TN Visa Occupation: Economist

Canadian or Mexican citizens may qualify for sponsorship in the TN visa occupation of Economist if their academic qualifications and proposed job duties align with the government’s description of the occupation, as outlined in the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook and as summarized below.

Education Requirement

Economists must possess a baccalaureate or licenciatura degree in economics or a related field, such as mathematics or statistics.

Job Duties

Economists research and analyze data and topics related to monetary and fiscal policy. As outlined in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, typical duties include researching economic issues related to education, the labor force, or international trade; conducting surveys and collecting data; analyzing data using mathematical models, statistical tools, and other software; interpreting and forecasting trends; advising businesses, governments, and individuals on fiscal policy and other economic topics; and presenting research for academic journals, government publications, and other media.

Important Considerations

In 2017 the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Policy Memorandum clarifying that to qualify for TN status as an Economist, the job duties must primarily align with the Economist occupation and not with other closely related occupations, such as financial analysts, market research analysts, or marketing specialists. USCIS explained that Economists should primarily be engaged in analyzing microeconomic or macroeconomic factors rather than conducting financial investment analysis for individual organizations. Accordingly, when applying for TN in the Economist occupation, it is important to ensure the job duties are not more closely aligned with a financial analyst or other related occupation that does not qualify for TN sponsorship.