TN Visa Attorney in Chicago

Cap-Free Work Visas for Canadian & Mexican Professionals, Handled by Employment-Based Immigration Counsel

The TN visa is a practical, cap-free work classification for Canadian and Mexican citizens pursuing professional employment in the United States. At Milla & Associates, LLC, our Chicago immigration law firm assists both employers and individual applicants with the documentation and strategy that TN admission requires, from the employer support letter through admission at the port of entry.

If you’re a Chicago-area employer hiring a Canadian or Mexican professional, or a foreign national evaluating your TN options, contact Milla & Associates, LLC at (312) 702-1782 to schedule a consultation.

What the TN Classification Covers

The TN nonimmigrant classification was established under NAFTA and carried forward unchanged when the USMCA took effect on July 1, 2020. It authorizes temporary entry to the United States for citizens of Canada or Mexico who have a prearranged job offer in one of exactly 63 listed professional occupations. That roster spans accounting, engineering, scientific research, health care, teaching, and management consulting, and it hasn’t changed since 1994.

A few features set the TN apart from other employment-based categories:

• No annual cap or lottery: Unlike the H-1B visa, TN classification has no numerical limit. There is no filing window and no random selection process.
• Indefinitely renewable: TN status is granted in increments of up to three years and can be extended as long as the qualifying job offer and occupation remain in place.
• No self-employment: The foreign national must have a genuine U.S. employer. Owning or controlling the sponsoring company disqualifies an applicant from TN classification.

TN Visa Eligibility Requirements

TN eligibility turns on three requirements: citizenship of Canada or Mexico (permanent residents and dual nationals of third countries don’t qualify), a genuine prearranged job offer with a U.S. employer in a listed USMCA profession, and the specific degree, license, or experience that profession requires. Each element must be independently satisfied.

Job title alone doesn’t establish eligibility. The actual duties the applicant will perform must match the government’s definition of the listed occupation, regardless of what the offer letter calls the role. Degrees earned outside the United States, Canada, or Mexico typically require a credential evaluation confirming equivalency to the required U.S. credential before the application moves forward.

How Canadians & Mexican Citizens Apply

How an applicant applies depends on citizenship. Canadian citizens don’t need a consular visa stamp. They establish TN eligibility directly with a CBP officer at a designated U.S. port of entry, an international airport, or a preclearance station at the time of seeking admission. Chicago O’Hare International Airport processes international arrivals and functions as a port of entry, giving Chicago-area applicants a local option. Mexican citizens must first obtain a TN visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before presenting for admission at a port of entry.

In either case, the employer support letter is central to the application. It must describe the professional capacity of the position, the purpose of employment, the expected length of stay, and the applicant’s educational qualifications. A U.S. employer may also file Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, with USCIS on behalf of a Canadian citizen located outside the country, with premium processing available.

TD Status for Dependents

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of a TN holder may accompany or follow the principal to the United States in TD (Trade Dependent) status, authorized for the same period as the TN holder. TD dependents may study full-time, but TD status alone doesn’t authorize employment. A dependent who wants to work must obtain separate work authorization.

Why Chicago Employers & Professionals Work with Milla & Associates, LLC

Attorney Justin K. Hoefflicker, of counsel with Milla & Associates, LLC, has practiced employment-based immigration law since 2011. His background covers H-1B, L, J, and P visa filings, change of status, PERM labor certification, and employment-based immigrant visas across the EB I through V categories. He has represented employers ranging from multinational corporations to small companies with only a few employees, adapting his approach to each client’s situation.

Preparing the employer support letter and prearranged job offer documentation that TN admission requires calls for the same occupational analysis and employer coordination that characterizes employment-based immigration practice more broadly. We work with HR teams, recruiters, and foreign nationals together so that each application reflects both the immigration rules and the employer’s operational timeline.

Schedule a TN Visa Consultation

A consultation gives you the chance to review your situation with our team, understand how TN classification applies to your occupation or workforce need, and learn how we can help. We work with Chicago-area employers and Canadian and Mexican professionals at every stage of the TN process.

Call Milla & Associates, LLC at (312) 702-1782 to schedule your consultation with our Chicago TN visa lawyers.