The category in brief
Your 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.
Keep the description on professional site planning and design work — not grounds maintenance, planting labour or installation work.
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What the TN list requires
Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree.
TN profession list, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A of USMCA Chapter 16 (8 CFR 214.6(c))
The entry names the degree as the only route named in the list — it does not name a licence, diploma or experience alternative, and the USCIS Policy Manual notes that where a degree is required, experience cannot be substituted for that degree. Copy the credential exactly from the documents you actually hold.
As general information about practice, separate from the TN list credential: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says “All states require landscape architects to be licensed.” State licensing is a separate practice question that each state governs. Confirm the practice requirements with the relevant U.S. state and your employer; do not treat a U.S. licence as part of the TN list entry above.
What to explain at the counter
- Describe professional-level landscape architecture 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.
- Keep the description on site planning and design — analysis, plans, grading and planting design — not grounds maintenance, planting labour or installation work.
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 drawn from the BLS description, not facts about your job. Use only responsibilities your employer confirms; write them in the employer’s own terms.
- Analyze site conditions, including survey data, soils, drainage, climate and existing vegetation, for development projects
- Prepare site plans, planting plans and construction drawings for parks, campuses and commercial developments
- Design grading, drainage and stormwater management systems for project sites
- Select plant materials suited to the site and specify them in planting plans and schedules
- Prepare cost estimates, specifications and contract documents for landscape construction
- Coordinate with architects, engineers and planners on site design through all project phases
- Review construction work on site for compliance with the design drawings and specifications
- Design irrigation and lighting systems for project sites and public spaces
- Prepare environmental and site analysis reports for development and redevelopment projects
- Present design proposals to clients, approval bodies and community groups
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 Landscaper, Gardener, Landscape Technician, Landscape Labourer, Nursery Worker, Groundskeeper 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 certificate and transcripts, using the exact names on your records
You can also turn this list into a personal checklist with the free TN document checklist generator.
See the full document checklist. Only include licence or bar details you affirm holding and can document.
Organize your Landscape Architect TN visa packet
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Common questions
What credential does the Landscape Architect entry require?
A Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. The entry names no licence, diploma or experience alternative. The USCIS Policy Manual notes that where a degree is required, experience cannot be substituted for that degree. Copy the credential exactly from the documents you actually hold.
Does the TN entry require a U.S. landscape architect licence?
The TN list entry names a degree only. Separately, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says: “All states require landscape architects to be licensed.” U.S. licensure is a practice matter handled by states after entry, separate from the TN list credential. Confirm the practice requirements with the relevant U.S. state and your employer.
How should site design work be described in the employer letter?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics describes the occupation this way: “Landscape architects design parks and other outdoor spaces.” Describe site planning and design work in the employer’s own terms. Grounds maintenance, planting labour and installation work are different kinds of work, so describe the actual role accurately. TNPath does not decide whether a particular job fits the category.
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.
Sources
- 8 CFR 214.6(c): TN profession list (eCFR)
- USCIS: TN USMCA Professionals
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part P, Chapter 3: USMCA Professionals (TN)
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Landscape Architects
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.