Read the general professional work overview
Hypothetical example: a Chelsea landscape architect with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture is offered a two-year position by a U.S. design firm. The Landscape Architect listing requires a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree, so her degree is the deciding document. The remaining papers exist to prove that the job is professional landscape architecture, that the firm is her employer, and that she is a Canadian citizen entering temporarily. Assemble them so that each element of the regulation is answered by a specific page. The reader must decide whether the qualification is established by the listed degree, an alternate credential route, or a licence, before collecting peripheral material. The application also needs a genuine prearranged professional role and a lawful employer structure; TN cannot be used to operate an applicant-owned U.S. business. Hypothetical example: an industrial designer has a degree but receives a letter calling the role a product coordinator. She asks the firm to describe design duties and the fixed engagement before choosing CBP processing or an employer-filed USCIS petition.
Prove the degree in the way the listing expects
The professional list for Landscape Architect names a degree, with no experience alternative. Bring the original diploma and an official transcript showing the program title, because an officer checks that the field matches the profession rather than a related discipline such as horticulture or urban planning. If the degree was earned outside Canada, Mexico or the United States, a credential evaluation from a recognized service is required. Provincial association membership is helpful but it is not the credential; the degree is. Translations are needed for any French-language transcript or diploma, and the translator should certify competence and accuracy. The decision is whether the document directly proves the listed requirement or merely supports it. A transcript that names the discipline can settle a question that a generic résumé leaves open.
Have the employer describe the professional work precisely
The support letter from the U.S. firm should state the position title, a description of duties that reads as landscape architecture, the start date, the two-year duration, the salary and the firm’s address, and it should confirm that the applicant will be its employee. Vague phrases such as design support or project assistance invite a refusal because they could describe a technician. List site analysis, planting and grading design, construction documents and client presentations. The letter also anchors the temporary-entry requirement by giving a defined end. Attach the offer letter or contract so the two documents match.
Present citizenship, intent and the fee correctly
A Canadian passport proves citizenship, which TN requires; a permanent-resident card does not. Evidence of temporary intent is not a fixed list, but a stated end date and retained ties may help. Confirm the applicant does not own or control the U.S. firm, since serving an enterprise she controls would be prohibited U.S. self-employment, and disclose any ownership stake. At the port of entry the CBP fee is paid on admission; if the U.S. employer files Form I-129 instead, the USCIS fee schedule applies. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may hold TD status and study, but they may not work. Keep copies for extensions and later entries.
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.