This template provides an example of a letter that can be prepared by a department for a TN applicant who will present him or herself at the border, or who will apply to the USCIS by mail for an extension or other benefit.

How The Letter will be Used

Important Elements Of The Letter

Occupational Titles

Addresses

Suggested Text Of Letter
 
 

How The Letter Will Be Used
This letter may be used in one of two ways by Canadian applicants: Presented at the border, or included in a petition to the USCIS Service Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Make certain that the department and the applicant agree upon how the letter will be used, and prepare the addressee section of the letter accordingly.
 

Important Elements Of The Letter
The employer's letter is arguably the most important and subjective element of the TN transaction. It must be prepared with attention to five criteria:

• Stanford is offering employment in an occupation that is on the NAFTA Schedule

• the validity period requested is one year or less;

• the applicant will be paid a salary by Stanford;

• the level of remuneration;

• the applicant possesses the qualifications necessary to be employed in the occupation

Occupational Titles
The NAFTA Schedule features almost 70 occupations in which Canadian and Mexican practitioners may be employed. These titles, for the most part, do not correspond exactly to Stanford titles for the type of work that is carried out in the respective professions. For example, Professor, Postdoc, Research Associate and Lecturer are not NAFTA occupations. However, Research Assistant, Economist, Librarian, Accountant, Mathematician, Engineer and several kinds of "Scientist" are among those occupational titles that do appear on the Schedule. It is important to use a NAFTA title in the letter, rather than a Stanford title that may not be covered by the Schedule, so the Inspector or Adjudicator isn't faced with the prospect of having to figure out what kind of work the applicant really does. If this is too daunting, appears too time-consuming, or raises doubts in the Inspector or Adjudicator's mind as to the legitimacy of the application, the employee could be turned back or the petition denied.

Don't try to substitute a standard offer of employment for the TN letter. These letters contain much more information than the USCIS inspector needs to make a decision; they can easily prejudice the transaction by raising suspicions about nonimmigrant intent or conformity of the position to the Schedule.
 
 

Addresses
These are the various addresses to use in the letter, according to where and how the applicant will process the TN transaction. Don't mail the letter to the USCIS by itself; if the applicant is extending or otherwise processing the TN case by mail, include the letter with the other materials that will be submitted to Bechtel as part of the larger petition. If the applicant is processing at the border, send him or her the letter.
 
 

• Address to Use for Application at the Border

Inspector/Free Trade Specialist
United States Immigration and Naturalization Service
(name of port of entry or pre-flight inspection counter, if known)

Name of Beneficiary:
Subject: TN nonimmigrant status
 

• Address to Use when Submitting Petition to Lincoln by US Mail

Mr. Terry E. Way
Director, Nebraska Service Center
Immigration and Naturalization Service
PO Box 87129
Lincoln, NE 68501-7129

Name of Beneficiary:
Subject: TN nonimmigrant status

• Address to Use when Submitting Petition to Lincoln by Federal Express/Other Courier

Mr. Terry E. Way
Director, Nebraska Service Center
Immigration and Naturalization Service
850 S
Lincoln NE 68508-7129

Name of Beneficiary:
Subject: TN nonimmigrant status

Suggested Text Of Letter

Dear Inspector:

This letter supports the use of TN status by the referenced applicant, whom Stanford University wishes to employ for a period of time, currently not contemplated to exceed one year, as a (use occupational title from NAFTA Schedule). The salary for the position is $xx,xxx per year.

Stanford University is an internationally-known institution of higher learning and research, located south of San Francisco, California. It employs about 17,000 people in various professional disciplines, teaching and support/administrative positions. In the (give the hiring unit), we carry out (describe the research or other work done in enough detail to inform the Inspector of the scope and nature of education and experience needed to perform the job).

The applicant holds a (type of degree) in (field) and has (describe experience). (Describe how the experience and credentials are relevant to the work to be performed. Elaborate any aspect of the applicant's background that is noteworthy or outstanding, such as the quality of the institution where the degree was earned, notable accomplishments, etc. Be sure to explain how the applicant's education/experience qualify him/her for the position to be filled.)

We are grateful to the Service for facilitating this request. Please call me if there are any issues or questions relevant to the work of this department or the applicant's role.
 
 

Sincerely
 
 

Chair/Principal Investigator