USCIS Announces New Filing Option for Canadian TN Nonimmigrants, Reminds Employers of Canadian L-1 Options

On October 1, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, filed on behalf of Canadian citizens outside the United States who seek classification as TN (Trade NAFTA) nonimmigrants.

With respect to the TN classification, USCIS currently only accepts the I-129 in connection with a request to extend a TN nonimmigrant’s stay or to change a nonimmigrant’s status to TN. Canadian citizens continue to have the option of applying to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for TN classification in conjunction with an application for TN admission to the United States.

USCIS also issued a reminder that an employer has the option of filing an I-129 individual petition with USCIS on behalf of a Canadian L-1 nonimmigrant. A U.S. employer that has an approved L-1 blanket petition also has the option to file a Form I-129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition, along with supporting documentation, with the USCIS service center that approved the L-1 blanket petition, on behalf of a Canadian citizen (or any visa-exempt beneficiary) who is outside the United States. As before, Canadian citizens may apply for L-1 classification in conjunction with an application for L-1 admission to the United States by presenting the I-129 (individual petition) or I-129S (under an approved blanket petition) and supporting documentation to CBP.

The announcement, which includes links to additional information, is available here.