As a TN client, you may need to answer questions asked of you by a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officer at the border or during a visa interview with a consular officer.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you can either: 1. Apply directly at a U.S. CBP port of entry when entering the U.S. or 2. Have your employer submit the TN application along with Form I-129 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and then seek entry once approved at a U.S. port of entry.
If you are a Mexican citizen, you will need to submit the paperwork to a U.S. embassy or consulate along with Form DS-160, attend an interview, receive a visa number, and then seek entry at a U.S. port of entry.
PART 1: PREPARING FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
During your interview, the CBP or consular officer may ask for details about your history in the U.S., such as your past work experience, your criminal background, details about your job with the sponsoring employer, etc. The officer could deny your TN, and you may have to re-apply with additional evidence if you are found to have given contradictory information during your interview. This is why you need to review the information you submitted in your I-129 and/or DS-160 before attending the interview or arriving at the border.
To better prepare for your interview, you should research the following information and be comfortable discussing this information in a conversational manner.
Biographic Information: The CBP or consular officer will want to verify all the details in your TN Visa application. That includes your name, details of your birth, places you have lived, etc. The USCIS officer interviewing you is interested in the answers you give and how you answer those questions. Your responses will be verified to help establish the validity of the evidence presented in the application you submitted earlier.
Job & Past Experience: The CBP or consular officer may ask you to elaborate on your new job and past employment history. They also may ask about your educational history.
The CBP or consular officer wants to verify that you are qualified for your TN visa job. You should not memorize and recite the job description word-by-word. However, you should review the job description and job details and be able to explain your job and qualifications in a conversational way. Please remember that the job details below may not be exhaustive but are just a guide.
Admissibility: The CBP or consular officer may ask about your immigration background. They want proof that you are a non-immigrant, so be sure to include evidence that you intend to depart the US after completing your job.
The officer may also ask you about your criminal background. This includes previous criminal records – if you have been arrested or convicted by any court of law in the past, either in the U.S. or somewhere else. The officer will have records of any violation, even if it has been erased or cleared. You may also receive questions about any immigration violations in the past. You must answer these questions honestly and not try to hide any issues in your past.
PART TWO: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR INTERVIEW
Before your interview, we will send you instructions and a discount link/coupon code on how to book a visa interview prep session with a former U.S. Consular officer on the Argo platform. Argo is the world's first platform to connect visa applicants with former Consular officers who have first-hand experience approving thousands of visa applications. For more information about Argo, check out the Argo video and their website. Note: Please DO NOT book the consultation with Argo until you receive the unique discount link/coupon code from us so that you can save money on this valuable service.
We wish you the best in your TN visa interview! Once your TN visa is approved, please let us know.