Separate location from the employing relationship
Identify who employs the applicant and the work expected in each country. TN does not permit US self-employment, and any ownership stake in the US employer must be disclosed so the real employing relationship can be assessed. Compensation from one country does not by itself determine permission to work in the other. Explain the arrangement without treating the word remote as an immigration category. Ask whether the US entity is genuinely engaging the professional and whether a controlled company sits between the person and the work. Corporate paperwork should describe the real chain of direction and payment, not a label chosen for entry convenience.
Assess the US duties
Compare the work with the exact listed USMCA profession and its qualification rule. A professional degree does not make every assignment eligible. TN requires eligible Canadian or Mexican citizenship rather than Canadian residence alone. Translate the job description into actual tasks, then compare those tasks with the exact listed profession and qualification rule. A credential review should resolve ambiguity before an employer represents that the role fits the category.
Describe the proposed pattern
Obtain a support letter addressing the actual employment, duration and remuneration, with relevant assignments and locations. A schedule can clarify the proposal, but it should not claim travel or work that the parties do not intend. Use a proposed schedule as corroboration only after the underlying job is settled. It is useful to identify assignments and duration, but it cannot repair conflicting facts about duties, compensation, or the employing relationship.
Review the applicable procedure
For a Canadian citizen, determine whether to apply for TN admission at a port of entry or have the US employer file Form I-129; Canadians generally do not need a TN visa stamp. Confirm what the applicant may do before the required step is completed. Returning home after a workday does not by itself authorize the US employment. Choose the procedure before productive work begins. For an eligible Canadian outside the United States, the options can include requesting admission through inspection at the border or preclearance, or an employer-filed I-129 petition; the best route depends on the actual circumstances and should be confirmed from current instructions.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.