The category “Professionals Under the North American Free Trade Agreement” is available only to citizens of Mexico and Canada. Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a citizen of a NAFTA country may work in a professional occupation in another NAFTA country provided that:
- The profession is on the NAFTA list.
- The alien possesses the specific criteria for that profession.
- The prospective position requires someone in that professional capacity; and
- The alien is going to work for a U.S. employer.
For more information on the filing for this status based on NAFTA please go to the end of this page. Please see below the NAFTA list.
NAFTA Professional Job Series List
| Profession | Minimum Education Requirements and Alternative Credentials |
| Accountant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A, C.A., C.G.A., or C.M.A. |
| Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post Secondary Certificate and three years experience |
| Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster (Claims Adjuster employed by an insurance company located in the territory of a Party, or an independent claims adjuster) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims |
| Economist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Engineer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Forester | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Graphic Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma and three years experience |
| Hotel Manager | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate in hotel/restaurant management and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management |
| Industrial Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate, and three years experience |
| Interior Designer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate, and three years experience |
| Land Surveyor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree or state/provincial/federal license |
| Landscape Architect | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Lawyer (including Notary in the province of Quebec) Lawyer (including Notary in the province of Quebec) | L.L.B., J.D., L.L.L., B.C.L., or Licenciatura degree (five years); or membership in a state/provincial bar |
| Librarian | M.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree was prerequisite) |
| Management Consultant | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or equivalent professional experience as established by statement or professional credential attesting to five years experience as a management consultant, or five years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting agreement |
| Mathematician (including statistician) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Range Manager/Range Conservationist Range Manager/Range Conservationist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution) Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary educational institution) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Scientific Technician/ Technologist | Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of the following disciplines: agricultural sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry, engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics, meteorology, or physics; and (b) the ability to solve practical problems in any of those disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines to basic or applied research |
| Social Worker | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Sylviculturist (including forestry) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Technical Publications Writer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, or post-secondary diploma or post-secondary certificate, and three years experience |
| Urban Planner (including Geographer) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Vocational Counselor | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
MEDICAL/ALLIED PROFESSIONALS
| Dentist | D.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or Doctor en Cirugia Dental or state/provincial license |
| Dietitian | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or post secondary diploma or post secondary certificate, and three years experience |
| Nutritionist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Occupational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license |
| Pharmacist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state provincial license |
| Physician (teaching or research only) | M.D., Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial license |
| Physiotherapist/Physical Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license |
| Psychologist | State/provincial license; or Licenciatura degree |
| Recreational Therapist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Registered Nurse | State/provincial license or Licenciatura degree |
| Veterinarian | D.V.M., D.M.V., or Doctor en Veterinaria; or state/provincial license |
SCIENTISTS
| Agricultural (Agronomist) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Animal Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Apiculturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Astronomer | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Biochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Chemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Dairy Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Entomologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Epidemiologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geneticist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geochemist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Horticulturist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Meteorologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Pharmacologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada) | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Plant Breeder | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Poultry Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Soil Scientist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Zoologist | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
TEACHERS
| College | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| Seminary | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
| University | Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree |
Filing for TN status
The TN applicant must have a US employer with a position requiring someone in that professional capacity and the prospective alien meeting the specific criteria for that profession.
A Canadian citizen does not require a visa to enter the United States to join work falling under this category. He/she can enter as NAFTA Professional upon showing required documentation at the port of entry.
However, a Canadian citizen residing in a third country with a non-Canadian spouse and/or child(ren) and planning to enter the United States as a NAFTA professional with family member(s), will need a TN visa for the family member(s) to be eligible to apply for derivative TD nonimmigrant visa(s).
Citizens of Mexico require TN visas to request admission to the United States, so, they are required to apply for a visa at the US Consulate.
Extending TN Nonimmigrant status:
At the end of the principals’ (both Canadian and Mexican) period of admission or authorization as a TN, he/she may choose to apply for an extension of stay in the United States.
TD visa – Dependents of TN Nonimmigrants
Spouses and children dependents of TN employees can be in the U.S. in TD (Trade Dependents) visa status. Any accompanying or “following to join” spouse and children under the age of 21 may be eligible for TD nonimmigrant status. Generally, Canadian TDs do not need to obtain a TD visa, but non-Canadian TDs do. Mexican TDs also need to apply for TD visas to enter the U.S. The dependents are given TD status for the same period the principal is granted TN status.
When TD dependent children turn 21, they are no longer considered “children” and they would have to file change of status to be in the US.
Spouses and children are permitted to study but not permitted to work while in the United States.
Extending TD Nonimmigrant status:
At the end of the principals’ (both Canadian and Mexican) period of admission or authorization as a TN if he/she chooses to apply for an extension of stay in the United States, any eligible TD family member may also apply to extend their status without the need to travel abroad.
However, if a Mexican TD dependent wishes to travel abroad following approval of any such extension of stay and expiration of the TD visa, the family member will be required to apply for a new TD visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before being permitted to return to the United States in TD status.