EB-3
VS
TN Mexicans
Type
Green card
Nonimmigrant visa
Description
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
NAFTA Professionals from Mexico
Profiles that typically qualify
Almost any worker
Software developers, Financial analysts, Medical professionals, Engineers, Scientists, University professors, Management consultants
Requirements
Must have a job offer and undergo labor certification (PERM), showing no available qualified U.S. workers.
Skilled Workers: Job offer requires at least 2 years of training or experience.
Professionals: Job offer requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
Other Workers: Job offer requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.
You must be a citizen of Mexico.
You must meet the educational credentials or work experience required under NAFTA for your profession, with a job offer that matches those qualifications. Professions eligible for this status include, but are not limited to, accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.
Pros
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
Straightforward process with clear requirements.
Highly flexible, applicable to almost any job that aligns with your experience or qualifications based on its minimum requirements.
Renewable indefinitely, allowing long-term employment opportunities in the U.S.
No annual cap, providing a reliable option for eligible professionals.
Cons
The labor certification process (PERM) is lengthy and time-consuming.
Applicants are tied to the employer sponsoring the petition for most of the application process.
Slower processing times compared to other categories, particularly for applicants from certain countries.
Limited to specific professions listed under the NAFTA agreement.
Requires employer sponsorship and a specific job offer.
Sponsorship
Required
Required
Validity period
Permanent residency
4 years
Renewable
Every 10 years
Indefinitely, 4-year increments
Without premium processing
Three stages, totaling about 36-48 months1
1 to 3 months1
With premium processing
15 business days2
Not available
Can spouse work
Yes
No
Disclaimers
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only one stage of the process, with minimal impact on the overall processing time.
1Processing time may vary depending on interview wait times at the consulate.
Type
EB-3
Green card
TN Mexicans
Nonimmigrant visa
Description
EB-3
Skilled Workers, Professionals, and Other Workers
TN Mexicans
NAFTA Professionals from Mexico
Profiles that typically qualify
EB-3
Almost any worker
TN Mexicans
Software developers, Financial analysts, Medical professionals, Engineers, Scientists, University professors, Management consultants
Requirements
EB-3
Must have a job offer and undergo labor certification (PERM), showing no available qualified U.S. workers.
Skilled Workers: Job offer requires at least 2 years of training or experience.
Professionals: Job offer requires a U.S. bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent.
Other Workers: Job offer requiring less than 2 years of training or experience.
TN Mexicans
You must be a citizen of Mexico.
You must meet the educational credentials or work experience required under NAFTA for your profession, with a job offer that matches those qualifications. Professions eligible for this status include, but are not limited to, accountants, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists, scientists, and teachers.
Pros
EB-3
Provides complete flexibility to work, live, and study in the U.S.
Straightforward process with clear requirements.
Highly flexible, applicable to almost any job that aligns with your experience or qualifications based on its minimum requirements.
TN Mexicans
Renewable indefinitely, allowing long-term employment opportunities in the U.S.
No annual cap, providing a reliable option for eligible professionals.
Cons
EB-3
The labor certification process (PERM) is lengthy and time-consuming.
Applicants are tied to the employer sponsoring the petition for most of the application process.
Slower processing times compared to other categories, particularly for applicants from certain countries.
TN Mexicans
Limited to specific professions listed under the NAFTA agreement.
Requires employer sponsorship and a specific job offer.
Sponsorship
EB-3
Required
TN Mexicans
Required
Validity period
EB-3
Permanent residency
TN Mexicans
4 years
Renewable
EB-3
Every 10 years
TN Mexicans
Indefinitely, 4-year increments
Without premium processing
EB-3
Three stages, totaling about 36-48 months1
TN Mexicans
1 to 3 months1
With premium processing
EB-3
15 business days2
TN Mexicans
Not available
Can spouse work
EB-3
Yes
TN Mexicans
No
Disclaimers
EB-3
1Applicants from India, China, or Mexico may experience longer wait times.
2Available for only one stage of the process, with minimal impact on the overall processing time.
TN Mexicans
1Processing time may vary depending on interview wait times at the consulate.