IN THIS GUIDE · A college post is listed; a school post is not
Start with the TN eligibility and application overview
Confirm that the institution and the post fit the listing
The listing turns on the level of the institution, not on the subject taught. A community college, a technical institute granting post-secondary credentials and a university all qualify; a high school, a private training company or a farm-safety course provider does not, however academic the material. She should ask the college's human-resources office to confirm in the letter that the position is a faculty appointment at a post-secondary institution, that it involves classroom and laboratory instruction and curriculum development, and that the degree is a stated requirement of the post. If part of the job is administrative, such as program coordination, the letter should say so and keep instruction as the primary function. The course catalogue, institutional charter, and appointment classification are more useful than a school’s promotional name when the level of instruction is uncertain.
What usually goes wrong with a first-time employer letter
Colleges write appointment letters for their own purposes: rank, step, union classification and benefits. None of that tells an officer which profession is being claimed. The most common defects are a letter that never uses the word teacher, a letter that omits the degree requirement, and a letter that is silent on duration. She should send the college a short outline of what the letter must contain and ask that it be signed by someone with hiring authority. A second common failure is an applicant who arrives with a diploma but no transcript; the officer may want to see that the degree is a baccalaureate in the field claimed. Ask the hiring official for a final signed version before travelling, because a draft that leaves remuneration or duration blank cannot establish the proposed assignment.
Separate teaching credentials from the degree
Her Ontario teaching certificate is not required by the listing and should not be presented as the credential relied on. It may be included as evidence of professional standing, but the file must lead with the bachelor's degree. If the degree was earned outside Canada, Mexico or the United States, an equivalency evaluation is prudent. Any document not in English needs a certified translation for a USCIS filing and should be translated for the port of entry as well. If a licence is required for the particular teaching activity, identify it separately from the immigration credential and sequence that requirement before classes begin.
Route, duration and the household
As a Canadian citizen she may apply at a port of entry with the letter, degree and transcript, or the college may file Form I-129 with USCIS. Admission may be granted for up to three years and can be extended. Her spouse and unmarried children under 21 may accompany her in TD status, which permits study but not employment. Keep copies of the admission record and the employer letter after arrival; a later extension or change of employer requires the household to understand exactly what was approved.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.