IN THIS GUIDE · Analyze the actual duties before treating a Québec City offer as a TN case
Confirm what the role actually involves
Ask the employer for a description of recurring tasks and expected outputs, not only a title. Hypothetical example: a Québec City offer is titled analyste, but the attached description centres on client-facing coordination. Bring both the title and the underlying description to the review, since renaming the position does not establish which profession, if any, applies. A useful review separates core duties from incidental tasks and identifies who assigns, evaluates, and pays for the work. That record helps the employer decide whether the listed profession is supportable before a letter is drafted.
Match the credential to the specific profession's rule
Locate the listed occupation and identify the degree, licence or accepted alternative it requires. A Québec-issued diploma or professional-order membership may be relevant, but the rule differs by profession, and an alternative accepted for one occupation cannot be assumed for another. Keep original transcripts and licence records, and commission translation or evaluation only for the requirement actually at issue. Where the listed rule accepts more than one qualification, identify the precise alternative relied on and retain the issuing record. Do not substitute a nearby credential merely because the subject matter feels similar.
Document the employer relationship, in English and French where relevant
Record the identified position, remuneration and intended period, and disclose any staffing agency or client involved. If materials exist in both English and French, ensure the operative version used for the U.S. filing matches the terms actually offered. Disclose ownership interests; a stake in the Québec entity does not automatically bar TN eligibility, but it needs individual review against the U.S. self-employment restriction. The review should name the U.S. entity that controls the work and distinguish it from a recruiter, payroll intermediary, or client. This matters because the relationship must be candidly described, including any ownership that could point toward self-employment.
Confirm the applicable admission process
Canadian citizens generally may seek TN admission at an eligible port of entry or preclearance location without first obtaining a TN visa; an employer may instead use a USCIS petition where appropriate. Mexican citizens follow a different visa-based process. Review the applicant's prior U.S. immigration history and any longer-term residence plan before travel, since a temporary offer does not remove that analysis. Choose the route only after the evidence is stable. A Canadian may request classification during inspection at an eligible crossing or preclearance facility, while an employer may seek USCIS approval through an I-129; neither route authorizes work before approval or admission.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.