ELI5 - Canadians can just cross the border and get a job in the USA? No need for work visa? Is that by virtue of being Canadian citizens? What are the legals?
TN1 visa allows Canadians to work in the US indefinitely in most professional-type roles e.g. teacher, engineer, accountant, etc. It doesn’t require much more than a job offer to get the visa.
It is a non-immigration visa so it isn’t a path to citizenship, just an American job. Many Canadians take advantage of this.
“Completely acceptable” is not accurate. I’d wager that for any success story there are many stories of heartbreak due to timing and travel for TN renewal. A risk I wouldn’t advise a friend to take. But, yes, doesn’t matter anymore after last week.
Sure timing is an issue and so are the resulting travel implications of showing immigrant intent but it was 100% legal and therefore an acceptable route.
EAD/AP shows up in around 4-5 months for most people and those restrictions are then no longer a concern.
It's easier to get a job for a company in the U.S than it is to cross the border with a job in the U.S. If you have a degree and a job, great, otherwise no
It is a non-immigration visa so it isn’t a path to citizenship, just an American job. Many Canadians take advantage of this.