Entering the U.S. on a TN Visa: Why Can’t You Find Your Travel History?

ZENG QI
17 hours ago
2 min read

The TN Visa is a temporary work status under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). It allows eligible Canadian and Mexican citizens to temporarily enter the U.S. to work in certain qualifying professions.

1️⃣ Canadian citizens entering the U.S. may not always have an airport arrival/departure record

In Travel History, CBP generally displays entry and departure dates as well as arrival airport information. However, for Canadian passport holders entering by land, and in many cases for TN entries by air, CBP may create an I-94 record without creating a corresponding Travel History record.

Why?

▶ Travel between Canada and the U.S. is considered a relatively low-risk and high-frequency travel category for Canadian citizens.

✔ CBP systems, particularly for land-border crossings, do not always record detailed Travel History for every arrival.

▶ Travel History and I-94 are two different systems.

① I-94: Records your immigration status upon entry, such as TN, authorized period of stay, and related information.② Travel History: Records information such as your entry/departure dates and arrival airport.

🇺🇸 Having an I-94 does NOT necessarily mean that a Travel History record will be generated.

2️⃣ A TN entry involves the creation of immigration status, so an I-94 should be issued

When you enter the U.S. in TN status, CBP generally creates an I-94 record containing your record number, date of entry, admission status (TN), and authorized period of stay.

That record will appear on the I-94 website. However, the I-94 record does not depend on the existence of a Travel History record.

3️⃣ An incomplete Travel History is relatively common

This is especially common for travelers entering the U.S. from Canada by land or through pre-clearance facilities. These entries may generate an I-94 record without necessarily being synchronized with Travel History.

🌟 There are many cases involving Canadian passport holders whose Travel History is blank while their I-94 record is completely normal.

4️⃣ Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a TN visa at a U.S. consulate

Canadian citizens generally do not need to obtain a TN visa stamp at a U.S. consulate before entering the United States.

Instead, when seeking admission to the U.S., Canadian citizens can present the required documentation to a CBP officer at a designated port of entry or designated pre-clearance/pre-inspection facility to demonstrate eligibility for TN status.

You generally need to provide:

① Proof of Canadian citizenship: Passport

② A letter from your prospective U.S. employer describing the position, purpose of employment, anticipated length of stay, and your educational background, among other information

③ Credential evaluation, if applicable

The CBP officer will review your documents and determine whether you qualify for TN status. If approved, an I-94 record will be generated in the system.

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