U.S. Gets Tougher with Mexico and Imposes Visa Restrictions

USCIS tightens criteria for TN visa

Professions such as doctors and technicians excluded

Academic degrees must match employment

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently updated its criteria for obtaining the TN visa, which allows citizens of Mexico and Canada to work in the country in specific professional occupations.

These changes have caused concern among potential workers who rely on this permit to access the U.S. labor market.

The main update affects the professional categories eligible for the visa.

USCIS has removed several jobs from the list of professions that qualify for the TN visa.

Update on TN Visa Criteria

The Trump administration has once again tightened its immigration policy, now limiting access to the TN visa, a special permit under the USMCA that allows Mexican and Canadian citizens to work legally in the U.S. https://t.co/Mtf0zmRLkZ pic.twitter.com/3GE1gm5jWQ

— El Financiero (@ElFinanciero_Mx) July 4, 2025

Among the excluded occupations are computer programmers, market and financial analysts, as well as those working in patient care or clinical support fields.

A significant change is the exclusion of doctors, who can now only qualify for the TN visa if they are engaged exclusively in teaching or research, ruling out the possibility of working in other areas of medicine.

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This has created concern among healthcare professionals who had hoped to practice in the United States under this type of visa.

In addition, occupations such as mechanic, welder, or electrician have been removed, even in cases where these jobs support engineers.

Elimination of Professions in the TN Visa

USCIS has updated the requirements for the TN visa, the special work permit for Mexicans and Canadians. Now, some occupations are no longer accepted.

https://t.co/FlGVNlrnpF pic.twitter.com/T9f0pyG4Im

— @MeganoticiasMx (@MeganoticiasMx) July 4, 2025

Also removed from the list are radiology and ultrasound technicians, sectors that were previously eligible for the TN visa, according to El Financiero.

Another important change is the new requirement that academic degrees must be directly related to the profession one intends to practice in the U.S.

Previously, some degrees indirectly linked to the field of work could be accepted, but now there must be an exact match between the academic degree and the occupation.

The TN visa, which is a non-immigrant permit, allows Mexican and Canadian citizens to work in the United States for up to three years.

Conclusion

With the option to renew it indefinitely as long as requirements continue to be met.

This visa is crucial for many professionals seeking job opportunities in the country.

Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, U.S. immigration policies have become considerably stricter.

Affecting many foreign workers who wish to access the U.S. job market. The new TN visa restrictions are a reflection of this trend.