How To Use The USMCA To For Obtaining Work Visas For Canada Or USA?

To qualify for work visas for the United States under the USMCA free trade agreement is one of the most effective methods for Canadians to receive work permits for the United States. The same rules apply to U.S. citizens who want to find employment in Canada. The USMCA makes it easier for professionals from the United States and Canada to apply for work visas in countries that are adjacent to their home countries.

What exactly is the USMCA?

The USA-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a comprehensive trade deal that was formalized between these countries on 2020. The NAFTA, which was in force between the three nations before this new deal, is actually replaced by this new one. This new agreement indeed addresses a wide variety of concerns, including those about intellectual property, labor, and the environment.

What kind of effects does the USMCA have on work visas?

The former program for temporary workers, the TN visa, has been replaced by a new one that is being referred to as the “Professional” visa under the terms of the USMCA. The list of occupations that are eligible for this new kind of visa has been expanded, and professionals who are looking for employment in the USA, Canada, or Mexico now have additional options.

The Professional Visa for the United States of America

The new Professional visa for the United States is quite comparable to the former TN visa; nevertheless, there have been some significant modifications made. To begin, a wider variety of occupations are now eligible to apply for a professional visa. This includes scientists, architects, engineers, and management consultants, amongst others. In addition to this, the Professional visa now enables lengthier stays, up to a maximum of three years, and it may be renewed forever.

Generally speaking, when we refer to “professionals,” we are referring to those who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree in a field that is pertinent to their line of work; however, there are a few minor occupational exceptions. On the official website, you can find a comprehensive list of the jobs, as well as the criteria that must be met following the agreement for candidates to be considered qualified.

The Canadian visa for qualified professionals

The Professional visa for Canada is, in many respects, similar to the TN visa that came before it; nonetheless, there have been substantial modifications made. To begin, the list of qualified occupations has been updated to include several new classifications, such as graphic designers, technical writers, and social workers, among others. Second, the Professional visa now allows for lengthier stays, up to a maximum of three years, and is renewable forever. This visa was previously only good for a maximum of one year.

How can I apply for a Professional visa?

To be eligible for the Professional visa, you must first be a citizen of either the United States, Canada, or Mexico, and then you must demonstrate that you have a work offer from a company located in either of the other two countries or your employer will set up business in the USA to transfer workers and grow their branch in another scenario. In addition to this, the particular criteria of the profession in which you wish to work must be met by you. For instance, if you want to work in the field of software development, you need to have a bachelor’s degree or a comparable amount of work experience.

To apply for the Professional visa, you will be required to present supplemental paperwork, which may include your résumé, transcripts, and professional certificates, among other things. You may need to show up for an interview with a consular official as well.

Advantages of Obtaining a Professional Visa under USMCA

The Professional visa offers several advantages to professionals who are looking for employment in the United States of America, Canada, or Mexico. These advantages include the following:

• The capacity to get employment in a wider variety of fields and professions.
• Extended stays of up to three years are now possible.
• The visa’s ability to be renewed forever is a perk.
• There is no limit placed on the number of visas that may be given each year.
• A reduction in the amount of time required to process visa applications
• Tariffs might be lowered or eliminated to reduce the costs of production and trade. This would lead to decreased prices at retail for customers and increased profits for companies.
• Restructured protections for the healthcare and data markets make enterprises more competitive while maintaining their eligibility for growth incentives.
• Once wage disparities are closed, new protections for Mexican workers translate into expanded opportunities for workers located in the United States. Especially in Mexico, the new deal imposed stringent labor standards that ensure worker rights and fair recompense for their labor.
• The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires applicants to wait two weeks for premium processing of their work visa applications. It is possible that it will be followed by a period of six months to one year in U.S. consulates outside the country. Nevertheless, these requirements do not apply to USMCA professional applicants. You will, in essence, be required to show yourself prior to the onboarding process in order to submit their applications in order to be granted work visas on the spot.

What Are the Requirements to Cross the Border?

Take a look at the checklist to ensure you have everything you need for your interview at the border by looking through the checklist. The checklist outlines what information applicants must supply, including proof of citizenship, for the job offer of employment, as evidence of credentials, as necessary documentation, and as verification of which members of the individual’s family would be traveling with them.

Wrap Up

The USMCA has brought about substantial modifications to the program that applies to temporary workers for residents of the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico. Professionals who are interested in working in each other’s countries will benefit from more mobility and a wider variety of job prospects thanks to the newly created visa category for professionals.