TN eligibility rests on qualifying Canadian or Mexican citizenship, a job genuinely matching a listed profession, credentials meeting that profession's specific requirements, a prearranged position with a U.S. employer, and a temporary purpose. Missing any one element weakens the case regardless of how strong the others look.
Treat each element as a separate checkpoint
Citizenship, profession match, credentials, and prearranged work each fail independently of the others, so review them one at a time instead of as a single impression. A strong resume does not fix a profession mismatch, and a clear job offer does not fix a missing credential. Ask the reviewer to state, for each element, whether it is confirmed, uncertain, or unresolved.
That structure turns a general sense of 'this looks fine' into a list of specific items the employer or applicant still needs to address. A further element belongs on that list: TN work must be prearranged with a U.S. employer, and the classification does not accommodate self-employment, so an applicant intending to build a practice of their own needs a different conversation entirely.
Ask also which procedure is contemplated, since a Canadian citizen may generally request TN admission at a port of entry while a petition on Form I-129 may instead be filed with USCIS; the eligibility standard is identical either way, and only the evidence sequence differs. Hypothetical example: a veterinarian holds an offer from a mixed-animal practice, and the first review records citizenship confirmed, profession confirmed, licensure uncertain pending state requirements, and duty description unresolved.