An applicant comparing offers should keep each employer’s actual proposal intact. A TN assessment concerns eligible citizenship, a listed profession, qualifications and the specific employment arrangement—not a composite of the most favourable features of several jobs. Hypothetical example: a flood-risk analyst must decide whether to accept a U.S. employer’s revised fieldwork role or remain with the original research role. The decision is which actual description is documentable, not which draft sounds more professional. For a Canadian applicant, decide early whether the facts call for a border request or an employer-filed petition; the role cannot involve running the applicant’s own U.S.-based enterprise.
Build one duty sheet per employer
Hypothetical example: two employers use the same title, but one role emphasizes analysis while the other includes substantial sales and operational work. Obtain the real duties for each. Record differences that could affect the profession analysis rather than assuming the shared title produces a shared result. Add a dated duty comparison, supervisor identity and worksite to each sheet. The reader must decide which version survives when the employer’s operational needs change.
Apply the credential requirements separately
Identify the proposed listed profession for each actual job and its precise requirements, including permitted alternatives. Link the applicant’s credentials to those requirements. TN requires eligible Canadian or Mexican citizenship; Canadian permanent residence does not substitute for it. A salary advantage or employer preference does not resolve a qualification gap. Obtain the document that proves the specific credential rule, not only a résumé summary. If regulated practice is involved, decide whether a separate licensing step controls the start date.
Finalize evidence for the actual choice
Once a proposal is selected, ensure the offer and supporting explanation describe that work, employer and relevant customer or ownership arrangement. Have material changes assessed rather than carrying over an earlier conclusion. A second offer is not permission to begin a different job, and a preferred start date does not itself establish authorization. Before any request, lock the selected employer, duties, duration and ownership facts. An appealing second role is a new decision, not spare evidence for the first.
What else is on your mind?
Is a matching job title enough for TN?Can years of experience replace a degree for TN?Can my own U.S. company employ me under TN?Can my spouse work if I hold TN status?Editorial source review: 2026-09-07. General preparation guidance, not an individual assessment.