The purpose of TN status is to allow Canadian and Mexican citizens to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis to work in certain professional-level jobs under the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 2018. The University of Washington only files petitions for TN status for full-time academic personnel positions that fit into one of the professions on this list.
Although the regulations do not limit the number of years you may remain in the U.S., TN is a nonimmigrant status that requires you to demonstrate permanent ties to your home country and the intent to return to it at the end of your TN employment. You may be asked to provide supporting evidence of those ties when applying for TN admission or for a TN visa at the consulate.
Travel
If you are planning to travel within the U.S. while in TN status, be sure to review the general Important Documents page.
If you are planning international travel and need information on how to return to the U.S., see the Coming to the U.S. page.
Ending TN Employment
Because the TN is an “employment-based visa,” your lawful status in the U.S. ends when your paid employment ends. If your paid employment ends before your I-797 Approval Notice or I-94 Record expires, you may be eligible for a discretionary grace period of up to 60 days. That grace period could allow you to change status or move to another employer. You should consult with a private immigration attorney for more information.
If paid employment and the I-797 Approval Notice end at the same time, check the expiration date on your paper I-94 card as it may indicate an additional 10-day “grace period” for departure.