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.
The TN list entry is degree-only. A licence may be relevant to the actual work, but it is not an alternative credential route in this entry.
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))
Follow the quoted entry as written. Do not add a licence or experience alternative that is absent from this entry.
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.
- The TN list entry is degree-only. A licence may be relevant to the actual work, but it is not an alternative credential route in this entry.
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.
- Assess clients’ needs and support networks
- Develop social work service plans
- Connect clients with community resources
- Advocate for services addressing client needs
- Respond to client crisis situations
- Help clients adjust to significant life changes
- Monitor progress toward client service goals
- Maintain social work case records
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 Personal Care Aide, Receptionist, Administrative Assistant 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
- Evidence of the credential route quoted above, using the exact names on your records
- Degree evidence; an optional social work licence does not replace the degree in this entry
See the full document checklist. Only include licence or bar details you affirm holding and can document.
Organize your Social Worker packet
Answer with your own facts, then inspect the free preview before deciding.
Common questions
Can a licence replace the degree in this TN entry?
No. The Social Worker list entry names Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree only. The optional licence question records a credential you hold; it does not create a licence alternative.
Should I include a social work licence?
Include it only if you hold it and can document it. Your employer should separately confirm the state rules for the actual role.
Are aide or intake duties automatically social work?
No title or duty example decides the category. Describe the actual assessment, service planning and other responsibilities accurately; seek independent advice if the role is unclear.
As a Canadian, do I need a TN visa before I go to the border?
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.
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)
- USMCA Chapter 16, Appendix 2 to Annex 16-A (USTR)
- CBP: Traveling on a TN or L-1 from Canada
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: occupational duties and practice context
Last reviewed October 2, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.