Can I get a TN visa just by taking my Canadian passport and the signed offer letter to the border along with my academic documents? Or Would it be better to have the company apply for TN to USCIS on my behalf (this seems to take a longer time I think)? Please advise.
I did it the first way but that was back in 2012
USCIS is best! I've never had an issue and I've had two now
I did the first, but my employer had their lawyers put together a nice packet to hand over at the border and coached me on what I should and should not stay. Easy peasy.
You can apply at port of entry. You will still want lawyers to prepare a packet with detailed answers to why you qualify for the visa. I preferred to do the pre application so that I would have some assurance I'd be able to find and accept the job before resigning the one I had.
The first is much faster. I did both and the lawyers took forever to get the second one ready.
Does the generally tougher stance USCIS is taking on immigration (significantly more denials in H1 and L1 visas, including those that would have a been a shoe in a year ago)impact TNs too? I’m also seeking a TN via and considering the first option of adjudication at the point of entry for this reason
My new employer applied change of employer and today got a RFE (saw in the site)
2nd option is better since there is no risk of getting rejected at the airport/border
You can still get rejected but yeah this is better
you can get rejected even with uscis approval? I don't think so. when I showed the approval, the officer automatically gave me the stamp, 0 questions asked.