USCIS Narrows TN Visa Eligibility in Major Policy Manual Update

New guidance tightens job qualifications, restricts employer types, and revises application procedures for professionals under USMCA

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a major update to its Policy Manual, significantly tightening eligibility and application procedures for TN nonimmigrant status under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The new guidance, effective immediately, supersedes prior instructions in the Adjudicator’s Field Manual and is expected to impact employers and professionals from Canada and Mexico seeking entry into the United States.

The policy change reinforces that TN employment must be with a U.S. entity, barring self-employment and disqualifying certain foreign employers with U.S. operations. The update also sharpens professional qualification standards—particularly for roles such as engineers, computer systems analysts, economists, and scientific technicians—emphasizing the relevance of degrees, job duties, and the direct supervision of work.

For engineers, USCIS now requires the TN beneficiary to hold a degree directly related to the po…