Read the general professional work overview
Before selecting a TN profession, explain what the proposed work involves and what credentials that profession requires. A consulting agreement is a commercial document; its label does not decide immigration classification.
Describe what the client actually needs
Hypothetical example: an agreement calls a person a consultant but asks for ongoing technical production and staff supervision. Write a factual account of the work, expected results and reporting relationship. Do not recast those duties as management consulting simply because the contract uses that word.
Test the profession against the evidence
Identify the listed profession under consideration and its actual credential requirements. Canadian permanent residence alone does not establish Canadian citizenship. Where a degree comes from an institution outside Canada, Mexico or the United States, the required reliable foreign-credential evaluation is separate from translation. Preserve the institution’s identity and the credential itself.
Resolve the mismatch before relying on the letter
Compare the employer letter with the signed assignment, résumé and qualifications. Flag genuine inconsistencies for clarification by the responsible parties. Do not edit the underlying work description into a category it does not fit. Services to a U.S. entity solely owned or controlled by the applicant raise the TN prohibition on that arrangement; a contract title does not resolve it. TN principals must be Canadian or Mexican citizens in a listed profession with its prescribed qualifications. A degree from an institution outside Canada, Mexico or the United States needs a reliable foreign-credential evaluation. Canadian citizens generally may seek TN admission without a TN visa; Mexican citizens generally need the visa. Neither process removes temporary-intent or any applicable practice-licensing requirement.
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.