Read the general professional work overview
The employer's letter, the degree or licence, and the proof of Canadian citizenship each carry a separate requirement, and an inconsistency between them is the most common reason a TN request stalls. A land surveyor from Oromocto should check that the letter describes surveying work, that the credential matches the profession's rule, and that the passport is current, before choosing between a port-of-entry request and an employer petition. Hypothetical example: a metallurgical engineer has a strong degree but an offer letter that says only "technical support." The practical decision is to delay the request long enough to replace that phrase with a truthful duty description, or to proceed and accept an avoidable mismatch. The employer letter settles the proposed professional work; the diploma, transcript, and licence records settle the credential route; the passport settles citizenship. Create a one-page document map before travel so every requirement points to a named exhibit.
The letter must describe surveying, and say it is temporary
Hypothetical example: an Oromocto land surveyor employed by a civil-engineering consultancy is offered a position with a U.S. firm mapping utility corridors. The USMCA list includes land surveyor, satisfied by a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree or a state, provincial or federal licence. The employer's letter should describe boundary and topographic survey work, control networks and the preparation of plans, rather than "project coordinator" language, and should state the duration, the pay and that the applicant will be an employee. It should also confirm the applicant holds no ownership in the U.S. firm, because self-employment is not permitted in TN. Add a short comparison of the job title, daily duties, and the named TN profession. If one of those three points differs, obtain a corrected letter rather than expecting an officer to infer the missing connection.
Match the credential to the rule for this profession
The surveyor holds a provincial licence and a diploma from a college program rather than a university degree. For the land surveyor entry, a provincial licence is an accepted alternative on its own, so the file should lead with the licence, its current registration confirmation and the regulator's description of what it authorizes. If the applicant relied on the degree route instead, the degree would need to be a baccalaureate. Keep the two routes distinct in the file and do not present a diploma as if it were the degree the list names. Where a licence is the qualification relied on, include current regulator confirmation and any name-change evidence. Do not substitute a course certificate for the credential the profession's rule actually names.
Citizenship, translations and the procedure
A Canadian passport proves the citizenship requirement; a Canadian permanent-resident card does not, and a surveyor who holds PR only cannot use TN. Any French-language licence or transcript must be accompanied by a certified English translation for a USCIS filing and is advisable at a port of entry. A Canadian citizen may present the file at a port of entry without a visa stamp or the employer may file Form I-129; both examine the same elements. Any TD family members may study but may not work, which should be settled before the household plans its move. Make the procedure decision after the evidence is ready. A petition and a direct request examine the same core facts, so changing the channel does not repair a deficient letter or citizenship record.
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.