Almost got denied my TN VISA...

Paysafe / Eng
KuBg32

Go to company page Paysafe Eng

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Paysafe, CGI
 KuBg32
Nov 25, 2018 48 Comments

Iโ€™m Canadian and got a engineering job in San Francisco. Now, I was ready for my interview and everything (lots of call with my attorney).

I had every documents required, but at the end, they told me that there was no end date on my job offer and decided to give me only 6 months, instead of the 3 years... I was in shock since I showed them I owned a house in Canada and was just coming to the US to get work experience.

I was in Toronto airport and the officer was a total dick. They made me wait for 2 hours and I almost miss my flight... I didnโ€™t say anything bad, I kept my cool and stayed factual.

How do I extend my TN after?

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 TOP 48 Comments
  • Pandora
    tIbk87

    Go to company page Pandora

    tIbk87
    They delayed you for two hours and you didn't miss your flight? How early were you?
    Nov 25, 2018 12
    • Amazon / Mgmt
      KYuG83

      Go to company page Amazon Mgmt

       KYuG83
      Oh cool so your attitude is still that other people were the problem.

      Canada does not have more empathetic human beings or a more normalized process. There is an appearance of that, because it is a less desirable country to live and work in. I suspect this is why you want to work in the US in the first place. Because it is less desirable, they do not have to put as many controls in place or throttle the provisioning of visas as much. This makes our process less subjective actually โ€” for example, you objectively should have had an end date on your offer to accurately signal your intent in requesting a visa. Do not conflate the need to throttle high demand for visas with being unempathetic human beings. We have to be empathetic to those who already live here and followed the legal processes to do so as well.
      Nov 26, 2018
    • Console Connect / Other
      gqDS15

      Console Connect Other

       gqDS15
      Actually, the relationship between Canada and the US is unique and one can argue that itโ€™s more normalized than anywhere else in the world. Itโ€™s probably the most open border in the world, but only if youโ€™re a citizen of either countries.

      No visas are required for citizens of either country to visit. Up until recently, all you needed to cross was a drivers license if you were a citizen of either country.

      As so, the OP is just a naive Canadian that, for the first time in his life, experienced the harsh reality of immigration.

      He was probably instructed by a lawyer that is nowhere near the northern border or probably just instructed by a paralegal not knowing how close montreal is from the border.

      Perhaps itโ€™s the complete opposite and the track record of the ground border closest to him has a high denial rating than Toronto and was instructed accordingly.

      Itโ€™s hard to argue that the OP made a mistake trusting his lawyer, but definitively is a naive Canadian that needs to raise the bar on his definition of research when it comes to immigration.

      Most others canโ€™t relate I the OP because theyโ€™ve likely spent the last 7-10 years trying to stay in the country because they took a risk moving to a country knowing that their of birth had large a backlog for immigrant visas and they got burnt when that large backlog grew exponentially and immigration policy & laws are tightening around them due to past abuse by others in the nonimmigrant visa category that theyโ€™re in.
      Nov 27, 2018
  • Unity
    XWAL28

    Go to company page Unity

    XWAL28
    The offer letter needs an end date. Your lawyers should have known
    Nov 25, 2018 8
    • You are incredibly lucky to be in America. Welcome
      Nov 25, 2018
    • Broadcom Ltd. / Eng
      headbanger

      Go to company page Broadcom Ltd. Eng

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      Intel, Broadcom Ltd.
       headbanger
      Huh, I used to be on TN for 12 years and never ever ever ever took an offer letter to POE that didnโ€™t have an end date. Tons of template TN offer letters on the internet that mention the start and end dates. When it comes to POE TN, most lawyers know jack about it because it is done without the need for a lawyer. My employer used Fragomen and even their lawyer didnโ€™t know one could have multiple TNs. She kept arguing with me and then I told her to look at the back of my I-94 where it said I had two TNs and two employers. She took it to a senior lawyer in the firm and came back looking like an idiot that she was. When I took their package to the border, the CBP officer laughed at the 4 page cover letter they wrote for him and said he had no time to read that garbage. Additionally he laughed at the check Fragomen wrote for the application fee because they only took cash or card at POE. So even Fragomen are bozos when it comes to POE TN. But even they had the employer mention start and end dates on their offer letter. Now this shows the level of bozoness of your employerโ€™s immigration lawyer.
      That being said, hereโ€™s a good TN forum where you can educate yourself about it before you go to the border next time:
      https://forums.immigration.com/forums/tn-status.230/
      Feb 16, 2019
  • Intuit / Data
    ๐Ÿฅ– smith

    Go to company page Intuit Data

     ๐Ÿฅ– smith
    Canadian here too ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

    Never rely on immigration lawyers, if they are good they wonโ€™t be an immigration lawyer. (Also applies to HR)

    And always do your own homework especially when it comes to important things like this. My employer & lawyer had no clue when they help me prepare my docs. I literally had to quote the actual law and discuss with the lawyer and ask for amendments.
    Nov 25, 2018 3
    • Pandora
      tIbk87

      Go to company page Pandora

      tIbk87
      And that's your problem. You didn't even ask. Like you're not taking any ownership in the process at all. You're the one who has to deal with the consequences if things go wrong, so YOU are the one who needs to know everything about the process. It's your responsibility. The lawyer was just doing the same thing he does ten times a day and will continue doing long after he forgets who you are. This is all on you, and you need to understand that.
      Nov 26, 2018
    • Intuit / Other
      ๐Ÿฅ– smith

      Go to company page Intuit Other

       ๐Ÿฅ– smith
      @op we might sound harsh but we are all really trying to help you. Several of my friends ran into TN issue when moving to US and I tell them the same thing. At the end of the day, you bear the consequences so own that process yourself and drive it. Donโ€™t let lawyers or HR determine your fate. The other personโ€™s comment re tax is also great.
      Nov 28, 2018
  • LinkedIn / Eng
    goldbug

    Go to company page LinkedIn Eng

    PRE
    Google
    BIO
    Full time coder and part time gold dealer.
     goldbug
    Toronto airport is notorious for getting TN visa. You could have just driven to the US through any port of entry and it will be much easier.
    Nov 25, 2018 1
  • Twitter
    11122018

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    11122018
    Sincere question. Are you really going to go back to Canada?
    Nov 25, 2018 3
    • Twitter
      11122018

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      11122018
      That is what immigration maybe coming to grips with also.
      Nov 25, 2018
    • Paysafe / Eng
      KuBg32

      Go to company page Paysafe Eng

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      Paysafe, CGI
       KuBg32
      OP
      I obviously didnโ€™t say that. I said I come only for work and plan on coming back since I have a house and a girlfriend waiting for me in Canada. I also had the mortgage paper, etc.
      Nov 25, 2018