TN Visa for Architects – How to Successfully Apply

The TN visa is an employment-based visa that makes it easy for Canadian and Mexican citizens in certain professional occupations to enter and work temporarily in the United States.

This includes Architects. Eligible candidates must meet specific requirements to obtain a TN Visa for architects. 

Read on for everything you need to know about the TN Visa for Architects, including the requirements for getting the visa, how to apply, and possible challenges when applying.

Architect Job Duties in TN Status

The TN Visa guide does not define the job duties of a TN Visa Architect. However, immigration officers use the generally accepted duties of an Architect as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH).

According to the OOH, Architects plan and design houses, office buildings, factories, and other structures. It goes on to define specific duties as follows:

• Meet with clients to determine their objectives and requirements regarding structures.
• Provide preliminary estimates of construction cost and timeline.
• Prepare specifications of structures.
• Direct individuals who prepare drawings.
• Prepare scaled drawings.
• Prepare contract documents for building contractors.
• Manage construction contracts.
• Visit construction sites to ensure the structure complies with architectural plans.

Who is eligible for a TN Architect Visa?

To qualify for the TN visa for Architect, an individual must have at least one of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Licenciatura Degree
• State License 
• Provincial License

The Necessary Requirements for an Architect Applying for TN Visa Status

An individual seeking a TN Architect visa must also meet the TN visa requirements. These requirements are:

• The applicant must be a Mexican or Canadian citizen.
• The individual must have a job offer from a U.S. employer (no self-employment).
• The individual must have a TN employment letter from the employer. This letter provides details of the job, including the job title, a summary of job duties, duration of employment, and remuneration.
• The job must be on the NAFTA (now USMCA) Job list. In this case, “Architect” is on the list.
• The individual must have the educational and professional qualifications to work in the role.
• The individual must intend to stay in the U.S. temporarily (for no more than 3 years).

How to Apply for TN Visa as an Architect?

The TN visa architect application process is the same as when applying for the TN visa under other occupational categories. Canadian and Mexican citizens have different ways to apply for the architect TN visa. 

Canadian citizens applying for the Architect TN visa

Canadians can apply for the Architect TN Visa in two ways:

• Apply at a Port of Entry
• Apply by Mail

To apply at the Port of Entry, a Canadian citizen simply has to prepare their TN visa documentation and present it to Customs and Border Protection Officers at a port of entry when entering the U.S.

There’s no need to file an application with the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Adjudication of Port of Entry TN visa applications is immediate. The CBP officers will review an applicant’s documentation and interview the person, after which they will make a decision immediately.   

Need help? Get the TN Visa Gold Application kit. It provides a list of recommended U.S. Ports of Entry that Canadians should go to for TN visa applications. It also provides the common questions Immigration Officers ask at the interview. It’s like giving candidates exclusive insight into the questions asked. Knowing the questions they’d likely be asked, TN applicants can prepare to answer correctly, increasing their chances of getting approved.

For Canadians, there’s another TN visa architect application option: applying by Mail. To apply this way, candidates must complete USCIS Form I-129 and mail it to the USCIS Texas Service Center.

It can take up to 6 months to get a decision. However, applicants who want faster decisions can request and pay an additional fee for premium processing service. This enables them to get a decision within 15 business days.

Mexican citizens applying for the Architect TN visa

For Mexicans, there’s only one way to get TN Visa status: applying at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico.

To do this, applicants must complete the DS-160 online application form and pay a visa application fee. They must also schedule and attend a visa interview, where they must present their TN visa documentation to the Consular officer. Those who are successful will receive a TN visa stamp in their passports.

What are the possible challenges in applying for an Architect TN Visa?

Individuals applying for the Architect TN visa often face some challenges, especially regarding their license and job description.

Licensing Issues

TN visa regulations do not make an architectural license mandatory for obtaining the Architect TN visa.

However, many U.S. states require people working as architects to be licensed. As a result, TN architects coming to work in a U.S. state where licensing is required may be denied if they are unlicensed. In these cases, TN candidates are expected to obtain an architectural license. But this can take several years.

However, it is possible for an unlicensed Architect to obtain a TN visa in some U.S. states. But in these cases, the unlicensed TN Architect must work under the supervision of a licensed architect. The application may be denied if the TN application does not clearly indicate that the unlicensed Architect will work under the supervision of a licensed one.

Job Description Mismatch

One of the most common reasons for TN visa architect denials is a mismatch between the applicant’s job duties and the generally accepted job duties of the occupational category they are targeting (as defined by the Department of Labor OOH). 

For the Architect TN Visa, applicants can be denied if their job descriptions are vague or do not align with the job duties of the OOH defining what architects normally do.

Conclusion

Mexican and Canadian Architects can consider themselves lucky. The Architect TN Visa provides them an easy path to live and work in the U.S. However, applying for the TN visa is not without its challenges. Licensing and job description issues can sometimes lead to TN visa denials.

However, expert TN visa consultants can help candidates overcome these issues and successfully obtain the Architect TN visa. TN Visa Expert is a trusted expert in this regard. Our professional service and tools have helped tens of thousands of people in their TN visa journey. Contact TN Visa Experts today to get closer to obtaining the Architect TN visa.

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