Pilot Program for NAFTA (TN) Visa Begins in Toronto

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will implement a pre-qualification pilot program from April 27 to July 26, 2005 for travelers eligible to apply for admission into the United States under the NAFTA visa category.  Canadian citizens who meet the criteria established under NAFTA and who will be employed in a qualifying occupation in the United States are invited to apply for pre-qualification on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in Terminal 3 of Toronto Pearson International Airport.  The 90-day pilot program will be available only at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

During the above hours, a pre-qualification adjudicator will be on hand to interview applicants and review their documents.  Applicants must present documentation related to their education and experience, in addition to a detailed letter from their prospective employer in the U.S. Applicants who graduated from foreign schools must also present an equivalency evaluation of their credentials.  Applicants that fail to meet the conditions for per-qualification will be advised immediately and given instructions about re-submitting their applications.

A citizen of a NAFTA country may work in a professional occupation in the U.S. provided that all of these conditions are met:

• The profession is recognized under NAFTA. 
• The alien possesses the specific criteria for that profession.
• The prospective position requires someone in that professional capacity.
• The alien is going to work for a U.S. employer.

Applicants that meet the conditions for pre-qualification will receive a written notice.  Pre-qualified applicants will have 14 days after being approved to enter the U.S. under the TN visa category.  On the day that admission into the U.S. is sought, pre-qualified TN travelers must present the written notice of TN approval and pay an application approval fee of $50 at Toronto Pearson International Airport pre-clearance.

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