Read up on the types of visas that will allow you to visit, live and work in the U.S. Learn the steps you need to take to file for a visa, get help with the forms and find out what you can expect during the process.
Mexican citizens may apply at consular sections around the world for a TN visa. An interview at the embassy consular section is required for most visa applicants. Interviews are by appointment only, and the waiting time for an interview appointment for most applicants is a few weeks or less, but for some embassy consular sections it can be considerably longer. You can check visa wait times for interview appointments on the USCIS website.
Mexican citizens must submit the following:
* Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156, completed and signed. The DS-156 must be the March 2006 date, electronic "e-form application."
* Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157 provides additional information about your travel plans. Submission of this completed form is required for all male applicants between 16-45 years of age. It is also required for all applicants from state sponsors of terrorism age 16 and over, irrespective of gender, without exception. For this purpose nationals of the following countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism, including North Korea, Cuba, Syria, Sudan, and Iran must submit the supplemental form. Select Special Processing Procedures to learn more. You should know that a consular officer may require any nonimmigrant visa applicant to complete this form.
* A passport valid for travel to the U.S., which is valid at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the U.S. (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions).
* One (1) 2x2 photograph. A photograph is not required if you are applying in Mexico.
* Employment letter
* Nonimmigrant visa application processing fee
Spouses and Children
Mexican citizen spouses and children must apply for TD nonimmigrant visas at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Source: USCIS
More About the TN Visa
* NAFTA TN Visa
* TN Visa Requirements For Canadian Citizens
Mexican citizens who meet the education and professional requirements may come to the U.S. under the nonimmigrant NAFTA professional worker TN visa.
A Canadian citizen does not normally need to apply for a TN visa. Instead, application can be made at a port of entry. If, however, you are a Canadian living in another country with a non-Canadian spouse and children, you would need a visa to allow your spouse and children to be able to apply for a visa to accompany or join the NAFTA Professional, as a TD visa holder. To apply for a TN visa in this situation, you would follow the requirements for Mexican citizens.
Canadian citizens may apply directly at a U.S. port of entry by providing the following:
* A request for admission under TN status to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. immigration officer
* Employment letter
* Proof of professional qualifications such as college/university transcripts, licenses, certificates, degrees and employment records which establish qualification for the prospective job.
* Proof of ability to meet any license requirements
* Proof of Canadian Citizenship
* Payment of the fee of US$50
Spouses and Children
Canadian citizen spouses and children do not need visas, but they must have the following documents at the port of entry:
* Proof of Canadian citizenship
* Proof of relationship to the principal applicant, such as marriage certificate and birth certificate
* Photocopies of entry documents of the principal applicant
If the spouse and children are not Canadian citizens, they must get a TD nonimmigrant visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate. They must contact the U.S. embassy or consulate that serves their area for information on how to make visa applications.
Canadian citizens who meet the education and professional requirements may come to the U.S. under the nonimmigrant NAFTA professional worker TN visa
Overview
The nonimmigrant NAFTA Professional (TN) visa allows citizens of Canada and Mexico, as NAFTA professionals to work in the United States. NAFTA is the North American Free Trade Agreement. It creates special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Over 60 qualifying professional occupations are listed in Appendix 1603.D.1 of NAFTA. Those who meet the requirements may be granted a temporary, nonimmigrant visa in the United States for a period of three years.
Qualifications For a TN Visa
Professionals of Canada or Mexico may work in a professional occupation in the U.S. provided that all of these conditions are met:
* Applicant is a citizen of Canada or Mexico (permanent residents, including Canadian permanent residents, are not able to apply to work as a NAFTA professional)
* Profession is on the NAFTA list
* Position in the U.S. requires a NAFTA professional
* Mexican or Canadian applicant is to work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job, for a U.S. employer
* Professional Canadian or Mexican citizen has the qualifications of the profession
Requirements
Read about the requirements specific to Canadian citizens and Mexican citizens.
Employment Letter
You must provide a letter of employment from an employer in the U.S. indicating that the position in question in the U.S. requires the employment of a person in a professional capacity, consistent with the NAFTA Chapter 16, Annex 1603, Appendix 1603.d.1.
Part-time employment is permitted, but self-employment is not permitted. An employment letter or contract providing a detailed description of the business activities should state the following:
* Activity in which the applicant shall be engaged
* Purpose of entry
* Anticipated length of stay
* Educational qualifications or appropriate credentials demonstrating professional status
* Evidence of compliance with DHS regulations, and/or state laws
* Arrangements for pay
* Although not required, proof of licensure to practice a given profession in the United States may be offered along with a job offer letter, or other documentation in support of a TN visa application.
Additional Documentation or Qualifying Requirements
Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they are properly classifiable as NAFTA Professional for TN visa, under U.S. law by:
* Education Requirement: The applicant's employer must submit proof that the applicant meets the minimum education requirements or has the alternative credentials set forth in NAFTA agreement, chapter 16 appendix 1603.d.1. Evidence of professional qualifications may be in the form of degrees, certificates, diplomas, professional licenses, or membership in a professional organization. Degrees, diplomas, or certificates received from an educational institution outside the United States, Canada, or Mexico must be accompanied by an evaluation by a reliable credentials evaluation service specializing in evaluating foreign documentation.
* Work Experience Requirement - Document proving to the applicant's experience should be in the form of letters from former employers. If the applicant was self-employed, business records should be submitted proving that self-employment.
Spouses and Children
Spouses and children (unmarried children under the age of 21) who are accompanying or following to join TN visa holders may receive a derivative Trade Dependent (TD) visa. Applicants must demonstrate a bona fide spousal or parent-child relationship to the principal TN visa holder. Dependents do not have to be citizens of Mexico or Canada. Spouses and children cannot work while in the U.S. but they are permitted to study.
Spouses or children following to join must show a valid I-94, thereby providing proof that the principal TN visa holder is maintaining his/her TN visa status.
How to Apply For an Extension
Applicants may seek an extension of stay of up to three years. There is no limit on the number of extensions that may be granted.
Application for extension can be made in one of two ways:
* If the applicant is in the U.S., the employer may file Form I-129 Petition for Non-immigrant Worker with the USCIS Nebraska Service Center
* Applicant may apply at a port of entry using the same application and documentation procedures above as required for the initial entry.
Source: USCIS
More About the TN Visa
* TN Visa Requirements For Mexican Citizens
* TN Visa Requirements For Canadian Citizens
Mexican and Canadian citizens who meet the education and professional requirements may come to the U.S. under the nonimmigrant NAFTA professional worker TN visa.
What is Gardasil?
Gardasil, a vaccine manufactured by Merck and Co., protects against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes cervical cancer and genital warts. As of July 1, 2008, the vaccine is required for females ages 11 through 26 who are seeking refugee status in the U.S., applying for an immigrant visa or adjusting status within the U.S. to that of permanent resident.
How Did It Become a Requirement?
The addition of Gardasil to the Technical Instructions for Vaccination for civil surgeons conducting medical examinations of aliens came as a result of recommendations from the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/CDC have the regulatory authority to set the requirements for medical exams, which includes vaccination requirements.
Controversy
Gardasil is given in three shots over a six-month period and costs about $400. It is one of the most expensive and controversial vaccines, mainly because it is given at such as young age and has shown to have serious adverse affects. Of the more than 16 million doses of Gardasil distributed nationwide as of June 30, 2008, there were 9,749 reports of adverse events following Gardasil vaccination. Of these, 6% were labeled as serious events which included 20 deaths, and 94% were classified as non-serious events. Both the FDA and CDC, however, continue to find that the benefits of Gardasil outweigh the risks and have said that Gardasil is a "safe and effective vaccine."
Concerns From an Immigration Perspective
The Gardasil vaccination requirement forces young, immigrating females into a difficult situation. In addition to concerns over possible adverse events, the high cost of the vaccination places an additional burden on already cash-strapped immigrants who are paying out hundreds of dollars on filing fees, medical exams, attorneys and moving expenses. What's most troubling, though, is while Gardasil is recommended by the ACIP, the vaccination is mandatory for immigrating girls and women but not for American citizens. Virginia is the only state in the U.S. that has added Gardasil to its list of vaccines required for schoolchildren.
Should You Be Concerned?
The good news is Gardasil may benefit millions of people. The FDA says that, "Each year, more than 12,000 American women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and almost 4,000 women die from this disease. In addition, about 6.2 million Americans become infected with genital HPV each year. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, with 233,000 deaths per year." The FDA believes that Gardasil is the vaccine that will change these numbers.
As is the case with all vaccines, you may request a waiver if there are religious or moral reasons why you cannot receive the Gardasil vaccine.
Gardasil has been added to the list of vaccination requirements for immigrating females between the ages of 11 and 26.
