The TN category permits citizens of Canada and Mexico to enter the U.S. to provide prearranged professional services to a U.S. employer or entity. Under the regulations, there are 63 professional occupations under which an individual may qualify. One such occupation is an Epidemiologist.
How to Qualify as an Epidemiologist
To qualify for TN status as an Epidemiologist, an applicant must possess one of the following:
Bachelor’s degree; or
Licenciatura degree.
Typical Epidemiologists Job Duties
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Epidemiologists are public health professionals who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury in humans. They seek to reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes through research, community education, and health policy. Epidemiologists collect and analyze data to investigate health issues. For example, an epidemiologist might collect and analyze demographic data to determine who is at the highest risk for a particular disease. They also may research and investigate the trends in populations of survivors of certain diseases, such as cancer, so that effective treatments can be identified and repeated across the population. Typical job duties include:
Planning and directing studies of public health problems to find ways to prevent and treat them if they arise;
Collecting and analyzing data—through observations, interviews, and surveys, and by using samples of blood or other bodily fluids—to find the causes of diseases or other health problems;
Communicating their findings to health practitioners, policymakers, and the public;
Managing public health programs by planning programs, monitoring their progress, analyzing data, and seeking ways to improve the programs in order to improve public health outcomes; and
Supervising professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
Application Process
For citizens of Canada, applicants can submit a TN petition to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at any land port of entry or airport preclearance location throughout Canada. A decision will be made on the spot, and, if approved, you can begin working in the U.S. the same day.
For citizens of Mexico, applicants need to schedule and attend an in-person interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico. Upon approval, you will obtain a TN visa in your passport which can then be used to gain entry to the U.S. in TN status.
