The question of whether you can qualify as a NAFTA professional is not so simple if you just look at the list of trades. There are educational requirements and job classifications that need to be applied. Professional titles are often interchangeable, unique for each company and not necessarily indicative of the actual tasks performed. Do not be discouraged if you do not find your job on the list, since, because of your obligations, you can still be considered described in one of the occupations mentioned above in accordance with NAFTA. Installers, repair and maintenance personnel and superiors who possess specific knowledge essential to a seller`s contractual obligation, provide services or train employees to provide services, in accordance with a warranty or other service contract that has been entered into with the sale of commercial or industrial equipment or machinery, including computer software. , acquired by a company outside Canada during the duration of the warranty or service agreement, is required. The documentation requirement was imposed to make it clear that the proposed activity is incidental or related to the sale of devices or machinery or computer software. The other parties to the agreement meet the same requirements. With a few exceptions, each profession requires a bachelor`s degree as a condition of entry. If a bachelor`s degree is required, the experience cannot be replaced by that degree.
In some professions, an alternative to a bachelor`s degree is mentioned. For some trades, in addition to the diploma, experience is necessary. Appendix 1603.D.1 of NAFTA Chapter 16 contains a comprehensive list of occupations with minimum educational and training requirements and replacement qualifications. In general, essential skills are held by specialists and not by ordinary skilled workers. The essential worker must not have been employed in advance by the American or Mexican company, unless the required skills can only be acquired by the work done for that company. The initial guarantee or service contract may be renewed, provided that the sale contract or the original warranty or service contract includes a provision for renewal. The after-sales service therefore continues to be contractually bound in connection with the sale of equipment or machinery or computer software. The appendix is a complete list and cannot be interpreted. If a profession is not on the list, it is generally not a profession within the meaning of Appendix 1603.D.1.
However, public servants should authorize other professional titles in cases where the tasks are interchangeable. This can be confirmed by reference to the National Occupation Classification (NOC). There are two different types of TELLING status that these citizens can apply for. A TN-1 is for Canadian professionals and a TN-2 for Mexican professionals. Applicants must be qualified in one of the occupations listed: recognized NAFTA occupations and must respect the classification of non-immigrants. Permanent residents of Canada or Mexico are not eligible for the TN visa. There is no annual quota for the TN visa allowing all qualified applicants to obtain a visa.
