Describe the scientific responsibility
Identify the analyses, methods, interpretations and professional judgments the employee will perform. Explain how routine coordination relates to those duties. Avoid replacing the actual mixed role with an idealized description solely to match a profession. Put the weekly workflow in writing: identify the decision that requires the professional training, the person receiving the result, and the staff member responsible for clerical follow-up.
Compare the exact qualification rule
Use the relevant listed profession and its specific educational or other requirements. A degree in a broadly related subject is not automatically sufficient, and experience does not universally substitute for required education. Address any evaluation, translation or licensing question on its own facts. The useful record is the final credential, complete transcript, and any licensing proof required for the stated profession; a résumé is only a roadmap to those records.
Document prearranged employment
Obtain the employer’s current offer and a supported account of duties, duration and remuneration. Identify where the work will occur and who employs the applicant. A general statement that the company needs a scientist leaves important facts unaddressed. Ask the signer to confirm the reporting line, worksite, compensation, and end point of the assignment. Resolve inconsistent payroll or contractor language before it reaches the file.
Check nationality and the route
TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship, prearranged work in a listed profession and the profession’s own qualification requirements. U.S. self-employment is not permitted, and an ownership stake must be disclosed and assessed. A Canadian citizen generally may apply at a U.S. port of entry without a visa stamp, or a U.S. employer may file Form I-129. Preparing documents or attending an interview does not itself authorize employment. Confirm the applicant's passport evidence and the procedure that fits the nationality and travel facts. A prepared package is evidence, not permission to begin services early.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.