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 work to document is professional vocational counselling — assessment, employment planning and rehabilitation coordination — not recruiting, placement sales or case-aide 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))
Follow the quoted entry as written. Do not add a licence or experience alternative that is absent from this entry.
The USCIS Policy Manual (Volume 2, Part P, Chapter 3) states that experience cannot be substituted for that degree.
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 work to document is professional vocational counselling — assessment, employment planning and rehabilitation coordination — not recruiting, placement sales or case-aide 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 for describing professional vocational counselling work, not facts about your job. Use only responsibilities your employer confirms; write them in the employer's own terms.
- Assess clients' abilities, interests and barriers to employment using interviews and standardized assessments
- Develop individualized employment plans with clients returning to work after injury or illness
- Counsel clients on career choice, job search strategies and workplace accommodations
- Coordinate rehabilitation services with medical providers, employers and insurers
- Analyze job requirements and match clients' functional abilities to suitable occupations
- Monitor client progress in work trials and training programs and adjust plans as needed
- Advise employers on job modifications and return-to-work arrangements
- Evaluate the effectiveness of vocational programs and prepare reports for stakeholders
- Research labour market information and occupational requirements to guide client planning
- Document assessments, plans and outcomes in case reports for referral sources
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 Recruiter, Staffing Consultant, Case Aide, Job Developer 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; experience does not replace the degree in this entry
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 Vocational Counselor TN visa packet
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Common questions
Does the TN Vocational Counselor entry accept experience instead of a degree?
No. The entry names a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree only, and USCIS Policy Manual Chapter 3 states that experience cannot be substituted for that degree. If your credential route is unclear, consider an independent review by a U.S. immigration lawyer.
Can a licence replace the degree for Vocational Counselor?
No. Unlike some other entries on the TN list, the Vocational Counselor entry does not name a licence alternative. It names a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree only.
My job title is Career Counselor. Does that change the TN entry?
The TN list entry is Vocational Counselor. Employer titles vary, and officers check whether you will perform the duties associated with the listed profession. BLS describes the nearest occupation this way: “Career counselors and advisors help people choose a path to employment.” Keep your employer's real title, describe the actual duties, and if it is unclear which entry the duties match, consider an independent review by a U.S. immigration lawyer.
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: TN profession list (eCFR)
- USCIS: TN USMCA Professionals
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 2, Part P, Chapter 3: TN credential rules
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: School and Career Counselors and Advisors (nearest BLS occupation; BLS has no Vocational Counselor page)
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change; confirm with official sources before you travel.