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  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. For Canadian Citizens and Mexican Nationals
  4. Traveling on a TN or L1 Visa from Canada?

Traveling on a TN or L1 Visa from Canada?

In September 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection designated ports of entry (POEs) for optimized processing of first-time Canadian applicants for admission in the TN or L-1 categories. Designating POEs for optimized processing ensures a more efficient approach to processing the high volume of TN and L1 applicants.

Question:Which ports of entry are designated for optimized processing?
Answer:Fourteen total ports (below) are designated, to include 4 preclearance locations. 
Question:I am a first time TN and L1 applicant – am I required to go to a designated port of entry?
Answer:No, you may continue to go to any port of entry along the Canadian border for processing; however, we encourage you to go to one of the designated ports of entry where you will receive optimized processing.
Question:How can Canadian citizens obtain TN and L1 classifications?
Answer:Canadian citizens can continue to apply for TN and L classifications at U.S. ports of entry or U.S. preclearance facilities with the required documentation.
Question:What are TN and L nonimmigrant classifications?
Answer:The TN nonimmigrant classification permits qualified Canadian and Mexican citizens to seek temporary entry into the United States to engage in business activities at a professional level. The L-1 nonimmigrant classification - Intracompany Transferee Executive or Manager – enables a U.S. employer to transfer an executive or manager from one of its affiliated foreign offices to one of its offices in the United States. This classification also enables a foreign company that does not yet have an affiliated U.S. office to send an executive or manager to the U.S. with the purpose of establishing one.

Detroit Canada Tunnel POE
150 E. Jefferson
Detroit, MI 48226
Detroit Ambassador Bridge POE
3033 Porter Street
Detroit, MI 48216
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Sweetgrass POE
39825 Interstate 15
Sweetgrass, MT 59484
Hours of Operation: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

Alexandria Bay POE
46735 Interstate 81
Alexandria Bay, NY 13607
Champlain POE
232 West Service Road
Champlain, NY 12919
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Peace Bridge POE
One Peace Bridge Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14213
Appointments: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Lewiston Bridge POE
One Lewiston Bridge Plaza
Lewiston, NY 14092
Appointments: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday
Rainbow Bridge POE
One Rainbow Bridge
Niagara Falls, NY 14330
Appointments: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday

Highgate Springs POE
Interstate 89 at the Border
Highgate Springs, VT 05460
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday - Thursday
Derby Line POE
Interstate 91
Derby Line, VT 05830
Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday

Blaine Peace Arch POE
123 Second Street
Blaine, WA 98230
Hours of Operation: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday - Thursday

Calgary International Airport
P.O. Box 155
2000 Airport Road, NE
Calgary, Alberta T2E6W5
Hours of Operation: 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Daily
Lester B. Pearson International Airport
P.O. Box 115
Toronto AMF
Toronto, Ontario L5P 1A2
Hours of Operation: 4:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Daily
Trudeau International Airport
975 Romeo Vachon Boulevard, North
Room TT 2.400
Dorval, Quebec H4Y1H1
Hours of Operation: 4:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Daily
Vancouver International Airport
International Terminal - Level 3
3161 Grant McConachie Way
Richmond, British Columbia V7B0A4
Hours of Operation: 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Daily
Last Modified: Apr 01, 2021