Canadian Legal Services NAFTA Permit Information

General information:

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ratified in 1992 by Canada, the United States and Mexico created a new temporary permit for designated NAFTA professionals known in the U.S. as the TN-1 permit and in Canada as the NAFTA permit.

NAFTA Permits may be issued only to citizens of Canada, the U.S. or Mexico who have received an offer of employment from any NAFTA member country in an occupation listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 to the NAFTA. A summary of the current listing of professional occupations appears below.

NAFTA Permits are temporary, non-immigrant permits and are valid only in one (1) year increments. Most may be renewed without restriction provided that the underlying position remain "temporary" in nature. NAFTA Permits are employer and employment - specific and may only be used for employment in the designated occupation and for the designated employer listed on the permit document itself.

Qualifying Occupations:

In order to qualify for a NAFTA Permit in any of the occupations listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 to the NAFTA, certain minimal educational requirements and/or alternative credentials must be met by the applicant. Alternative credentials may include a certified work experience or education credentials evaluation from a licensed evaluation service. For more information concerning the minimum educational or alternative credential requirements for NAFTA Permit eligibility, please consult our consultation page.

Restrictions:

NAFTA Permits afford the holder the opportunity to live and work in any NAFTA member nation on a temporary basis. Alternatively, one may use a NAFTA Permit to commute to and from their employment while maintaining residence in their home country. Dependent family members (defined generally as spouse and minor children) may accompany the permit holder but are not authorized to accept employment.

Processing Times and Procedure:

Certain documentary requirements are essential to the success of a NAFTA Permit application. In the case of Canadian citizens seeking to enter United States under NAFTA, a Canadian birth certificate and drivers license, or valid Canadian passport must be produced for inspection, together with the applicant's original university degree or college diploma, certificates, reference and offer of employment letter. An application fee is required as well.

The U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) will process Canadian citizen NAFTA Permit applications at designated Ports of Entry / Border Crossings. INS adjudication typically will take place on the day of application. No appointment is required. Similarly, the Government of Canada Citizen and Immigration Department will accept applications for NAFTA Permits by U.S. citizens at designated Ports of Entry / Border Crossings on a same-day basis.

Legal Fees:

Our office has prepared countless NAFTA Permit applications for virtually every occupation listed in the Appendix. The key to a successful application lies in the legal analysis of the position offered and the drafting of an offer of employment letter which conforms with strict INS and Canadian Immigration regulations.

Our NAFTA Permit application services include:

• Analysis of applicant's educational and employment experience
• NAFTA occupation eligibility review
• Communication with prospective employer to prepare suitable offer of employment letter
• Preparation of draft reference letters
• Counsel applicant on application procedure and standard line of questioning
• Conduct citizenship and inadmissibility screening of applicant to ensure viability of application
• Counsel application long-term immigration strategies.

Appendix 1603D.1 to NAFTA (Occupation List)

Professionals:	Medical Professionals:	Scientists:
Accountant Architect College Teacher Computer Systems Analyst Disaster Relief Insurance Adjuster Economist Engineer Forester Graphic Designer Hotel Manager Industrial Designer Interior Designer Land Surveyor Lawyer (including Quebec Notary) Librarian Management Consultant Mathematician / Statistician Range Manager / Conservationist Research Assistant (post-secondary) Scientific Technician / Technologist Seminary Teacher Social Worker Sylviculturist Technical Publication Writer University Teacher Urban Planner / Geographer Vocational Counselor	Dentist Dietician Medical Laboratory Technologist Nutritionist Occupational Therapist Pharmacist Physician Physiotherapist Psychologist Recreational Therapist Registered Nurse Veterinarian	Agriculturist Animal Breeder Animal Scientist Apiculturist Astronomer Biochemist Biologist Chemist Dairy Scientist Entomologist Epidemiologist Geneticist Geologist Geophysicist Horticulturalist Meteorologist Physicist Plant Breeder Poultry Scientist Soil Scientist Zoologist