TN Visa – Geochemist
NAFTA Requirements for TN Visa as a Geochemist.
1. Basic Qualifications:
To qualify for TN status under NAFTA as a Geochemist, an applicant must possess one of the following:
1. A Bachelor’s (Baccalaureate) degree; or
2. A Licenciatura Degree.
2. History of Category:
The Geochemist occupation was initially not included in the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) in 1989. See 54 Federal Register 12 (Jan. 3, 1989). The predecessor to NAFTA, the FTA provided work authorization under TC status only to Canadian citizens. The Geochemist occupation was proposed for inclusion in the FTA in 1991 since both the Geophysicist and Geologist occupations were already part of the FTA. See 56 Federal Register 11528 (March 19, 1991). The Geochemist occupation was carried over and included in the NAFTA list of available occupations in 1994. See 58 FR 69205 (Dec. 30, 1993).
3. Degree Requirements:
The regulations governing TN visa status generally do not provide any guidance on the type of degrees or majors suitable for a particular TN occupational category. To determine the types of degrees suitable for a Geochemist for purposes of a TN visa, we may refer to U.S. Department of Labor publications such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH). See Royal Siam Corp. v. Chertoff, 484 F.3d 139, 145 (1st Cir. 2007).
Read more about the TN visa degree requirements.
4. Permissible Job Duties:
The TN visa laws and regulations do not specifically define the types of positions or job duties permissible under the TN occupational categories. Like the degree requirement, individuals should refer to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) for guidance on the generally accepted job duties of a Geochemist for purposes of a TN visa.
Read more about TN visa job duties.
5. References:
- 8 C.F.R. § 214.6 (c).
- OOH, Geoscientists (2010-11).
Revised April 9, 2010.