Skip to content
PENHOLD · PLANNING GUIDE

Penhold TN guide: build a truthful file for each proposed engagement

USAvisa field guide · 2 minute readReviewed 7 September 2026

Read the general professional work overview

THE SHORT ANSWER

Comparing offers can help clarify a professional plan, but it should not produce a support letter describing work that no employer has actually offered. Keep each genuine arrangement identifiable.

01

Match the actual offer to the profession

TN requires Canadian or Mexican citizenship, qualifying temporary work in a listed profession and its prescribed qualifications. Experience is a degree alternative only where that profession permits. Identify the genuine duties in the offer under assessment rather than selecting tasks from several different proposals.

02

Keep qualifications and entity facts attached to the applicant

Degrees from institutions outside Canada, Mexico or the United States require reliable evaluation; translation and any U.S. practice licence are separate matters. Identify the real employer and relevant ownership. Providing services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant is prohibited, while a foreign business interest alone is not a blanket bar.

03

Assess the process for additional work

Canadians generally may seek TN admission without a TN visa; Mexicans generally need one. The intended work must remain temporary and qualifying. Do not assume one employer’s permission covers another because the titles or hours are similar. A separate genuine offer needs the appropriate assessment before its start date is relied upon.

SOURCE NOTES

Editorial source review: 2026-09-08. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.

A CONVERSATION IS A GOOD PLACE TO START.

WHAT’S YOUR
NEXT CHAPTER?

Tell us where you are today.
Let’s talk about where you want to go.

Book a free consultation Or call +1 587 802 1252