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.
Keep the description on professional physics work — not software engineering, data-science product work or technician support.
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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 list title includes Oceanographer in Canada. 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 physics 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 physics — research, modelling, measurement and analysis — not software engineering, data-science product work or technician support.
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.
- Conduct theoretical and experimental research in physics
- Develop mathematical models of physical systems
- Design and run experiments to test physical theories
- Analyze measurement data and interpret results
- Write scientific papers reporting research findings
- Develop simulation software for physics research
- Operate and maintain precision measurement instruments
- Collaborate with scientists on interdisciplinary studies
- Present findings at conferences and seminars
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 software engineer, data scientist, quant developer or technician can describe different occupations. 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
See the full document checklist.
Organize your Physicist TN visa packet
Answer with your own facts, then inspect the free preview before deciding.
Common questions
What credential does the Physicist entry require?
A Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. The entry names no licence, diploma or experience alternative — the degree is the only route.
My degree is in oceanography. Does the entry still name me?
The list title is Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada). Use the exact degree name on your documents. TNPath does not determine whether a related degree satisfies the entry — copy it exactly and keep the job description focused on physics.
I mostly write software. Can I use this category?
Keep the description of the job focused on physics: research, modelling, measurement and data analysis. Pure software engineering or data-science product work is different work. 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
- 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
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.