Key Takeaways
• Effective July 17, 2025, TN visa holders must work for U.S. entities, excluding foreign employers without formal U.S. arrangements.
• Self-employment is prohibited; TN visa applicants cannot sponsor themselves or work for companies they control.
• Applications now accepted at any Class A port-of-entry; pre-clearance stations only allowed in Canada.
Recent USCIS policy updates have brought important changes for Canadian and Mexican professionals working in the United States 🇺🇸 under the TN visa, a program created by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These updates, effective as of July 17, 2025, clarify who can qualify for the TN visa, what kinds of jobs are allowed, and how applications should be submitted. While the updates do not directly mention remote work or telecommuting, they have important effects on how TN visa holders and their employers can set up work arrangements, especially in today’s world where remote work is common.
This update will explain what has changed, who is affected, what actions are required, and what these changes mean for people with pending TN visa applications. It will also discuss how these updates may affect remote work and telecommuting for Canadian and Mexican professionals.

Summary of What Changed
The most recent USCIS policy updates focus on four main areas:
- Employment must be with a U.S. entity: TN visa holders must work for a company or organization based in the United States 🇺🇸. Working for a foreign employer, even if they have operations in the U.S., is no longer allowed unless there is a formal arrangement with a U.S. company.
- Self-employment is not allowed: People who own or control a U.S. company cannot use the TN visa to work for their own business. This means if you are the only or main owner of a U.S. company, you cannot sponsor yourself for a TN visa.
- Eligibility for certain professions is stricter: The list of jobs that qualify for the TN visa has not changed, but the rules for some jobs are now more specific. For example, engineers must have a degree that matches their job duties, and computer jobs that are not based on engineering are not eligible.
- Application procedures have changed: TN visa applications can now be submitted at any Class A port-of-entry. However, applications at pre-clearance or pre-flight stations are only allowed in Canada 🇨🇦.
Let’s look at each of these changes in more detail.
Employment Must Be with a U.S. Entity
One of the most important changes is that TN visa holders must now be employed by a U.S. company or organization. In the past, there was some flexibility for foreign employers with U.S. operations, but the new policy makes it clear: the employer must be a U.S. entity.
- If you are a Canadian or Mexican professional, you must have a job offer from a U.S. employer.
- The U.S. employer must be the one paying your salary and directing your work.
- If you work for a foreign company that has a U.S. branch, you can only qualify if the U.S. branch is the actual employer and has a formal arrangement with you.
This change is important for people who work for international companies or who have complex work arrangements. It means that simply working in the U.S. for a foreign company is not enough. There must be a clear, formal relationship with a U.S. employer.
Prohibition on Self-Employment
The new policy also makes it clear that self-employment is not allowed under the TN visa. This means:
- If you own or control a U.S. company, you cannot use the TN visa to work for your own business.
- The U.S. employer must be a separate entity from you.
- If you are the only shareholder or have controlling interest in the company, you are considered self-employed and are not eligible for the TN visa.
This rule is meant to prevent people from creating a company just to sponsor themselves for a TN visa. The U.S. government wants to make sure that TN visa holders are truly employees, not business owners using the visa for their own benefit.
Stricter Eligibility for Certain Professions
The TN visa program allows Canadian and Mexican citizens to work in the United States 🇺🇸 in certain professional jobs listed in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). These jobs include engineers, scientists, teachers, and many others.
The recent USCIS policy updates have made the rules for some of these jobs more specific:
- Engineers: You must have a degree that matches your job duties. For example, if you are working as a civil engineer, your degree must be in civil engineering.
- Economists and Scientific Technicians/Technologists: The requirements for these jobs are now more detailed, and you must show that your education and experience match the job description.
- Computer-related jobs: Only those with an engineering background are eligible. Jobs that are purely in computer science or information technology, without an engineering foundation, do not qualify.
These changes mean that people applying for TN visas must be careful to match their education and experience with the job they are being offered. Employers must also make sure that the job description fits the requirements set by USCIS.
TN Visa Eligibility Requirements (Effective July 17, 2025)
VisaVerge.com
Changes to Application Procedures
The way you apply for a TN visa has also changed:
- Applications can be submitted at any Class A port-of-entry. This gives applicants more flexibility in where they can apply.
- Applications at pre-clearance or pre-flight stations are only allowed in Canada 🇨🇦. This means that if you are applying from Mexico 🇲🇽, you cannot use these stations and must apply at a regular port-of-entry.
These changes are meant to make the process clearer and more consistent for everyone.
Who Is Affected by These Changes?
The recent USCIS policy updates affect several groups:
- Canadian and Mexican professionals who want to work in the United States 🇺🇸 under the TN visa program.
- U.S. employers who hire Canadian and Mexican professionals for jobs listed in the USMCA.
- People with pending TN visa applications who may need to review their applications to make sure they meet the new requirements.
- Employers and employees considering remote work or telecommuting arrangements.
If you are already working in the United States 🇺🇸 under a TN visa, you should review your job duties, employer relationship, and work location to make sure you are still in compliance with the new rules.
Effective Dates
These USCIS policy updates took effect on July 17, 2025. Any applications submitted on or after this date must follow the new rules. If you submitted your application before this date, you may still be affected if your job duties or employer relationship changes.
Required Actions for Employers and Employees
If you are a TN visa holder or an employer of TN professionals, here are the steps you should take:
- Review Employment Arrangements
- Make sure the employer is a U.S. entity.
- Confirm that the job offer and employment relationship are with a U.S. company, not a foreign employer.
- Check for Self-Employment Issues
- If you own or control the company, you cannot use the TN visa to work for your own business.
- Employers should verify the ownership structure of their company before sponsoring a TN visa applicant.
- Match Education and Job Duties
- Ensure that the applicant’s degree matches the job being offered, especially for engineers and other technical roles.
- Review the job description to make sure it fits the requirements set by USCIS.
- Update Application Procedures
- Submit applications at a Class A port-of-entry.
- If applying from Canada 🇨🇦, you can use pre-clearance or pre-flight stations. If applying from Mexico 🇲🇽, use a regular port-of-entry.
- Monitor for Changes in Job Duties or Location
- Any significant change in job duties or work location requires a new TN application.
- Employers and employees should keep records of job descriptions and work locations.
Implications for Pending Applications
If you have a TN visa application pending as of July 17, 2025, you should:
- Review your application to make sure it meets the new requirements.
- If your job duties, employer relationship, or work location have changed, you may need to submit a new application.
- Employers should contact their legal or HR departments to review all pending TN applications.
How These Changes Affect Remote Work and Telecommuting
While the USCIS policy updates do not directly mention remote work or telecommuting, they have important effects on these arrangements:
- Employment must be with a U.S. entity: If you are working remotely, your employer must still be a U.S. company. You cannot work remotely for a foreign employer while living in the United States 🇺🇸 on a TN visa.
- Job duties and location must match the approved application: If you are approved to work at a specific location, you must work there. If you want to work from a different location, even within the United States 🇺🇸, you may need to file a new TN application.
- Material changes require a new application: If your job duties or work location change significantly, you must submit a new TN application. This can make remote work arrangements more complicated, especially if you want to work from different places.
Employers must be careful to monitor where their TN employees are working and what duties they are performing. Failure to follow these rules can lead to problems with immigration status and future applications.
Compliance Challenges for Employers
Employers face new challenges in making sure their TN professionals are following the rules:
- Tracking work locations: Employers must know where their TN employees are working at all times.
- Updating job descriptions: Any change in job duties must be reported and may require a new application.
- Avoiding self-employment issues: Employers must make sure that TN employees are not owners or controlling shareholders of the company.
Employers should work closely with their HR and legal teams to set up systems for tracking and reporting any changes.
Practical Guidance and Next Steps
For Canadian and Mexican professionals and their employers, here are some practical steps to take:
- Stay informed: Regularly check the USCIS official TN visa page for the latest updates and guidance.
- Consult with immigration attorneys: If you have questions about your specific situation, talk to a qualified immigration attorney.
- Keep records: Maintain up-to-date records of job offers, job descriptions, work locations, and employer relationships.
- Plan ahead: If you are considering a remote work arrangement, make sure it fits within the rules for TN visa holders.
- Communicate with your employer: Make sure your employer understands the new rules and is prepared to support your application or ongoing employment.
Looking Ahead: Future Policy Updates
As remote work becomes more common, there may be future USCIS policy updates that address telecommuting and remote work more directly. For now, the focus is on making sure TN visa holders are working for U.S. employers, in approved jobs, and at approved locations.
Employers and employees should be ready for possible changes and stay up to date with official announcements. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these recent updates show that USCIS is paying close attention to how the TN visa is used and is likely to continue refining the rules to match changes in the workplace.
Conclusion
The recent USCIS policy updates have made important changes to the TN visa program under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While remote work is not directly addressed, the new rules make it clear that TN visa holders must work for U.S. employers, cannot be self-employed, and must match their education and job duties to the approved list of professions. Employers and employees must be careful to follow these rules, especially when considering remote work or changes in job duties or location.
For the most current information, always refer to the USCIS official TN visa page. By staying informed and following the new requirements, Canadian and Mexican professionals and their U.S. employers can continue to benefit from the opportunities provided by the TN visa program.
Learn Today
TN visa → A nonimmigrant visa allowing Canadian and Mexican professionals to work in the U.S. under USMCA rules.
USMCA → The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement governing trade and professional mobility among these countries.
Self-employment → Working for a business one owns or controls, disallowed under updated TN visa policies.
Class A port-of-entry → Designated major border location where TN visa applicants can submit entry applications.
Pre-clearance station → Authorized location, mostly in Canada, where visa applications are processed before entry into the U.S.
This Article in a Nutshell
USCIS updated TN visa rules starting July 17, 2025, restricting employment to U.S. entities and banning self-employment. Stricter job eligibility and new application procedures affect Canadian and Mexican professionals, especially regarding remote work arrangements.
— By VisaVerge.com