Maintaining TN Status

It is your responsibility to understand and comply with the terms of your TN status during your stay in the United States. A violation of the immigration regulations could have serious consequences. Review this information carefully and contact ISS if you have questions.

International employees must notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of all residential address changes using form AR-11.

The I-94 card indicates your TN status in the U.S. and the dates, occupation, and employer associated with that TN status. To renew the I-94 card you may either:

• Make a timely departure and return to the U.S. following procedures detailed under “Admission to the U.S. in TN Status.”

Or

• Apply by mail for an extension of your TN status with the assistance of your hiring department and ISS. Note that this option requires the UW to file an immigration petition on your behalf, and only the UW Vice Provost for Academic Personnel has authority to sign this form. Attorneys are not permitted to represent the University’s interests in immigration matters.

While there are currently exceptions to the passport requirement for Canadian citizens, we suggest that all TNs coming to the UW have and maintain a valid passport. Keep it and other important documents in a safe place. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your consulate in the U.S. While in the United States, always carry with you a photocopy of your passport's identity page. When traveling, carry the original documents but guard them carefully against theft.

Your TN status is job and employer-specific. It is possible to hold more than one position but each must be a TN-approved occupation and noted on an I-94 card. It is possible to change employers using the procedures described in “Renew your I-94 card when needed.”

Unlike some other nonimmigrant categories, the TN does not provide any “grace period” for departure. Your lawful status in the U.S. ends when your paid employment ends or when your I-94 card expires, whichever comes first. Following completion of your TN employment you must depart the U.S. immediately. You may return to the U.S. as a “visitor.”

Recipients of U.S.-source income are required to file a yearly tax return with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Contact the IRS for more information.