---
title: "United States TN USMCA Professional requirements 2026"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/tn-usmca-professional/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

United States · Work

# United States TN USMCA Professional

**First stay:** 3 yrs

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **First stay:** 3 yrs (Initial admission up to 3 years; extension of stay by the employer's Form I-129.)
- **Who can apply:** 2 nationalities (Citizens of Canada and Mexico only.)

## Key facts

TN USMCA Professional is a work route for United States. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Government fees:** $1,015
- **First stay:** 3 yrs

## Cost, time and long term

**Government fees: $1,015**

- $1,015 Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online) when the employer files with USCIS; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).

**Renewal: Renewable**

Admission is for up to 3 years and can be extended by the employer filing Form I-129.

[U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals)

**Citizenship: Time here doesn't count**

Naturalisation requires years of lawful permanent resident status (5 years, or 3 if married to a U.S. citizen), so time in this temporary status does not count toward it.

[U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Time on this route doesn't count toward citizenship
- Needs a job offer from an employer in United States
- Only for passports from Canada, Mexico

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico.
- The applicant has a prearranged full-time or part-time job offer from a U.S. employer or entity in a professional occupation.

#### What you must show and pay

- **A fee of $1,015** · Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online) when the employer files with USCIS; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).

#### Steps

1. Canadian citizens residing abroad present documents to CBP at a designated port of entry or preflight station.
2. Mexican citizens must obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate in Mexico.

## When you become tax resident

How United States decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 3 years at first, renewable**
- **Tax residence:** - **At least 31 days in the current calendar year** Minimum days of presence in the current year.
- **At least 183 days in the current year plus two preceding years (weighted 1, 1/3, 1/6)** Weighted days of presence over the three-year period.
- **Foreign-source income:** U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.

[All tax rules for United States](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Status for Canadian and Mexican citizens entering to work in a USMCA-listed professional occupation for a U.S. employer. (sources 1, 2)

#### What you must show and pay

- A fee of $1,015 · Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online) when the employer files with USCIS; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit). (source 2)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico. (source 1)
- The applicant has a prearranged full-time or part-time job offer from a U.S. employer or entity in a professional occupation. (source 1)
- Canadian citizens residing abroad present documents to CBP at a designated port of entry or preflight station. (source 1)
- Mexican citizens must obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate in Mexico. (source 1)

#### Stay

- Initial admission up to 3 years; extension of stay by the employer's Form I-129.
- First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

#### Nationality

Citizens of Canada and Mexico only. Open to: Canada, Mexico.

#### Work

Work for the named U.S. employer in the TN occupation.

#### Family

TD dependants for spouse and children.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [TN USMCA Professionals](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26)](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-10-07
3. [USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
4. [I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization)](https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-married-to-a-us-citizen) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11

## TN USMCA Professional and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TN USMCA Professional | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [E-3 Australian specialty](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e3-specialty-occupation-australia/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [EB-1B Outstanding researcher](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1b-outstanding-researcher/) | – | – | – |
| [EB-1C Multinational manager](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1c-multinational-manager/) | – | – | – |
| [EB-2 Advanced degree](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb2-advanced-degree-exceptional-ability/) | – | – | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the TN USMCA Professional?

A fee of $1,015. Form I-129 for E-1, E-2, E-3 or TN petitions (USD 965 online) when the employer files with USCIS; the petitioner also pays the Asylum Program Fee of USD 600 (USD 300 for a small employer, USD 0 for a nonprofit).

### How long can I stay on the TN USMCA Professional?

Initial admission up to 3 years; extension of stay by the employer's Form I-129.

### Can I work on the TN USMCA Professional?

Work for the named U.S.

### Can I bring my family on the TN USMCA Professional?

TD dependants for spouse and children.

### Who can apply for the TN USMCA Professional?

Citizens of Canada and Mexico only. Open to: Canada, Mexico.

### How are TN USMCA Professional holders taxed in United States?

No special regime in our records is tied to the TN USMCA Professional. The standard rules apply: U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on worldwide income at the graduated rates that apply to citizens; non-residents are taxed on U.S.-source income under Form 1040-NR rules.

## More in United States

[EB-1A Extraordinary ability](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb1a-extraordinary-ability/) [EB-2 National Interest Waiver](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb2-niw/) [E-1 Treaty Trader](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/e1-treaty-trader/) [Entrepreneur parole (IER)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/international-entrepreneur-parole/) [EB-3 Skilled worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/eb3-skilled-professional-other/) [H-1B Specialty occupation](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h1b-specialty-occupation/) [H-2A Farm worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h2a-agricultural-worker/) [H-2B Seasonal worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/h2b-nonagricultural-worker/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇲🇽 Job-offer residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/temporary-resident-job-offer/) [🇨🇴 Internationalisation visa M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/m-fomento-internacionalizacion/) [🇨🇷 Scientist/professional permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/costa-rica/temporary-professionals-scientists/) [🇧🇷 Work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/vitem-v-work/) [🇨🇦 Express Entry · Skilled Worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/canada/express-entry-pr/) [🇵🇦 Friendly Nations residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/friendly-nations-permanent/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [TN USMCA Professionals](https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/tn-nafta-professionals) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-10
2. [Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/07/26)](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-12
3. [USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 2: Lawful permanent resident admission for naturalization](https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-2) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11
4. [I am married to a U.S. citizen (naturalization)](https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/citizenship-and-naturalization/i-am-married-to-a-us-citizen) · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.
