(UNITED STATES) With a partial federal shutdown beginning October 1, 2025, travelers and employers are asking whether TN visa processing at U.S. ports of entry will continue. CBP officers remain on duty because border operations are classified as essential for national security and public safety. That means Canadian citizens can still request TN status at land crossings and international airports, and Mexican citizens who already hold a TN visa can seek admission for TN status at the border.
Border operations during the shutdown
CBP confirms that frontline work continues during a government shutdown, even when other federal services pause. There has been no official notice of a halt to TN adjudications at ports of entry. However, officers may face reduced staffing or reassignments, so travelers should prepare for:
- Longer lines
- Extra questions
- Occasional secondary inspection
Still, the core process remains the same: the officer reviews your employer letter, checks your qualifications, and decides whether to admit you in TN status.
For Canadian citizens:
– TN is often decided in one trip. You arrive at a port of entry with your documents, speak with a CBP officer, and if approved, you receive TN status for up to three years.
– Airports with U.S. preclearance in Canada as well as busy land crossings will continue to handle these requests.
– Officers can ask detailed questions about job duties, wage, and work location, so carry a clean, well‑organized packet.
For Mexican citizens:
– The path is two‑step:
1. Obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate in Mexico. The Department of State’s consular services are largely fee‑funded, so routine visa work usually continues during a shutdown.
2. After visa issuance, appear at a U.S. port of entry for CBP inspection and final TN admission.
– If the shutdown lasts, some posts could trim services, which might slow appointments or document delivery.
USCIS and TN:
– USCIS plays a smaller role in TN compared with H‑1B, but matters for certain cases.
– Employers sometimes file Form I-129 for Canadians who prefer approval before traveling or for Canadians changing/extending status within the U.S.
– USCIS is fee‑funded and generally continues to accept and adjudicate TN petitions during shutdowns. Premium Processing typically remains available unless USCIS posts a change.
– Official form link: Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Department of Labor (DOL):
– DOL’s funding lapse has no direct effect on TN.
– DOL’s Foreign Labor Certification programs pause during shutdowns, disrupting H‑1B and PERM filings that require DOL approvals.
– TN does not require a Labor Condition Application or prevailing wage, so DOL stoppages do not block CBP or USCIS from handling TN requests.
What applicants should do now
Travelers can protect their timelines with careful planning. Bring more than the minimum. CBP officers decide cases based on the employer letter and your credentials, but they also look for clarity and consistency. Strong packets help during periods of heavy traffic or short staffing.
Key steps for Canadians at the border:
1. Carry a valid passport, proof of citizenship, and a detailed employer letter describing the TN profession, worksite, wage, and duties tied to the NAFTA/USMCA profession list.
2. Include proof of qualifications: degrees, licenses, professional memberships, and transcripts if your degree title is broad.
3. Pack originals and well‑labeled copies. Translate any non‑English documents.
4. If your job is at a third‑party site, bring a client letter confirming work location, project, and supervision.
5. Allow extra time. Aim for morning arrivals on weekdays when staffing is steadier.
6. Be ready for questions about remote work, hybrid schedules, and multiple worksites.
Guidance for Mexican applicants:
– Schedule your consular appointment and watch for local post updates. If the shutdown persists, some routine services could slow.
– Prepare a thorough employer letter and strong proof of qualifications, just like Canadians.
– After visa issuance, plan entry at a port known for TN experience. If your start date is tight, contact the consulate and the port in advance.
Advice for employers:
– Draft clear, duty‑focused letters. Avoid vague job descriptions. Tie tasks to the specific TN profession.
– Confirm that the offered role matches the candidate’s degree field or recognized alternative requirements.
– For Canadians abroad who prefer petition approval first, consider filing an I-129 with Premium Processing to hold start dates steady.
– Coordinate start dates based on local port and consulate conditions. When possible, buffer at least one to two weeks.
Practical resources:
– CBP’s official port locator lists addresses and phone numbers for ports of entry across the border — helpful when checking local hours or traveler volumes: CBP Ports of Entry
– Ahead of travel, call the specific port if your case involves unusual work locations, complex degree equivalency, or a prior refusal.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, TN adjudications at the border are among the most resilient immigration functions during a shutdown because CBP’s mission is continuous. That matches past experience: even when other services paused or slowed, CBP kept processing TN admissions.
The bigger risk tends to be logistical — staff schedules, heavier secondary review, and lines created by broader travel changes. For most well‑prepared applicants, those factors cause delay rather than denial.
Example scenarios
Canadian example:
– A Canadian engineer with a U.S. job offer plans to start work in two weeks.
– She prepares a packet with employer letter, degree, transcripts showing a focus in mechanical engineering, and a client letter confirming the project site.
– During a shutdown, she chooses a land port known for professional adjudication, arrives early on a weekday, and allows several hours.
– The officer sends her to secondary, asks a few questions about duties and supervision, and issues TN for three years the same day.
Mexican example:
– A Mexican economist books a consular appointment, checks local posts for service notes, and attends with his original degree and a duty‑driven letter.
– After the TN visa is issued, he enters at a port of entry and receives TN status from CBP.
– If the shutdown lingers, his appointment could slip by a few days, but fee‑funded operations usually keep visa work moving unless the situation becomes prolonged.
Limits, family travel, and remote work
Limits and risks:
– Officers can refuse TN if the job duties don’t match the listed profession, the degree field is too far from the role, or the evidence looks weak.
– Shutdown conditions do not change the legal standards. They only affect timing and sometimes the depth of questioning.
– If you’ve had a prior refusal, bring updated letters that address the officer’s concerns and add evidence like syllabi or expert letters tying your degree to the TN role.
Family travel:
– Families can travel with the principal worker. Spouses and children may request TD status at the border with proof of relationship and the principal’s TN approval or admission.
– Carry marriage and birth certificates, plus passports.
– TD holders cannot work, but they can study.
– During a shutdown, dependent processing at ports continues with the principal’s inspection, though plan for longer waits.
Remote and hybrid work:
– CBP officers often want to see the primary worksite in the United States, even if some tasks happen from home.
– The employer letter should specify the main location, any secondary sites, and expected travel.
– If you’ll work at a client site, a client letter can be decisive.
– Vague remote‑only plans can trigger extra scrutiny.
Employer operational tips
Employers that rely on high‑volume cross‑border staffing can reduce disruption by:
– Mapping which ports handle the most TN cases and tracking average wait times.
– Keeping a shared log of recent officer questions to sharpen future letters.
– Creating a playbook to standardize outcomes and reduce last‑minute scrambles if an officer asks for more detail.
Keep monitoring official updates
CBP’s operations are steady, but policies and staffing notes can change with little warning. Check all relevant sources before travel:
- Department of State posts updates at consulate websites and through appointment portals.
- USCIS announces any service changes on its website and social channels.
- CBP posts port‑specific notices and contact information.
If your timeline is tight, check all three before you travel and have a backup date.
Final outlook
- If the shutdown ends quickly, travelers may see a short burst of traffic as postponed trips resume.
- If it lasts, expect more variation between ports and consulates.
- In both cases, strong documentation and flexible travel plans make the difference between same‑day approval and a return trip.
- For most TN applicants, the path remains open — just slower at times — while the government works through the funding impasse.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
With a partial federal shutdown starting October 1, 2025, CBP continues frontline operations and TN adjudications at ports of entry remain available. Canadian citizens can still request TN status at land ports and U.S. preclearance airports, often receiving same-day approvals for up to three years. Mexican citizens must obtain a TN visa at a U.S. consulate before seeking CBP admission; consular services are fee-funded and usually operate during shutdowns, though prolonged closures can slow appointments. USCIS (fee-funded) generally continues I-129 processing and premium processing, while the Department of Labor’s shutdown affects programs like H-1B and PERM but not TN. Applicants should prepare thorough employer letters, proof of qualifications, originals and copies, and allow extra time for potential delays, secondary inspections, and reduced staffing. Employers should draft clear, duty-focused letters, consider I-129 filings for Canadians preferring prior approval, and build scheduling buffers. Monitor CBP, DOS, and USCIS updates and contact specific ports or consulates when cases are complex or timelines are tight.
