How Border Officers Review Your TN Visa Package (And What They Look For)

Introduction

A calm, organized start goes a long way at the booth.

The year was 2022. My wife and I had packed up our lives in Canada and were heading to the U.S. - both on TN visas. I was at one customs booth, nerves high but confident. My support letter had been drafted by a lawyer, so I felt I was in good shape.

But my wife was across the hall at another booth, holding the letter we had drafted ourselves. I kept glancing over, wondering if we had missed something. We did. Jessica’s letter had major inconsistencies. Her visa was approved, but only for several months less than the three years we had hoped for - and only because the officer was lenient. If he hadn’t been, she might not have been allowed across at all.

Here’s the thing about border officers: they’re people, and first impressions matter. They don’t have time to analyze every word. They scan your package in seconds, looking for anything that feels “off.” If your documents are clear, professional, and consistent, you’ve already made their job easy. If not, that’s when the questions start.

That’s why it helps to understand how officers review TN packages. Once you see the process through their eyes, it stops feeling like a mystery - and starts looking like a checklist you can prepare for.

1. The First 30 Seconds: The Quick Scan

Most decisions start forming in the first half-minute. The officer takes one look at you, then at your package, and makes an instant judgment: does this look professional and consistent, or does something feel off?

That scan happens on two levels:

You, the applicant

• Are you dressed like someone in the profession you’re claiming?
• Do you look confident and put-together, or flustered and unsure?
• Small things - eye contact, tone, posture - reinforce your story.

Your documents

• Neatly organized folder, not a crumpled stack
• Expected contents: support letter, degree, offer, employer contact info
• Support letter reads like a professional, factual document - not marketing

Professional vs. sloppy first impression.

3. The Deeper Review (Details)

If you make it past the officer’s first scan, the next step is a more detailed review of your TN package. Think of it like a checklist: they’re verifying that your role, your degree, and your documents all line up. Some items are “nice to have,” but others are absolutely make-or-break.

Here’s what that review usually covers:

Most officers don’t go line by line through every detail - but when they do, these are the boxes they’re mentally checking. If your title, duties, degree, and consistency all line up, the rest tends to fall into place. And once again, the support letter is what ties it all together. A clear, professional letter guides the officer to see your package as credible before they even dig into the rest.

4. How to Make Their Job Easy

If there’s one principle to remember, it’s this: make the officer’s job easy. They’re not hoping to deny you - they just want to see a professional, consistent package that matches the rules.

Here’s how to do that:

1. Lead with a strong letter

• Keep it 1–2 pages.
• Use clear headings (Job Title, Duties, Qualifications, Compensation).
• Avoid fluff: “Designs and tests embedded systems” works; “Plays a vital role in our world-class team” doesn’t.

2. Anticipate their questions

• Does the job title match a TN profession?
• Do the duties sound like degree-level work?
• Does the degree listed line up with the role?

3. Have backup documents ready

• Original degree and transcripts.
• Professional license (if required).
• Job posting or offer letter.

Think of it like a toolbox: the support letter is your hammer, but you’ve got wrenches and screwdrivers ready in case the officer needs to tighten any bolts.

Pyramid of credibility — support letter, backed by degree, offer letter, and transcripts.

Conclusion

Crossing the border on a TN visa doesn’t have to feel like rolling the dice. Once you understand how officers actually review your package - from the first 30-second scan, to the deeper checklist, to the consistency check - the process stops feeling like a mystery and starts looking like a system you can prepare for.

And at the center of it all is your support letter. It sets the tone, frames your entire package, and tells the officer whether this looks like a straightforward approval or a potential problem. Get that right, and the rest tends to fall into place.

If you’re staring at a blank page, wondering how to word it, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I built TNSupportLetter.com to generate professional, lawyer-style TN support letters in minutes - with AI review to catch inconsistencies before they ever reach the border.

Make the officer’s job easy. Make your crossing easier. And give yourself one less thing to stress about.