Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the main federal law governing immigration and nationality in the United States. It was enacted in 1952, has been amended many times since, and now governs the current U.S. immigration system.
The INA sets the rules for who can enter the United States, the types of visas available, and the procedures for becoming a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen.
While the TN visa is a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement (which has been replaced by the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement), it is still implemented under the authority of the INA.
For example, section 214 (e)(2) of the INA was amended to implement NAFTA (now USMCA), under which the TN visa was established. The section was added to define the TN visa and its eligibility requirement by saying that certain citizens of Canada and Mexico who are coming to the U.S. to work in certain professions, on a temporary basis, under NAFTA rules, are eligible for a new nonimmigrant category, called the TN status.
Author Jacob Sapochnick serves as the Managing Partner/CEO of a prominent law firm that focuses on immigration law. Boasting an extensive legal background spanning over a decade, he adeptly merges his enthusiasm for law with cutting-edge technology to aid clients worldwide in their journey to immigrate to the United States.
