All international faculty, staff, scholars and students should maintain their passport validity. In general, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months longer than the intended dates of stay. If renewal of a passport is necessary, check with your embassy or consulate about the renewal process.
Employment
Individuals in TN status may engage in employment only with the sponsoring employer through which the TN status was obtained.
As TN status is employer-specific, individuals may not accept compensation, including honoraria, from any other entity. Individuals in TN status invited to give a lecture, collaborate, conduct research or present at other institutions can receive reimbursement for reasonable living and transportation costs only. An individual may work for more than one employer, but in order to do so, he or she must first obtain a separate TN based on each employer.
Extension of TN status
There is no limitation on the number of years an individual may be in TN status. However, it is necessary to establish that the position is temporary.
An extension of TN status can be obtained in two ways:
- The TN employee travels to the border and is readmitted in TN status based on a new letter of employment
- The employer files an I-129 petition with USCIS before the employee’s current TN period has expired. Provided that the petition is timely filed with USCIS, the individual in TN status may continue to work for 240 days beyond his or her current expiration date.
Porting to Another Employer
A TN holder can transfer to another employer provided that the employee is currently in valid status and the new employer files an I-129 application in a timely manner (before the intended start date of new employment and before the expiration of the current status).
Before taking new employment, talk to ISSS. ISSS must withdraw or cancel TN sponsorship when you end your employment at Portland State University. The withdrawal of the TN sponsorship may affect your employment eligibility with your new employer, so timing is critical.