TN: Management Consultant
The Management Consultant work permit is available to Canadian and Mexican citizens under NAFTA. Under immigration’s definition, Management Consultants provide services which are directed toward improving the managerial, operating, and economic performance of a business by analyzing and resolving strategic and operating problems and thereby improving the entity’s goals, objectives, policies, strategies, administration, organization and operation. Management Consultants serve purely advisory roles and are usually engaged as independent contractors, working on a part-time basis. They observe and analyze operations, devise strategies for improvements and provide recommendations to the management of the organization.
Unlike most of the other TN categories, the Management Consultant occupation does not require a Bachelor’s degree. If an individual does not have a degree, he or she may qualify based on 5 years of work experience in the field. For this reason, many CBP and USCIS Officers receive Management Consultant applications from individuals who do not qualify under any other category and review these cases with a much higher level of scrutiny.
General Requirements:
- Proof of Canadian or Mexican Citizenship
- Job Offer from a U.S. employer (or a Canadian/Mexican employer with U.S. engagements)
- Contract for services to be performed
- Bachelor’s degree or 5 years of experience working as a Consultant or within the field
Filing Process:
Canadian citizens may apply for a TN through a USCIS Service Center or may apply directly at a U.S. port of entry, such as the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, NY. Port of entry cases are issued a same day decision. Mexican citizens must apply for the TN at a U.S. Consulate and must obtain a TN Visa Stamp to enter the U.S.
Sample Consultant Roles:
- Advising start-up company on developing internal processes and procedures, advising on the management of multiple business initiatives in a start-up environment
- How to improve a company’s current financial infrastructure and develop short term and long-term financial strategies in order to ensure the growth
- How to reduce costs and increase revenues by advising on the elimination and addition of specialized product offerings
Validity:
Canadian citizens may obtain a TN for up to 3 years at a time. Mexican citizens may obtain a TN for up to 2 years at a time. Currently, there are no limits on the number of TN extensions an individual may obtain but the level of scrutiny for a Management Consultant extension can be much higher.
