?
What this means is that if you are a person that works in a certain field, and have the education that corresponds with that field, you may be able to apply for the TN visa. Unlike the H-1B and its cap on how many visas are granted each year, or the J-1 and H-3 visas and their limited durations, the TN visa may be granted for up to three years and can continually be renewed toward the end of its duration. There are certain requirements of eligibility for the TN visa.
With some exceptions, each profession under the TN visa requires at least a baccalaureate degree as an entry-level requirement. If a baccalaureate degree is required, no work experience may be used to substitute it. In some professions, an alternative criterion to a bachelor’s degree is listed. For some professions, experience or licensing is required in addition to the degree. It is therefore crucial to know what field you may qualify under before seeking this visa.
Once you have determined that a TN visa is available to you, the next step is to find a U.S. employer willing to hire you in the job category related to your experience. During this time of economic growth, many companies are capable of hiring individuals from Mexico and Canada to fill those positions in the U.S. at very little cost. The visa itself is inexpensive to apply for at the U.S. Consulate or the Port of Entry. This makes it a far more attractive option to U.S. employers instead of the H-1B or L-1A visa and its many filing fees that come with it.
With an employer willing to sponsor you for the TN visa, all that remains is preparing for your TN visa.
Preparing a perfect TN Application
There are many little parts that go into putting together a successful TN visa package. There should be no question in the mind of the immigration officer at the Port of Entry or the U.S. Embassy that you, the employee, meet the position requirements as listed under appendix 1603.D.1 of the TN visa, and that the company is an established business that has the need for your position.
The immigration officer will ask questions regarding the nature of the business, the position you will be employed in, what your position entails for the company, and may even ask for examples of work that relate directly to the position being applied for.
The Technical Publications Writer is a TN visa category that many individuals can be qualified to work. The position requires a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or Post Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate, and three years experience. The degree requirement is very broad in that all it takes is a degree or diploma in a related field to the company that the position is held. For instance, there was a case where the Technical Publications Writer was to assist a new media company in the design of its materials for publication on its websites, revise product instruction, and review and research social media publications. A degree in English was the related degree necessary to fulfill the duties of her position.
When trying to figure out if one has the three years experience as a Technical Publications Writer, the occupational outlook handbook provides guidance on whether one can hold such a position. A Technical Publications Writer helps a company by reviewing published materials, recommending revisions or changes, arranging typing, duplication, or distribution of materials, as well as editing, standardizing, or making changes to materials prepared by other writers.
The Technical Publications Writer may also complete specific writing projects for the company. Looking at a person’s prior work experience, it is not usually difficult to see that many duties one performed were similar to what is required of a Technical Publications Writer.
Although work experience and degree are the requirements to holding the position, as outlined in the Appendix, a person should be able to bring other work that has been done to show they can produce something that is published. What this means is that an immigration officer at the embassy or the port of entry may feel the person does not fit the job description because they have not published something.
Although there is nothing in the requirements for that position requiring a published material, it is good to be able to show one’s prior work has been published in some capacity. This is good for when a person applying for the visa gets an officer who does not understand that the word publications in the TN profession does not mean a person must be published to hold the position. A recent client went through this similar situation where they were not convinced the person should be a Technical Publications Writer because they did not have any published material.
As attorneys who have worked on many TN visas, we know what immigration officers are looking for in their interview with TN professionals. We understand that many of them need to see for themselves how your position and your background meet the requirements of the TN position. We have helped people get TN visas as Engineers, Lawyers, Management Consultants, Technical Publications Writers, and Economists. No matter your personal background, being a professional under a TN visa is as simple as finding out what position fits you best.
Although some positions do have specific degree requirements, such as a lawyer, other positions require a degree in a related field, such as for the Technical Publications Writer. With an attorney that understands little nuances like this, it is possible to get your TN visa wihttps://www.h1b.biz/lawyer-attorney-1137117.htmlthout the wait through the USCIS process for other work visas.