TN status began under NAFTA and continues under the USMCA, allowing citizens of Canada and Mexico to work in the United States in specific listed professions such as engineer, accountant or computer systems analyst. The guide offers a short overview of TN along with other temporary work visas, investor visas, the I visa for foreign media and marriage-based visas. Knowing which category fits before you spend money matters, and requirements change, so confirm current rules. Our Orlando office works with employers and families across Central Florida.
- TN status lets Canadian and Mexican citizens work in listed professions.
- TN began under NAFTA and now continues under the USMCA.
- The page also reviews work, investor, media and marriage-based visas.
- Confirm current rules, since requirements and agency practice change.
Introduction
Employers and families across Central Florida, from the Space Coast to Lakeland and from Ocala to Kissimmee, rely on a handful of visa categories again and again: TN status for Canadian and Mexican professionals, other temporary work visas, investor visas, the I visa for foreign media, and marriage-based visas. This page gives a short, accurate overview of each and explains how our Orlando office works with clients across the region. For a consultation, call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
A lawyer familiar with TN, or NAFTA, status can tell you which category fits before you spend time and money on the wrong one. The page is meant for employers, Canadian and Mexican professionals, foreign entrepreneurs, and families who are sorting out their options.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements, forms, and agency practice change, so a lawyer should confirm the current rules for your situation.
Central Florida's Economy and the Visas It Uses
The region's mix of industries shapes the immigration questions we hear. Aerospace and engineering employers along the Space Coast hire engineers and scientists. Logistics and distribution companies along the I-4 corridor need managers and analysts. Hospitals and universities recruit physicians, researchers, and faculty. Tourism and hospitality businesses employ workers from many countries, and foreign entrepreneurs buy or open businesses throughout the region. Each of those situations points to a different visa.
What Is TN Status and What Do Lawyers Do?
TN classification began under NAFTA and continues under the USMCA. It allows citizens of Canada and Mexico to work in the United States in specific listed professions, such as engineer, accountant, computer systems analyst, scientific technician, and registered nurse, generally with at least the degree or credential the list requires. It is a nonimmigrant status, so the worker must show an intent to work temporarily.
For a Central Florida employer, the practical questions are the following.
- Does the job title and the actual work fall within a listed profession?
- Does the employee hold the required degree or license for that profession?
- Is the employee Canadian, who usually applies at a port of entry or preclearance, or Mexican, who usually applies for a TN visa at a U.S. consulate first?
A well-drafted employer letter describing the job and the employee's qualifications is the core of a TN application. A lawyer usually prepares that letter and coaches the employee on what to bring to the border or consulate. Ask how the firm handles a refusal and how it plans around a later green card, since TN requires nonimmigrant intent. A lawyer can also advise on renewals, which can be filed with USCIS or requested at the border, and on TD status for family members.
How the TN Process Works in Florida
The details differ for Canadian and Mexican applicants, and the current agency instructions control. In general, the process looks like this.
- Confirm that the job falls within a listed TN profession and that the worker meets the credential requirement.
- The employer prepares a letter describing the position, duties, salary, and expected length of employment.
- The worker gathers proof of citizenship, degrees, licenses, and the job offer or employer letter.
- A Canadian citizen presents the package at a port of entry or preclearance location. A Mexican citizen generally applies for a TN visa at a U.S. consulate and then seeks admission.
- The officer decides whether to admit the worker in TN status and records the period of stay.
- For extensions, the employer or worker plans ahead, using USCIS or a border request depending on the case.
If an officer refuses admission, it helps to understand the reason before trying again. A lawyer can review the refusal and decide whether the problem is the evidence, the job description, or the profession category.
Other Employment Visas
When TN does not fit, a lawyer looks at other temporary categories.
- H-1B for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or equivalent, usually subject to an annual cap and registration.
- L-1 for managers and employees with company-specific knowledge transferring from a related foreign company.
- O-1 for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement.
- H-2B for seasonal or peak-load non-agricultural work, which requires a Department of Labor certification first.
Employment attorneys also handle employer-sponsored green cards through PERM labor certification. The right path depends on the worker's nationality, education, and long-term plans. Our work visa services page walks through these options.
Investment Visas, the I Visa, and Marriage-Based Visas
Foreign entrepreneurs who buy a franchise, restaurant, or service company in Central Florida usually ask about two options. The E-2 treaty investor visa is available to nationals of countries that have a qualifying treaty with the United States, and the investor must put a substantial amount of capital at risk in a real, operating business and come to develop and direct it. It is temporary but renewable while the business continues. The EB-5 immigrant investor program is a path to a green card through a qualifying investment that creates jobs for U.S. workers, and its amounts and rules have changed over time, so a lawyer confirms the current requirements.
A lawyer reviews where the investment money came from, since USCIS and the State Department require a documented lawful source of funds. Making an investment does not ensure approval, and you should get independent financial advice about the investment itself.
The I visa is for representatives of foreign media, including reporters, film crews, and editors, who come to the United States to work in their profession for a foreign media outlet. Launches on the Space Coast and events at the region's attractions draw foreign journalists and television crews. A lawyer can confirm whether the activity is journalism that fits the I visa or commercial filming that needs a different classification.
Many employment clients also have family questions. A U.S. citizen can petition for a fiancé(e) on a K-1 visa or for a spouse abroad through an immigrant visa, and a spouse already in the United States may be able to adjust status. A marriage-based case looks at how the spouse entered, prior marriages, and the evidence of a genuine relationship.
Responding to a refusal or a request for evidence
A refusal at the border or a request for more evidence from USCIS is not always the end of the road. The first step is to read the notice or ask the officer for the reason in writing where possible, and then to identify what was missing. Frequent causes include a job description that does not match a listed profession, a degree that does not match the required field, a license that was not yet issued, or an employer letter that is too general.
Before you try again, fix the underlying problem rather than simply resubmitting the same papers. A lawyer can help you decide whether to supply better evidence, change the category, or wait until a credential is complete. Keep every notice, and do not travel again on the same package without advice.
Dependents and long-term planning
Spouses and unmarried children under the age limit of a TN worker may qualify for TD status, which allows them to accompany the worker but generally does not itself authorize employment. Other categories have their own dependent rules, and some dependents can work with the right classification. Ask about each family member before you move.
Temporary status can also affect later plans. If you may want a green card through an employer or a family member, discuss the plan early, because a job description or an entry strategy chosen now can matter later. A lawyer can explain which statuses allow you to pursue permanent residence while holding them and which require careful timing.
Document Checklist for a Work Visa Consultation
- Passport, proof of citizenship, and any prior U.S. visas or approval notices.
- Degree certificates, transcripts, and professional licenses.
- The job offer letter or employer letter describing duties and salary.
- Resume and records of prior work experience.
- For employers: company information such as tax records and an organizational chart.
- For investors: the business plan, purchase or lease documents, and bank records of the funds.
- For family cases: marriage and birth certificates and evidence of the relationship.
- Any prior refusal, denial, or request for evidence.
Bring whatever you have. A lawyer can tell you which items matter most for your category and what can still be gathered.
Advice for employers hiring across the border
Employers who hire Canadian and Mexican professionals should set up a simple internal process. Confirm the profession category before extending the offer, keep a copy of the employer letter and the worker's credentials in the file, and calendar the end of each authorized stay well in advance. Where a worker's job changes materially, such as a promotion into management that leaves the listed profession, ask whether the new role still fits TN or whether another category is needed.
It also helps to be clear with the employee about what the employer will and will not do. Some employers pay the legal fees, while others expect the employee to cover personal costs such as dependent applications. Put the arrangement in writing so there are no surprises when a filing is due, and so the worker understands the employer's role in later extensions.
Timeline and Processing Expectations
Timing depends on the category. A Canadian TN applicant may be able to apply at a port of entry, while a Mexican applicant must usually schedule a consular appointment, and H-1B, L-1, O-1, and investor petitions follow USCIS timelines. USCIS and the State Department publish current processing information and appointment wait information, so check those official sources for the timing that applies to you.
Work backward from your start date and build in time for gathering documents, translations, and any request for evidence. The table below shows the general stages.
| Stage | What happens | Who acts |
|---|
| Category review | The job, the worker, and the options are compared | You and your lawyer |
| Document preparation | Employer letter, credentials, and evidence are assembled | Employer, worker, and lawyer |
| Application or petition | Border presentation, consular visa, or USCIS filing | Worker, employer, and the agency |
| Decision | Admission, approval, denial, or request for more evidence | CBP, USCIS, or the consulate |
| Extension or change | Renewal or move to another category when needed | Employer, worker, and lawyer |
How Our Orlando Office Serves Central Florida
Vasquez Law Firm practices only immigration law from one office at 1111 E Amelia Street in Orlando. Clients from Brevard, Polk, Volusia, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, and Marion counties meet with us in person in Orlando or by phone and secure video, in English or Spanish. For an employer, we usually work with both the HR team and the employee, and we explain what each side needs to provide.
Keep in mind that the first meeting is for information. You should leave knowing which categories are realistic, what documents are still needed, who must sign or provide what, and what the next deadline is. If any of those points are unclear, ask the lawyer to put them in writing so that you, your employer, and your family are working from the same plan.
Cost Factors and Fee Breakdown
Costs vary by category, as the table below shows.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|
| USCIS petition or extension fees | Check USCIS for the current fee | Depends on the form and the category |
| Consular visa application fee | Check the court or agency for current fees | The State Department publishes current visa fees |
| Border application fees for TN | Check the court or agency for current fees | Confirm with the border agency before travel |
| Attorney fees | Varies by case | Depends on the category, the evidence, and any refusal |
| Translations and credential evaluations | Varies by case | Depends on the documents needed |
Fees change, so check the current schedule before you pay. Ask the firm what its fee covers and which costs are separate.
A lawyer should explain the risks honestly. Be cautious about any lawyer who guarantees an outcome, since agencies and consular officers decide each case on its own evidence.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a category before checking whether the job and the credentials actually fit it.
- Presenting a vague employer letter that does not describe the duties in the language of the listed profession.
- Assuming TN or another temporary status will lead easily to a green card, without planning for that goal.
- Traveling to the border or consulate without a complete set of documents.
- Letting a status or an authorized stay expire before filing an extension.
- Investing in a business before confirming that the investor visa requirements can be met.
When to Call a Lawyer
Call a lawyer before you accept a job offer that depends on a visa, before you travel to the border or consulate, and when you receive a refusal or a request for evidence. A short review at the start can tell you whether TN, H-1B, L-1, O-1, or another path fits, and can save weeks of delay. To arrange a consultation, call 1-844-YO-PELEO.
About Vasquez Law Firm
Vasquez Law Firm practices immigration law only. Our only office is at 1111 E Amelia Street in Orlando, and we serve clients across Florida by phone and secure video, with in-person meetings in Orlando. William J. Vásquez is the founding attorney, and consultations are available in English and Spanish. Call 1-844-YO-PELEO or contact us.
Sources and References
Related services: work visa lawyers, investment visa services, immigration lawyers in Florida
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This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different; speak with an immigration lawyer about your situation.
