TN visas for Canadians
Hi everyone, I recently signed an offer with a US firm and will be starting in a few months. The company has been very helpful around the visa process and has put me in touch with their immigration counsel. I will be kicking off the application process soon and was wondering if any Canadians here can share their experience in regards to port of entry, mail-in vs. apply at border, and any difficulties you faced when going to the US for the first time. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
For context, I’m an experienced hire and will likely be going under the Economist category; I also studied economics at school.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights and tips regarding the TN visa process for Canadians:
Port of Entry vs. Mail-In Application:
Experience Level and Type of Bank:
Economist Category:
Tips and Difficulties:
General Advice:
For more detailed experiences and anecdotal evidence, you might want to check out threads on WSO where other Canadian investment bankers have shared their TN visa success and failures. This can provide you with a broader perspective and additional tips.
Sources: IBD Barriers to Entry For Canadians and How to Overcome Them, IBD Barriers to Entry For Canadians and How to Overcome Them, TN Visa success/failures, Any fellow Canadians going to the States in 2019 for FT/SA start? How confidant do you feel about your visa?, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/canadiansinternationals-applying-for-us-investment-banking?customgpt=1
Don’t mail in. Apply at crossing.
Vancouver airport is the easiest to cross at. Montreal second. Toronto is the most difficult and should be avoided.
I’d suggest taking some mock interviews. They’re inexpensive and help tremendously. Bay Immigration offers them.
Make sure you bring a copy of your actual diploma. Not a photo copy. Not a photo. The actual diploma.
Good luck!
Super helpful, thanks! Do you know anything about applying at the border when the port of entry is on the US side? I.e flying through a small Canadian airport to Newark, Buffalo, etc.
I don't, sorry.
For what it's worth, none of the lawyers I have ever spoke with on this topic have ever mentioned this being an optimal alternative/solution.
I personally went through Montreal airport, despite being from Toronto.
Calgary/YYC has been the easiest from what I've heard/experienced (I crossed at Calgary).
can you kindly share whether you are going for an investment role at a buyside firm? OR some other?
This is for a buy side investment role
Avoid YYZ. Basically impossible to finesse the customs there and u might get sent to London at best or offer rescinded at worst.
Can you elaborate on this? Recently booked my flight from yyz to ewr. Not sure if I should rebook. Thanks
Bump
Fly Billy Bishop / Toronto Island Airport to Newark so you clear customs in Newark. I had a super smooth experience there. Also really pay attention to the visa materials the lawyer prepares. Particularly see if your support letter says anything that isn’t allowed under the USCIS 2017 memo regarding Economist TN visas.
How long did it take you to get approved? I have a 2 hr layover before my connecting flight
Literally just went through this process.
It was not difficult at all. I went through Toronto. Just make sure you have your documents. Proper job letter addressed to the customs office, degree, and transcript. That’s pretty much it. Takes like 45 mins total and cost $50
Did you go under the economist category and was your degree in economics?
I had a commerce degree with a minor in economics… thought ahead and decided around 3rd year to pursue the minor for the TN
Did you enter through yyz or Billy bishop?
YYZ
Flown through Billy Bishop / Newark twice, no issues with an economist TN
The lawyers have advised me to go through EWR as well - could I ask how long it took you to get approved? I have a 2 hr turnaround for my connecting flight.
Depends if you land at the same time as a bunch of other international flights with people going through customs & immigration. Excluding that time (could be 10 min wait in line or an hour+), the time it took for the first agent to look at it, take me into secondary screening, wait in the room, get questioned, and pay the application fee once approved was prob ~30 mins.
Do people typically get the TN1 when they are physically moving down to the US or before they move?
You can only obtain the TN within 10 calendar days of your start date at your new American firm.
Does anyone know what I should do if i'm a Canadian who would be applying for TN working as an investment banking analyst at a smaller shop, but I studied law in the UK (LLB) as my undergrad? I also have an analyst offer at a LMM PE shop in the US? What category should I apply as? I don't have any educational background in Economics/Math, and lawyer doesn't fit my job description at all. Consultant perhaps?
This is one of those situations where I'll recommend talking to a lawyer (even consult with more than 1 before you start the process).
Has anyone had any success with economist category without a economics minor?
I have 2 first year econ courses, and some upper year courses that aren't econ-coded but could be argued as economics.
Took the USCIS route for the TN Visa
It took me ~1.5 months to get the approval under premium processing but I was asked to provide more info as it wasn’t approved for the first time (RFI’ed)
Our immigration team also provided some insights on POE route. Avoid YYZ at all cost (Van / Calgary being the easiest) and avoid ~7am on weekdays and weekends. CBP changes shifts at 6-7am and rookie officers working and getting trained on weekends.
Do you remember what the reason for your RFE was? Mine just got RFE'd and its radio silence from lawyers
I have an engineering degree and applying under the economist category was tough
Listen to your lawyer's advice on which port you should go through - it will almost certainly be to fly from Billy Bishop to Newark or to go to Vancouver and fly into the US from there. Do this. Avoid land borders (especially those going to NY) and Pearson.
Do not do a land border. Have all the proper documents you are instructed to have; border guards will not give you a pass. Border guards do not fuck around and will tell you to go fuck yourself even after you've told them you quit your job and have all your possessions with you. They wield a frustratingly enormous amount of power over you and will turn you away at their discretion, regardless of how educated, prepared, or well-suited for the role you are.
Never insult their intelligence. Riff along with their jokes. If they insult Canada, you reciprocate, especially during these tense times.
YMMV on this one, but I've heard it suggested you change your LinkedIn to say "Economist" for past internships instead of "IB Analyst - Intern" or whatever. I heard someone was asked to show their CV to see if it matched up... so change that too if you do.
Have a good (and cohesive) story. Memorize what an economist does and how it relates to the role.
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