Is the TN Visa Considered Visa Sponsorship?

No, the TN visa is not considered a traditional form of ""visa sponsorship.""

The TN visa (available to citizens of Canada and Mexico under the USMCA, formerly NAFTA) does not require formal sponsorship like the H1B visa. Instead:

• Canadian and Mexican citizens can apply for a TN visa if they have a job offer in the U.S. in specific professional categories (e.g., engineers, scientists, teachers, etc.).

• The employer provides a job offer, but they do not need to go through the extensive sponsorship process (like filing labor certifications or petitions with USCIS).

Thus, while a U.S. employer needs to offer you a job, they do not undergo the same steps as traditional visa sponsorship. The visa is typically easier and faster to obtain.