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 teaching description at the college, seminary or university level — not K-12 teaching, tutoring or test preparation.
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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 names three Teacher entries — College, Seminary and University — each with this same rule. 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 post-secondary teaching 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 teaching description at the college, seminary or university level — not K-12 teaching, tutoring or test preparation.
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.
- Prepare and deliver lectures for undergraduate courses
- Design course syllabi, assignments and examinations
- Supervise graduate student theses and research projects
- Hold office hours to advise students on coursework
- Evaluate student performance and assign grades
- Develop curriculum for new and existing courses
- Publish scholarly work and present at academic conferences
- Lead seminar discussions on course texts
- Serve on departmental and faculty committees
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 elementary school teacher, high school teacher, kindergarten teacher, substitute teacher, tutor or test prep instructor can describe K-12, tutoring or test-preparation work rather than post-secondary teaching. 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
- Evidence the employer is a college, seminary or university, if that is not clear from its name and letterhead
See the full document checklist.
Organize your Teacher TN visa packet
Answer with your own facts, then inspect the free preview before deciding.
Common questions
What credential does the Teacher entry require?
A Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree. The TN list names three Teacher entries — College, Seminary and University — and each names the degree as the only route. There is no licence, diploma or experience alternative.
Does the TN list cover K-12 teaching?
No. The list names only Teacher (College), Teacher (Seminary) and Teacher (University). Elementary, high school, kindergarten and substitute teaching are not on the list. TNPath does not decide whether a particular job fits a category.
Which list title goes in my letter?
The full title for your role: Teacher (College), Teacher (Seminary) or Teacher (University). Enter your actual job title from the offer in the job-title field, and describe the real duties honestly. TNPath does not decide whether a particular job fits a 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.