TN Visa 2025 Policy Changes: What Canadian Professionals Near Windsor–Detroit Need to Know

This post answers the question: “How do the 2025 TN visa policy changes affect Canadian professionals who cross the Windsor–Detroit border for work?” As an immigration lawyer in Troy, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, our firm is uniquely positioned to explain how these changes are being applied at the Windsor-Detroit border. 

1. Why the 2025 TN visa changes matter

In June 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its Policy Manual for TN status under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). These rules are now being used by officers who review TN applications at ports of entry, land borders, and inside the United States.

The updates do not change the basic idea of the TN visa. It is still a temporary work status for certain Canadian and Mexican professionals. However, the guidance is stricter and more detailed. It affects how officers look at your employer, your job duties, your degree, and even where you apply.

For Canadian professionals in Windsor–Essex who cross into Detroit for work, or who plan to, it is important to understand these changes before your next application or renewal.

2. Who this applies to

These 2025 TN visa policy changes matter if you are:

- A Canadian citizen working in the United States under TN status.

- A Canadian professional planning to apply for a TN visa at the Detroit–Windsor border, another land port of entry, or a pre-clearance airport in Canada.

- A Canadian or Mexican professional working in a TN-eligible occupation such as engineer, computer systems analyst, accountant, scientist, or management consultant.

- An employer in Michigan or elsewhere in the United States who hires Canadian or Mexican professionals under TN.

If you are already in TN status, the new guidance can still affect you at your next renewal or if you change employers.

3. Quick refresher: What is TN status?

TN status is a temporary work status created for professionals from Canada and Mexico. To qualify, you must:

- Be a citizen of Canada or Mexico.

- Have a job offer in one of the listed USMCA professional categories.

- Have the correct education and, when needed, a license in that field.

- Plan to work in the United States for a limited time, not permanently.

TN status is usually granted for up to three years at a time and can be renewed as long as you still qualify.

4. Key 2025 TN visa changes you should know

Below are some of the most important changes and clarifications from the June 4, 2025 USCIS policy update and related guidance.

Employer must be a U.S. entity

The policy now makes it clear that TN employment must be with a U.S. employer or U.S. entity. This means:

- Your employer should be a company or organization legally set up in the United States.

- Arrangements where you are mainly working for a foreign company that only has a small or unclear presence in the United States may be at higher risk of denial.

If you work for a Canadian company that wants to send you to a U.S. client site, it is important to review the structure and contracts very carefully.

Self-employment is not allowed

USCIS has long said that TN status is not for self-employed people. The 2025 guidance repeats and strengthens this point.

You cannot:

- Be your own TN employer.

- Set up a U.S. company that you control and “hire” yourself in a way that looks like self-employment.

- Use TN status to run your own independent consulting business in the United States. The one exception to this is under the management consultant category. 

There must be a real employer–employee relationship. The U.S. employer should have the right to supervise your work and end your employment.

Stricter rules for certain professions

The policy highlights tighter rules for several TN categories, including:

- Engineers.

- Computer systems analysts.

- Economists.

- Scientific technicians and technologists.

For these and other categories, officers now look more closely at:

- Whether your degree matches the profession.

- Whether your day-to-day job duties truly fit the TN category.

For example:

- An “engineer” role that is really an IT support or general technician job may be refused.

- A “computer systems analyst” role that is mostly computer programming may not qualify.

- An “economist” role that is closer to marketing or general business analysis may be denied.

Higher documentation standards for degrees and experience

The 2025 policy also focuses on proof of your education and experience. In many cases, you now need:

- A degree that matches the TN profession, not just a related field.

- A professional credential evaluation if your degree is from a country other than Canada, the United States, or Mexico.

- Letters from past employers to prove experience when the TN category allows experience as part of the qualification.

Experience alone usually cannot replace a required degree. If the TN profession lists a degree as a requirement, officers expect to see that degree.

Clarified filing locations for Canadians

USCIS has clarified where Canadian citizens can apply for TN status:

- You can still apply at and ports of entry, such as the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel or Ambassador Bridge.

- You can also apply at certain U.S. airports that process international arrivals.

- If you use pre-clearance or pre-flight inspection, it must be at a station inside Canada.

Pre-clearance locations outside Canada, such as in Ireland or some Caribbean airports, can no longer accept new TN applications from Canadians.

5. What this means for professionals near Windsor–Detroit

For many people in Windsor–Essex, the Detroit border is the most common place to apply for or renew TN status. With the 2025 policy changes, you should expect:

- More questions about your employer structure, especially if a Canadian company or foreign parent is involved.

- More focus on how your degree and job duties match the exact TN category.

- More requests for detailed documents, such as past employment letters and credential evaluations.

Well-prepared applications are even more important now. A “border package” that worked a few years ago may no longer be strong enough.

6. How to prepare a stronger TN application in 2025

Here are practical steps you can take to reduce risk under the new rules.

Confirm your employer structure

- Make sure your U.S. employer is clearly a U.S. entity.

- If there is a foreign parent or affiliate, be ready to explain the relationship.

- Avoid set-ups that make it look like you are self-employed inside the United States.

Choose the right TN category

- Review the official USMCA list of professions.

- Match your job title and duties to one clear category.

- Avoid forcing a fit. If your role does not cleanly fall into a category, you may need legal advice before applying.

Align your degree and job duties

- Check that your degree is in the same or a very close field as the TN profession.

- If your degree is from outside Canada, the United States, or Mexico, consider obtaining a credible credential evaluation.

- Make sure your employer letter lists duties that match the TN category and reflect a professional-level role.

Strengthen your employer letter

Your employer support letter is still the core of your TN application. Under the new policy, it should:

- Confirm that the employer is a U.S. entity.

- Clearly state your job title, worksite, salary, and expected length of employment.

- Describe your day-to-day duties in enough detail to show how they fit the TN category.

- Explain why your education and experience qualify you for the role.

At Sisu Legal, we usually draft the employer letter for our clients, so it meets TN rules and matches the latest policy guidance.

Bring extra supporting documents

Under stricter guidance, it is wise to bring more than the minimum list of documents, such as:

- Degree certificate and transcripts.

- Credential evaluation, if needed.

- Resume or CV.

- Letters from former employers confirming your duties and dates of employment.

- Company information, such as a website printout or organizational chart.

7. Need help with your immigration or legal strategy?

You might want to speak with an immigration lawyer if:

- Your job duties do not clearly match one TN category.

- Your employer is outside the United States or is part of a complex group of companies.

- You work in a field that is now under closer review, such as engineering, IT, economics, or scientific technician roles.

- You have had a TN refusal in the past or were told that your role is “borderline.”

As a cross-border immigration law firm serving Windsor–Essex, Ontario, Michigan, and beyond, we regularly help:

- Canadian professionals who apply for TN status at the Windsor-Detroit border.

- Employers in Michigan who hire Canadian or Mexican professionals.

- TN holders who want to understand how these changes affect future renewals or long-term plans.

Need help with your immigration or legal strategy? 

Schedule a strategy session here: https://sisulegal.com/pages/booking-immigration-law-windsor-troy

8. Summary of 2025 TN Visa Policy Changes

- The 2025 TN visa policy update does not remove the TN program, but it narrows and clarifies how officers review applications.

- TN work must be for a U.S. employer. Self-employment or unclear employer structures are at higher risk.

- Officers now look more closely at how your degree and job duties match the exact TN category, especially in fields like engineering, IT, economics, and scientific roles.

- Canadian professionals near Windsor–Detroit should prepare more detailed and better-documented applications than before.

- Working with an immigration lawyer can help you choose the right category, structure your job offer, and avoid common reasons for refusal.