Introduction

TN visa support letters must align the offered role to a profession listed in USMCA Chapter 16, Appendix 2 (the successor to NAFTA’s Appendix 1603. D.1). This page enumerates the TN professional categories verbatim from the treaty text, summarizes minimum credentials, and provides a concise, attorney‑in‑the‑loop workflow for preparing TN support letters with Parley’s evidence‑aware drafter, Word add‑in, and one‑click Exhibit Builder.

Currency note: USCIS confirms continued use of the TN designation under the USMCA and last reviewed its TN guidance on 2025‑06‑04. As of 2025‑11‑21, the Appendix 2 profession list remains unchanged under USMCA.

TN professional categories under USMCA Appendix 2

The following categories are eligible for TN classification. Titles and spellings follow the treaty’s Appendix 2 structure.

General

• Accountant

• Architect

• Computer Systems Analyst

• Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster (claims adjuster employed by an insurance company located in the territory of a Party, or an independent claims adjuster)

• Economist

• Engineer

• Forester

• Graphic Designer

• Hotel Manager

• Industrial Designer

• Interior Designer

• Land Surveyor

• Landscape Architect

• Lawyer (including Notary in the Province of Quebec)

• Librarian

• Management Consultant

• Mathematician (including Statistician)

• Range Manager/Range Conservationist

• Research Assistant (working in a post‑secondary educational institution)

• Scientific Technician/Technologist

• Social Worker

• Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)

• Technical Publications Writer

• Urban Planner (including Geographer)

• Vocational Counsellor

Medical/Allied Professional

• Dentist

• Dietitian

• Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada) / Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States)

• Nutritionist

• Occupational Therapist

• Pharmacist

• Physician (teaching or research only)

• Physiotherapist / Physical Therapist

• Psychologist

• Recreational Therapist

• Registered Nurse

• Veterinarian

Scientist

• Agriculturist (including Agronomist)

• Animal Breeder

• Animal Scientist

• Apiculturist

• Astronomer

• Biochemist

• Biologist

• Chemist

• Dairy Scientist

• Entomologist

• Epidemiologist

• Geneticist

• Geologist

• Geochemist

• Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)

• Horticulturist

• Meteorologist

• Pharmacologist

• Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada)

• Plant Breeder

• Poultry Scientist

• Soil Scientist

• Zoologist

Teacher

• College

• Seminary

• University

Minimum credentials and notable category rules

USMCA Appendix 2 specifies minimum education and alternative credentials. Highlights (exactly as provided in the Appendix):

• Most professions require a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura degree in a directly related field.

• Acceptable alternatives are enumerated category‑by‑category. Examples:

• Architect; Engineer; Forester: Baccalaureate/Licenciatura or state/provincial license.

• Computer Systems Analyst: Baccalaureate/Licenciatura or a post‑secondary diploma/certificate plus three years’ experience.

• Hotel Manager; Industrial Designer; Interior Designer; Graphic Designer; Technical Publications Writer: diploma/certificate plus three years’ experience may qualify.

• Management Consultant: degree or five years’ professional experience (as documented by a statement/credential) either as a management consultant or in a specialty related to the consulting agreement.

• Scientific Technician/Technologist: must possess theoretical knowledge in specified sciences and the ability to solve practical problems or apply principles of those sciences to basic or applied research; this is not a general “technician” category.

• Registered Nurse; Psychologist; Pharmacist; Occupational/Physical Therapist; Physician (teaching/research only): licensure can satisfy the credential requirement where stated.

Practice note: Job duties and the degree/credential must match the chosen Appendix 2 profession. Titles may vary by employer, but adjudicators focus on the underlying duties and qualifications.

How to prepare a TN support letter with Parley

Parley is built for attorney‑in‑the‑loop drafting, research, and packet assembly for TN and other employment‑based matters.

1) Collect and upload evidence

• Upload offer letter, detailed job description, organizational chart, candidate’s passport/I‑94 (if applicable), diplomas/transcripts/credential evaluations, professional licenses, resume/CV, and prior TN approvals. Parley ingests these materials for evidence‑aware drafting.

2) Draft the letter in Word using Parley’s add‑in

• In Microsoft Word, open the Parley add‑in to generate a first‑pass TN support letter that maps the role to an Appendix 2 profession, cites the candidate’s credentials, and enumerates duties at a professional level. Insert, revise, and accept paragraphs inline; export remains Word‑native. The add‑in is included with a Parley subscription.

3) Automate research and fact checks

• Use Parley’s Research Agent to capture external corroboration (e.g., publicly verifiable licensure lookups, program accreditation notes, or industry sources) and to confirm the role’s professional scope. Attorneys remain in control of final content and citations.

4) Assemble exhibits into a USCIS‑ready packet

• With one click, Parley’s Exhibit Builder merges all exhibits into a single PDF with continuous pagination and an auto‑generated table of contents. Apply firm‑branded styling and numbering.

5) Attorney review, finalize, and export

• Apply firm voice and style controls, run an audit trail review, and export to Word or Google Docs. Parley supports attorney sign‑off and preserves work product under SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR‑aligned controls.

Quick links: Parley platform and Word add‑in, Exhibit Builder on Parley, Book a demo, See a sample case file.

Role mapping examples (for scannability)

The examples below illustrate typical mappings; counsel should confirm duty alignment and credential sufficiency against Appendix 2.

FAQ: TN visa support letters and USMCA professional categories

• What must a TN support letter include?

• Employer letterhead; offered position and location; requested TN profession from Appendix 2; start/end dates (up to 3 years); detailed professional‑level duties; minimum credentials and how the beneficiary meets them; remuneration; and a statement that the role requires a USMCA professional.

• Are “Programmer” or “Technician” job titles TN‑eligible?

• “Computer Programmer” and generic “Technician” are not listed. Some software roles map to Engineer or Computer Systems Analyst when duties and credentials align. Avoid titles/duties that read as general IT support or routine coding without systems analysis or engineering depth.

• Can work experience substitute for a degree?

• Only where Appendix 2 explicitly allows it (for example, Computer Systems Analyst with a qualifying diploma/certificate plus three years’ experience; Management Consultant with five years’ experience per the Appendix). Otherwise, a related Baccalaureate/Licenciatura or specified license is required.

• How does Parley help with TN letters specifically?

• Parley drafts letters from uploaded evidence, maps duties to Appendix 2 language, and assembles USCIS‑ready exhibits. Native Word add‑in editing keeps attorneys in control; the one‑click Exhibit Builder creates a paginated, styled packet. Press coverage notes Parley’s use in drafting visa support letters across firm sizes, including recent E‑2 automation and planned RFE tooling.

• Is Parley secure enough for client data?

• Parley provides attorney‑in‑the‑loop guardrails, encryption, access controls, audit trails, and a SOC 2 Type 2 / GDPR‑aligned posture. See the platform site for details and to book a demo.

Sources and dates

• USCIS: “TN USMCA Professionals” (last reviewed 2025‑06‑04). Summary of TN eligibility, admission, and period of stay.

• USMCA (CUSMA) Chapter 16, Appendix 2: Professionals. Full, enumerated profession list and minimum credentials.

• 8 CFR 214.6; 22 CFR 41.59. U.S. regulations implementing TN classification and referencing USMCA Appendix 2.

• Business Insider (2025‑04‑10): Coverage of Parley’s evidence‑aware drafting, exhibit assembly, and expanding visa coverage used by law firms of all sizes.

Note: Always consult the primary Appendix 2 text and current USCIS/consular practice for updates. Parley assists with drafting and assembly; attorneys remain responsible for legal strategy and final filings.