The category in brief
Your TN visa packet should document the professional work offered by the U.S. employer, the credential route in this list entry, and the requested temporary stay. Bring facts that agree across the signed letter and your supporting documents.
Describe hotel management — operations, staffing, guest services and financial management of the property.
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What the TN list requires
Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management, and three years experience in hotel/restaurant management.
TN profession list, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of USMCA Chapter 16 (8 CFR 214.6(c))
The “or” matters: the quoted routes are alternatives, not a demand to hold every credential. Copy the credential exactly from the documents you actually hold; do not add an alternative the entry does not name.
What to explain at the counter
- Describe professional-level work using the employer’s real responsibilities.
- State the temporary period requested, up to three years, with actual start and end dates.
- Keep the letter, résumé, offer details and interview answers consistent.
- Describe hotel management — operations, staffing, guest services and financial management of the property.
TNPath doesn't assess whether your evidence is sufficient; that's the officer's call
If the role or credential route is unclear, consider speaking with a U.S. immigration lawyer.
Describe the actual duties
These occupational examples are prompts, not facts about your job. Use only responsibilities your employer confirms; write them in the employer’s own terms.
- Oversee daily hotel operations including front office and housekeeping
- Manage staffing, hiring, training and scheduling across departments
- Set room rates and monitor occupancy and revenue performance
- Resolve guest complaints and ensure service quality standards
- Prepare operational budgets and control departmental expenses
- Coordinate with sales teams on group bookings and events
- Ensure compliance with health, safety and licensing requirements
Never add, inflate or reword duties to fit a category. Every line in the letter should be something your employer will confirm and you can describe in your own words at the counter.
Job titles that draw questions
Titles such as front desk clerk, night auditor, housekeeping, bartending can describe support work or another occupation. Keep the real title and describe the responsibilities honestly. TNPath’s wording flags are prompts for review, not USCIS category rulings.
Your employer must verify, approve and sign the final letter
Documents to bring
- Canadian passport
- Signed employer letter on company letterhead, original and copy
- Résumé matching the letter
- Offer letter, if any
- Means of paying the applicable CBP fee
- Degree route: your degree in hotel/restaurant management, with transcripts
- Diploma route: your diploma in hotel/restaurant management (a program of two or more years), with transcripts, plus letters from employers confirming at least three years of hotel/restaurant management experience
See the full document checklist. Only include licence or bar details you affirm holding and can document.
Organize your Hotel Manager TN visa packet
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Common questions
What are the two credential routes?
A Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in hotel/restaurant management; or a post-secondary diploma in hotel/restaurant management plus three years of experience in hotel/restaurant management. (The list also names a Post-Secondary Certificate, which its definitions describe as a Mexican credential.)
Does the degree have to be in hotel/restaurant management?
Yes — the list names the field. A degree in another field does not match this entry's degree route. Confirm the field on your documents before continuing.
Does the three years of experience have to be in hotel/restaurant management?
Yes — the list names the field for the experience too. Present hotel/restaurant management experience with employer letters showing titles and dates.
Is restaurant-only management covered?
The entry says hotel/restaurant management. Describe the actual management responsibilities; TNPath does not determine whether a restaurant-only role fits.
As a Canadian, do I need a TN visa before I go to the border?
Generally, no. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and apply for TN status directly at a U.S. port of entry or airport preclearance, with their documents in hand. The officer decides at the counter. People still search for "TN visa", but for Canadians it's a status granted at entry, not a visa stamp. One exception: if you live outside Canada and will enter with a spouse or children who are not Canadian citizens, the State Department says you need a TN visa so they can apply for TD visas.
Will TNPath tell me whether I qualify?
No. TNPath is a document-assembly tool. It organizes the facts you provide into templates and gives general information. It doesn't make eligibility determinations or recommend case-specific strategy. Only U.S. Customs and Border Protection decides whether to admit you.
What counts as a post-secondary diploma for the second route?
The TN list defines it as a credential issued on completion of two or more years of post-secondary education by an accredited academic institution in Canada or the United States, in hotel/restaurant management. A shorter program does not meet the definition.
Sources
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part P: USMCA Professionals (TN)
- 8 CFR 214.6(c): TN profession list (eCFR)
- USMCA Chapter 16, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A (USTR)
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Lodging Managers
Last reviewed October 2, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.