How do I get TN visa status as an Urban Planner?

Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities in towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas. Urban and regional planners typically do the following:

• Meet with public officials, developers, and the public regarding development plans and land use
• Administer government plans or policies affecting land use
• Gather and analyze data from market research, censuses, and economic and environmental studies
• Conduct field investigations to analyze factors affecting community development and decline, including land use
• Review site plans submitted by developers
• Assess the feasibility of proposals and identify needed changes
• Recommend whether proposals should be approved or denied
• Present projects to communities, planning officials, and planning commissions
• Stay current on zoning and building codes, environmental regulations, and other legal issues

Urban and regional planners identify community needs and develop short- and long-term solutions to improve and revitalize communities and areas. As an area grows or changes, planners help communities manage the related economic, social, and environmental issues, such as planning new parks, sheltering the homeless, and making the region more attractive to businesses.

How do I qualify for TN Visa status as an Urban Planner?

You might qualify for TN Visa status as an Urban Planner if you meet the following minimum qualifications:

1. You are a Canadian or Mexican Citizen (Permanent Residents do NOT qualify);
2. You have a job offer from a US employer or are servicing a contract with a US client;
3. You will be performing duties consistent with an Urban or Regional Planner under the OOH;
4. You have a Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in a closely-related field; and
5. You can demonstrate that you have non-immigrant intent, in other words, the intent to return to your foreign residence at the end of your temporary employment.

Is certification or licensure required to obtain TN Visa status as an Urban Planner?

As of 2016, New Jersey was the only state that required urban and regional planners to be licensed. However, licensure is a post-entry requirement for TN visa status and is not a requirement to obtain TN visa status as an Urban Planner.

TN Visa Professions & Occupations List