Read the general professional work overview
Hypothetical example: a Coaldale medical laboratory technologist has an offer from a U.S. hospital laboratory and a folder full of paper. Five things are being tested—citizenship, the listed profession, the applicant's qualification for it, required federal health-care-worker certification, and prearranged employment with a U.S. employer. Arranging the folder around those questions, rather than by date or sender, turns a long conversation into a short one.
Citizenship first, because everything else depends on it
The category is available to citizens of Canada and Mexico. A Canadian passport settles that in one movement, and it should be the first thing out of the folder. A permanent resident card does not establish citizenship and cannot substitute for it here, which is a point worth checking for every family member travelling at the same time rather than only for the principal. If a citizenship certificate was used to obtain the passport, there is no need to carry it, but knowing where it is saves time if a question arises later. Where a name has changed, carry the document that connects the two names so nobody has to infer it.
The employer letter carries the profession and the job together
One letter can answer two of the four questions if it is written properly. It should name the profession as it appears on the Appendix 2 list, describe the duties in enough detail that a reader can match them to that entry without guessing, state the salary, the location and the period of employment, and identify who supervises the work. Vague titles are the usual failure: a letter that says laboratory professional and lists duties that read like management gives an officer a reason to ask what the job actually is. Ask the employer to send a draft before it is signed, and read it against the Appendix entry line by line.
Qualification documents, then everything else behind them
Each listed profession has its own requirement, and for several of them the deciding document is a licence or a certification rather than a degree. Establish which one applies, put that document third in the folder, and place the degree, transcripts and any credential assessment behind it as support. Anything not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation. Keep a complete scanned copy at home in Coaldale and give a second copy to the employer so a missing page is an inconvenience rather than a return trip. A Canadian may present the packet at a port of entry or preclearance without a TN visa stamp, or the employer may file Form I-129 with USCIS. TN does not permit U.S. self-employment, and accompanying TD spouses and children may study but may not work.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.