General Occupations

TN Visa: Urban Planner / Geographer

BACKGROUND OF TN VISA CATEGORY

The TN visa occupational category for Urban Planners was notlisted in the initial version of the United States-Canada Free-Trade Agreement (FTA) in 1989 (the predecessor to NAFTA). See 54 Federal Register 12 (Jan. 3, 1989). The Urban Planner occupation was later added to the FTA in 1991. 56 FR 480 (Jan. 7, 1991). It was then carried over and included in the NAFTA list of available occupations in 1994. See 58 FR 69205 (Dec. 30, 1993).

Under the FTA the Geographer occupation was not specifically listed as falling within the Urban Planner category. The Geographer occupation was included within the Urban Planner category specifically under NAFTA. 58 FR 69205 (Dec. 30, 1993).

TN VISA APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for TN visa status under the occupational category for Urban Planners / Geographers, an individual must possess one of the following:

  • Bachelor’s degree; or
  • Licenciatura Degree.

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 Urban Planners / Geographers 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.

TN VISA JOB DUTIES REQUIREMENTS

The TN visa regulations do not specifically define the types of Urban Planner / Geographer positions or job duties that are permissible under this TN category. 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 for this occupation.

Read more about TN visa job duties.

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