Training can involve activities requiring work authorization. Review its content, compensation and circumstances under the actual proposed status instead of assuming that the word training makes it permissible. The applicant must have an appropriate lawful basis before performing the activity in the United States.
Distinguish orientation from productive duties
Obtain the agenda and identify any hands-on services or work for the employer. A planned future TN request does not authorize an earlier assignment. Coordinate the employer’s schedule with the permitted activity and completed immigration steps, and avoid relying on a recruiter’s informal assurance about entry.
First review turns a proposed start date into a sequence of completed prerequisites: employer evidence, professional credential review, any licence, and lawful status. The record that resolves the immediate question is a training agenda or written assignment describing exactly what will happen before the start date. Do not treat paid orientation as harmless merely because it is called training; productive activity may require authorization.
Hypothetical example: A Canadian dietitian is invited to attend a paid three-day menu-planning workshop before the planned TN request. The employer should provide the agenda, compensation details, and expected outputs so the applicant can determine whether observation is involved or the event requires work permission first.