The Detroit FEM Chapter took a deep dive into the topic of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the event “Crossing the Border: Utilizing NAFTA to Work in Canada and the US.” NAFTA facilitates the temporary entry for business persons who are citizens of the United States, Mexico, and Canada who are involved in the trade of goods or services, or in investment activities.

The benefits of using the NAFTA route for US and Mexican nationals to work in Canada are:

• Expedited application process by applying at the port of entry;
• Facilitates temporary visas; and
• Removes the need for a labour market impact assessment need.

The benefits of using the NAFTA route for Canadian and Mexican nationals to work in the US are:

• Indefinite renewal;
• Rapid processing time;
• No need for visa/I-129 application;
• Low application fee; and
• No quota.

The discussion revolved around the latest trends seen at the US-Canadian border, as well as difficulties that may arise over qualifications, documentation and requirements.

One of the primary topics of discussion was what to expect at the US-Canadian border crossing. When dealing with Customs and Border Officers at the port of entry, the event speakers reiterated that each situation is different and the officers may question specific documents or job titles. At the end of the discussion, the floor was opened to the group, in which each talked of their own experience at the border with clients and what they found to be successful.

We would like to extend a special thanks to our speakers from Fakhoury Global Immigration and Fakhoury Law Group for offering their expert advice and opinions on this matter.

Want to know more about the Detroit Chapter Meeting or receive updates on future events? Please email Marianne Aronsen