Read the general professional work overview
Hypothetical example: a Guelph/Eramosa agronomist with an agriculture degree has a US seed company's standard offer letter, full of quota language, and a start date two weeks away. The TN file that succeeds is built in a specific order: the profession and its Appendix 2 requirement first, the employer's letter rewritten to match, the credential documents attached to prove the requirement, and the resignation last. Most refusals in cases like this trace back to doing those steps in the opposite order.
Start from the Appendix 2 entry
Before asking the employer for anything, read the Agriculturist entry, which includes agronomists and requires a baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree. That entry defines what the letter must prove: that the position is agronomy work and that the applicant holds a qualifying degree. Copy the entry's wording into a note for the employer so the letter uses the profession's name rather than an internal title. Check citizenship at the same step from the passport, because TN is available only to Canadian and Mexican citizens; a Canadian permanent resident cannot proceed however good the letter is. If the degree is in an adjacent field, decide now whether a transcript and course list will show agronomic content, or whether the entry is not met.
Get the letter rewritten, then assemble the proof
The employer's TN letter should be a separate document from the domestic offer, addressed to the port of entry, on letterhead and signed. It states the profession, describes duties in agronomic terms, names the degree required and held, gives the period requested up to three years, the compensation, and confirms the applicant is an employee rather than self-employed. Only after the letter is right should the supporting documents be finalized: passport, degree certificate, transcript, a résumé consistent with the letter, and proof of any professional registration. Remove documents that contradict the letter, such as a domestic offer emphasizing sales targets. Two versions of the same job in one folder is a frequent cause of refusal.
Apply, then resign, then move
Canadian citizens present the TN application at a port of entry or preclearance, or the employer may file a petition; no visa stamp is issued either way. Choose the location and time with margin for a refusal and a second attempt. Keep the current job until the admission is granted, and do not sign a US lease or move the household before then. If the employer needs early help, remote preparation from Guelph/Eramosa is not US employment and is safe to do. After admission, note the expiry date on the admission record and diarize renewal, and keep the whole file, because the same letter and documents will be needed at each renewal and every time the employment terms change.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.