Mexican TN Visa – New Procedures Streamline Processing

Effective February 10, 2014, Mexican TN visa applicants will no longer be required to obtain approval from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") prior to applying for a TN visa at a US Consulate pursuant to a final rule issued by the Department of State ("DOS") amending its regulation to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to "engage in activities at a professional level" pursuant to NAFTA. The regulations specify various categories of professions that are identified in a list of 63 professions.

In order to qualify for TN status as designated by this category, the applicant must: (1) have a job/job offer in the United States; (2) work one of the occupations/professions listed and; (3) have the specified requirements (either a bachelor's or licenciatura degree, as appropriate, in the field (or in a