TN Visa Documents Checklist: What to Bring to the Border or Consulate

Showing up at a U.S. border crossing or consulate without the right documents ends your TN application immediately. There's no "can I email you a missing document" option when you're in secondary inspection. Your packet needs to be complete before you leave home.

Here are the documents required for each TN application scenario.

Canadian Border Application Checklist

These documents are required at a U.S. land border crossing or airport preclearance facility:

Core Documents (Required for Everyone):

• [ ] Valid Canadian passport (original — not a photocopy)
• [ ] Employer support letter (original, signed, on company letterhead)
• [ ] Educational credential: original degree diploma
• [ ] Educational credential: official transcripts (sealed, from the institution)
• [ ] Filing fee: $6 for I-94 (check current rate at your crossing)

If Your Degree Is From Outside Canada, U.S., or Mexico:

• [ ] Credential evaluation from a NACES-member evaluator (WES, ECE, etc.)
• [ ] Original foreign degree certificate or diploma
• [ ] Certified English translations of any non-English documents

For Specific Profession Categories:

• [ ] Professional license (for licensed professions: Pharmacist, Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, etc.)
• [ ] VisaScreen certificate (for healthcare workers: nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists)
• [ ] Evidence of consulting experience (for Management Consultant on the 5-year experience path)
• [ ] State/provincial engineering or architecture license (if using license in lieu of degree)

If This Is a Renewal:

• [ ] Updated employer support letter covering the new period
• [ ] Copy of current I-94 (download from cbp.dhs.gov/I94 before you travel)

Mexican Consular Application Checklist

Pre-Interview Documents to Prepare:

• [ ] Valid Mexican passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
• [ ] Completed DS-160 application (ceac.state.gov) — print the confirmation page
• [ ] MRV fee payment receipt ($185)
• [ ] Appointment confirmation letter (biometric + interview)
• [ ] Passport-style photos (format per consulate specifications)

Professional and Employer Documents:

• [ ] Employer support letter (original, signed, on company letterhead)
• [ ] Cedula Profesional (Mexican professional license — bring original)
• [ ] Educational credentials: degree certificates and transcripts
• [ ] Credential evaluation if required
• [ ] Certified English translations of any Spanish documents
• [ ] Evidence of employer legitimacy (if not a well-known company): company registration, recent tax filings, website printout

Evidence of Ties to Mexico (Nonimmigrant Intent):

• [ ] Property ownership documents or lease agreement
• [ ] Bank account statements showing ongoing Mexico financial ties
• [ ] Evidence of family in Mexico (birth certificates of children, spouse in Mexico)
• [ ] Any business ownership or ongoing professional obligations in Mexico
• [ ] Tax filing history in Mexico

What the Employer Support Letter Must Include

The support letter is the document that does the most work. Bring an original, signed letter with:

• [ ] Company letterhead (U.S. entity name, address, contact information)
• [ ] Date and authorized signatory name/title
• [ ] Applicant's full legal name as it appears on their passport
• [ ] Specific USMCA profession category (e.g., "Computer Systems Analyst" — not just "Software Engineer")
• [ ] Detailed job duty description — at least 150–200 words covering specific responsibilities
• [ ] Minimum education/experience qualifications and how the applicant meets them
• [ ] Salary and compensation details
• [ ] Start date and proposed duration (maximum 3 years)
• [ ] Statement confirming the temporary nature of the position

About the I-94

The I-94 is your official record of admission to the United States. When a CBP officer approves your TN application at a land border, they create an electronic I-94 record.

After crossing: Verify your I-94 at cbp.dhs.gov/I94 within a few days. Check:

• Admission class: should show "TN"
• Authorized stay end date: should match what the officer told you
• Name spelling matches your passport exactly

Keep a screenshot or printed copy of your I-94 — you'll need it when renewing, changing jobs, or applying for state ID.

At airport preclearance: Same process. Your I-94 is generated electronically when the CBP officer approves your TN.

If your I-94 contains an error (wrong end date, wrong status class), return to the port of entry where you entered and request a correction. Don't wait — errors in your I-94 can cause problems with employers, banks, and future immigration applications.

Documents to Leave at Home (Don't Bring These)

Bringing documents that suggest immigrant intent can hurt your application:

• Do not bring pending I-140 approval notices or I-485 receipt notices to a border TN renewal
• Do not bring green card application documents
• Do not bring evidence of having purchased a home in the U.S. as your "permanent residence"

You don't need to hide that you own a home in the U.S. — TN holders commonly do. But presenting it unsolicited as part of your packet suggests you've planted deep roots, which undermines the temporary intent argument.

Download the complete document checklist and employer letter template from the US TN Visa (USMCA) Guide — formatted as a printable PDF you can work through before every application or renewal.