7 Reasons Canadians Choose TN Visa Over H-1B Visa

Canadian professionals have access to a work-visa route that is unavailable to most nationalities: the TN visa. Compared with the H-1B, it can mean skipping the annual lottery, paying a small fraction of the filing cost, and starting work within days rather than months. It also renews without a fixed limit, moves with you more easily between employers, and carries a lighter paperwork burden that makes employers quicker to say yes.

Here are 7 reasons where the TN outperforms the H-1B for eligible Canadians, from cost and timing to renewals, employer flexibility, and family status.

1. No H-1B lottery to enter

The H-1B relies on a capped annual lottery. The TN has neither a cap nor a lottery.

The H-1B visa is limited to 85,000 new visas a year, and demand consistently exceeds supply, so selection is decided by lottery. Beginning with the FY2027 cap season, USCIS replaced random selection with a weighted lottery system that favors higher-paid roles, which reduces the odds for entry-level positions. The TN has no annual cap and no lottery. An eligible applicant with a qualifying offer can apply at any time.

2. TN visa cost is far lower than an H-1B

TN government fees are a small fraction of the cost to file an H-1B.

A Canadian applying at the border pays approximately $56 in U.S. government fees, a $50 TN filing fee plus a $6 I-94 fee, as of July 2026. H-1B filing fees run into the thousands. In addition, as of July 2026, a September 2025 presidential proclamation requires a $100,000 payment on many new H-1B petitions for workers abroad who process through a consulate. A federal court vacated the fee in June 2026, though it remains in effect while the government appeals. The TN is not subject to this payment.

3. TN visa processing time is measured in days, not months

TN status can be granted on the day you apply. H-1B employment follows a fixed annual calendar.

Canadian citizens apply for TN status at a U.S. port of entry, either a land border crossing or a CBP preclearance station at a Canadian airport. An officer reviews the documents and issues a decision on the spot, often within 30 minutes. The H-1B operates on a set schedule: registration opens in March, and cap-subject employment cannot begin before October 1.

4. The TN visa requires no LCA or advance petition

The TN requires no Labor Condition Application and no advance petition.

An H-1B employer must file a Labor Condition Application with the Department of Labor and a petition with USCIS before employment can begin. For a Canadian applying at the border, the TN requires neither. The employer's principal responsibility is a detailed offer letter demonstrating how the role fits an eligible profession. The lighter administrative burden makes many employers more willing to extend a TN offer.

5. TN visa renewals have no six-year limit

The H-1B is limited to six years. The TN can be renewed without a set limit.

TN status is granted in increments of up to three years, with no limit on the number of renewals, provided the role continues to qualify and the applicant maintains nonimmigrant intent. The H-1B carries a six-year maximum, and extensions beyond that are generally available only when a green card process is sufficiently advanced.

6. Changing employers on a TN visa is simpler

Moving to a new TN employer requires a new offer, not a transfer petition.

Changing TN employers involves a new TN application, either at the border or through a Form I-129 filing for applicants already in the U.S. There is no cap-subject transfer to clear. Changing H-1B employers requires a full new I-129 petition, which is workable but more involved.

7. TN visa dependents can join you on a TD visa

A TN holder's immediate family can accompany them in TD status.

A TN holder's spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany them in TD status, reside in the U.S., and attend school. The principal limitation is that TD status does not authorize employment, consistent with the default H-4 rules that apply to many H-1B families.

Find a U.S. role that supports your TN

A TN starts with a qualifying job offer, so the first step is finding an employer ready to hire you and put the role in writing. Migrate Mate lists roles at U.S. employers with a verified history of sponsoring work visas, backed by government disclosure data on their past visa counts and verified direct contact for hiring managers You can also create a candidate profile so employers looking for international talent can find and reach you directly.

Frequently asked questions