bil forester

TN Category Overview

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. Based on the regulations, there are 63 professional occupations under which an individual may qualify. One such occupation is a Forester. 

How to Qualify as a Forester

To qualify for TN status as a Forester, an applicant must possess one of the following:

  • Bachelor’s degree;
  • Licenciatura degree; or
  • State/provincial license.

Typical Forester Job Duties

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a Forester is responsible for managing the overall land quality of forests, parks, rangelands, and other natural resources. A Forester typically has a wide range of duties such as drawing up plans to regenerate forested lands and devising plans to keep forests free from disease, harmful insects, and damaging wildfires. Many foresters supervise forest and conservation workers and technicians.

Typical job duties include:

  • Supervising activities of forest and conservation workers and technicians;
  • Choosing and preparing sites for new trees, using controlled burning, bulldozers, or herbicides to clear land;
  • Monitoring the regeneration of forests;
  • Directing and participating in forest fire suppression; and
  • Determining ways to remove timber with minimum environmental damage.

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, the applicant 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. Upon approval, he or she will be issued a TN visa which can then be used to gain entry to the U.S. in TN status. 

If you are interested in applying for a TN visa or have questions about this specific category, be sure to contact Berardi Immigration Law today! If you would like to learn about some of our successful TN applications, please visit our NAFTA News Center here.