IN THIS GUIDE · Reconcile a revised offer with the job that will actually begin
Start with the TN eligibility and application overview
Identify what the employer changed
In a hypothetical offer, engineering design was initially central, but a later version adds purchasing and customer-account responsibilities. Ask the employer to identify the substantive duties, deliverables and allocation of responsibility after the change. A familiar title or an earlier eligibility discussion cannot determine whether the revised work fits a listed profession. Preserve both versions and explain which one is operative rather than combining favourable phrases from different drafts.
Read the credential rule for the actual profession
Compare the authentic diploma, transcript and any applicable alternative evidence with the selected profession’s requirements. Experience is not a universal replacement for a degree. A degree from an institution outside Canada, Mexico or the United States needs an evaluation by a reliable credentials evaluation service specializing in foreign education; translation and professional licensing can raise separate questions. Canadian permanent residence does not establish the citizenship required for a TN principal, even when the applicant studied or worked in Canada.
Resolve the employing entity and ownership
Record remuneration, expected duration and who receives and directs the services, including any intermediary or customer arrangements. Providing services to a US entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant is prohibited TN self-employment. A foreign business interest alone is not the same prohibition; assess the actual US arrangement rather than hiding ownership behind an offer letter. Confirm that the proposed activity and entry remain temporary.
Use the procedure appropriate to the applicant
Canadian citizens generally may seek TN admission without a TN visa; Mexican citizens generally need a TN visa, with an employer petition available where applicable. Confirm the current process for the actual facts. A revised offer does not authorize work before the required status is obtained. If the employer changes material duties again, have the arrangement reassessed instead of assuming a prior decision covers every later role.
Apply the specific credential rule for the listed profession
The management-consultant listing permits a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree, or documented equivalent professional experience of five years as a management consultant or in a specialty related to the consulting agreement. Meeting a TN credential alternative does not automatically confer every licence or authorization needed to practise in the U.S. jurisdiction. Every Appendix 2 profession carries its own qualification rule, and Graphic Designer offers two: a baccalaureate, or a post-secondary diploma together with three years of experience. Management Consultant can be reached through five years of relevant work, and Scientific Technician or Technologist is reached through theoretical knowledge plus demonstrated ability rather than through any particular credential. A Canadian citizen presents at a land border, preclearance or port of entry with a passport and the supporting file, and no visa is issued. Several health professions on that list require a state or provincial licence in addition to a degree, and the U.S. employer's willingness to hire does not replace the licence. A credential may fit the listed occupation and still leave a state-specific licence, registration, supervision, or employer requirement to investigate before practice begins.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-08. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.