This classification was created under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United States, Canada and Mexico in order to facilitate the admission of Canadian and Mexican nationals to the United States for business purposes. Section 214.6 of the Code of Federal Regulations 8 (CFR 8) establishes the criteria for the admission of Canadian and Mexican nationals under TN status. These criteria include a list of professions, areas and minimum requirements to obtain a TN visa. Academic professionals (professors, researchers, teachers, etc.) are included in the list of professions. Under the TN classification, Canadian and Mexican nationals CANNOT be recruited into probationary or permanent positions.

Canadian citizens are not required to have a visa in their passport to enter the United States (US). However, they are required to obtain proper admission at the port of entry if they will be conducting business activities for which they will receive payment. Academic institutions interested in the services of a Canadian citizen may offer them a contract for professional services under the TN classification.

A Mexican or Canadian citizen who wishes to be temporarily admitted to the U.S. to engage in business activities for which he or she will receive payment may be admitted under NAFTA by applying at a U.S. embassy for a TN visa in his or her passport and presenting it at a U.S. Class A port of entry, a U.S. airport that serves as an entry point for international flights, or a U.S. customs preclearance station.

At the time of applying for the TN visa a Mexican citizen must present the following information:

• A letter of invitation from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus.
• Evidence of citizenship.
• Evidence that he/she has the minimum academic and professional credentials in the discipline or area in which he/she will work or participate.
• Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Immigration Officer that your proposed work in the U.S. is for a specific period of time and that at the end of it you will return to your country.

TN status is temporary and may be renewed annually. Colleges, schools and departments are responsible for sending the letter of invitation to the foreign visitor. The letter must state the arrangements (work details, salaries, payments or reimbursement of expenses, benefits, etc.). It must also include a statement in which the faculty, school or department clearly indicates to the visitor that if he/she does not obtain the corresponding admission (TN) to the United States, the faculty, school or department of the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus will not be able to honor the agreements. Our Program has prepared a draft letter to be sent to the foreign visitor (once the visitor has confirmed his/her participation) by the faculty, school or department, in accordance with existing regulations.

It is the responsibility of the faculty, school or department to present evidence of the foreign visitor’s TN status (Canadian citizen-copy of passport and copy of I-94 form indicating admission under TN status; Mexican citizen-copy of passport, copy of TN visa in his/her passport and copy of I-94 form indicating admission under TN status) to the corresponding office (Human Resources, Accounting, etc.) of our Campus. Without this evidence no transaction (service contract, payment, refund, etc.) will be processed. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the foreign visitor to present the respective documents to the person responsible for the administrative procedure in the faculty, school or department. If the Unit has an academic activity in which it offers an academic fee, reimbursement of expenses or both, instead of salary, please refer to Visa B1/B2 – WB/WT section.