Mexico and the United States: the Immigration Advantage Many Mexican Professionals Still Don't Know About
Mexico and the United States share much more than a border. The two countries maintain one of the most important economic and professional relationships in the world, and for qualified Mexican citizens, this proximity can also mean specific immigration advantages, especially through the TN visa, a category that exists precisely because of the bond between the two countries and that many professionals still don't fully understand.
This article explains why Mexico is, by far, the leading country of origin of the immigrant population in the United States, what makes the TN visa different from any other work category, and when a Mexican professional should look at other options, such as the H-1B, L-1, or E-2, or categories geared toward permanent residence, such as the EB-2 NIW and EB-1A. Throughout the article, we also show how Murtaz Law works on each of these pathways.
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Mexico: the Leading Country of Origin of the U.S. Immigrant Population
In 2024, approximately 11.1 million people born in Mexico lived in the United States, representing 22% of the country's entire immigrant population, according to the Migration Policy Institute. This makes Mexicans the largest immigrant group in the United States, well ahead of the second country of origin.
In addition, 202,600 Mexicans obtained permanent residence in 2024, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Mexico was the leading country of birth among new permanent residents that year, accounting for approximately 15% of all new green cards granted in 2024.
It's important to clarify that there is no single "immigration rate." Different things can be measured, and each tells a different part of the story:
Measure | Figure (2024) |
Mexicans living in the United States | 11.1 million |
Share of all immigrants in the U.S. | 22% |
Mexicans who received a green card in 2024 | 202,600 |
Approximate share of new green cards in 2024 | About 15% |
These figures show that the immigration path between Mexico and the United States is widely traveled. But the fact that thousands of people have already made this transition doesn't mean there is a single roadmap: each professional trajectory calls for its own strategy, and that is exactly where Murtaz Law's work begins.
Why Mexican Professionals Have a Specific Advantage
The proximity between Mexico and the United States is not only geographic. It is also an economic bond formalized by the USMCA (T-MEC in Mexico, or the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), the trade agreement among the three North American countries.
The USMCA doesn't only regulate trade in goods and services. It also created its own immigration category, the TN visa, available exclusively to Mexican and Canadian citizens in a specific set of professions. This means a qualified Mexican professional has, at least in theory, a path that simply doesn't exist for the vast majority of professionals from the rest of the world, who rely on more competitive categories such as the H-1B, which is subject to an annual selection process with limited slots.
In practice, however, taking advantage of this requires more than knowing it exists. Murtaz Law advises both Mexican professionals and U.S. companies looking to hire them, connecting the opportunity created by the USMCA to a well-grounded immigration strategy.
The TN Visa and Eligible Professions
The TN is the main professional immigration advantage tied directly to Mexican citizenship. It allows qualified Mexican citizens to work temporarily in the United States in professions listed under the USMCA, provided they have a pre-arranged job offer.
The list includes fields such as engineering, architecture, accounting, economics, science, research, healthcare, and certain consulting roles. To qualify, several requirements must be met at the same time:
Hold Mexican citizenship;
Work in a profession included on the USMCA list;
Have a job offer consistent with that profession;
Meet the academic credentials and qualifications required for that specific professional category;
Understand that this is a temporary visa, not a direct path to permanent residence.
The TN also does not allow self-employment: it always requires a job offer from a U.S. employer. And, unlike many Canadian citizens, Mexicans must obtain the TN visa before applying for admission to the United States, usually at a consulate, rather than handling it directly at the port of entry.
In 2024, the following were issued to Mexican citizens:
Visa Category | Visas Issued to Mexicans in 2024 |
TN | 15,630 |
L-1 | 3,495 |
H-1B | 1,954 |
O-1 | 880 |
These figures reflect visas actually issued, according to Department of State data, and not approval rates or the total number of interested applicants. Even so, they clearly show how the TN stands out among other temporary categories for Mexican professionals, being issued at a volume several times higher than the H-1B or L-1.
How Murtaz Law works on TN cases: because the decision is made at the consular interview, how the case is presented makes a difference. Murtaz Law's team analyzes whether the profession and position truly correspond to a USMCA category, verifies that the degree and experience meet the requirements, guides the drafting of the employer's offer letter, and prepares the professional for the consular interview. Learn more about the TN Visa.
When the TN Is Not the Best Path
Mexican citizenship alone is not enough. The profession, the position offered, and the applicant's academic background must align with the specific requirements of the corresponding USMCA category. A professional may have extensive experience and still not meet the TN's formal requirements, whether because their profession isn't on the list, their degree doesn't exactly match what's required, or the position offered doesn't correspond to a recognized TN occupation.
In these cases, insisting on the TN just because it's the "natural" path for a Mexican citizen can be a mistake. It's worth evaluating which visa category truly fits the professional's profile, rather than forcing a case into a category that doesn't fully fit.
This is one of the most important analyses Murtaz Law performs: clearly identifying when the TN is the right path and, when it isn't, pointing to the category that offers the most security and the best prospects for that profile.
Other Visas for Mexican Professionals
There is no official ranking of the "most sought-after visas," because the U.S. government mainly publishes visas issued, not necessarily every search or expression of interest. Even so, these are the most relevant pathways for Mexican professionals beyond the TN, all handled by Murtaz Law:
Visa | Suggested Profile | Sponsorship |
Professions included in the USMCA | Job offer | |
Specialty occupations that typically require a university degree | Employer | |
Executives, managers, and specialized professionals transferred between related companies | Company | |
Professionals with extraordinary ability or significant recognition | U.S. petitioner | |
Mexican entrepreneurs investing in a U.S. business | Own investment | |
Professionals whose work can benefit the United States | May allow self-petition | |
Professionals with extraordinary recognition and robust evidence | May allow self-petition |
Each of these categories has its own logic, and Murtaz Law works on all of them:
H-1B: Murtaz Law works with the employer from registration in the selection process through the petition, demonstrating that the position is a specialty occupation and that the professional's education matches it.
L-1: for business groups with operations in both Mexico and the United States, Murtaz Law structures the transfer, documenting the relationship between the companies and the professional's executive, managerial, or specialized role.
O-1A: Murtaz Law organizes evidence of professional distinction, such as awards, publications, judging roles, and expert letters, into a coherent narrative for the immigration officer.
E-2: Mexico is an E-2 treaty country, and Murtaz Law advises Mexican entrepreneurs on structuring the investment, preparing the business plan, and preparing the consular case.
The EB-2 NIW and EB-1A deserve a separate mention: unlike the TN, H-1B, or L-1, these two categories can lead directly to permanent residence, and in many cases they allow self-petition, without depending on a sponsoring employer. For a Mexican professional with a solid track record and documented results, putting together a well-organized professional dossier can be as important as the job offer itself. Building that dossier, with an evidence strategy, recommendation letters, and legal argumentation, is one of Murtaz Law's specialties.
Temporary Visa or Green Card?
The TN, H-1B, L-1, O-1A, and E-2 are temporary categories. They allow work in the United States for a set period, subject to renewal, but they are not, on their own, a direct path to permanent residence. Some of them, such as the H-1B and L-1, can be combined later with a green card petition, but that involves a separate process, with its own strategy and timeline.
The EB-2 NIW and EB-1A, on the other hand, are immigration pathways geared toward permanent residence from the start. That doesn't automatically make them easier, since they require different analyses and strategies with higher evidentiary standards, but they change the underlying question: instead of asking "can I work temporarily in the United States?", the question becomes "does my professional trajectory justify permanent residence?".
For professionals already in the United States on a temporary visa, the transition to a green card can also go through an employer-sponsored petition, such as the EB-2/EB-3, followed by Adjustment of Status, which allows the process to be completed without leaving the country. In the case of the TN, which does not permit immigrant intent, this transition requires even more careful planning of timelines, travel, and renewals.
Murtaz Law supports professionals with this long-term view: not only in obtaining the first visa, but in building a plan that connects their current temporary status to the goal of permanent residence.
Comparing Profiles and Immigration Pathways
The table below is only a starting point. Each case depends on an individual analysis, but it helps show where different profiles of Mexican professionals typically fit within the U.S. immigration system.
Profile | Typical Strengths | Pathways Typically Evaluated |
Recent graduate with a job offer in a USMCA-listed profession | University degree, concrete job offer, eligible profession | TN |
Specialized professional whose profession isn't on the USMCA list, or whose degree doesn't exactly match | University education, specialized experience, offer from an employer willing to sponsor | H-1B |
Executive or manager transferred within the same business group | Experience within the same company or related group, leadership role | L-1 |
Entrepreneur with their own capital to invest in a U.S. business | Business plan, substantial investment, intent to direct the company | E-2 |
Professional with documented recognition or impact in their field, not dependent on a specific employer | Publications, awards, measurable results, potential impact for the United States | EB-2 NIW or EB-1A, depending on the level of documented distinction |
Many professionals see themselves in more than one row of this table. In these cases, Murtaz Law's analysis helps define which category to prioritize now and which can be built in parallel, such as a TN to start working and an EB-2 NIW as a permanent residence strategy.
Can any qualified Mexican automatically get a TN visa?
No. Mexican citizenship is a necessary but not sufficient requirement. You also need a profession included on the USMCA list, a compatible job offer, and the academic credentials and qualifications required for that specific profession. Murtaz Law can assess whether your case meets all these criteria before the consular interview.
What happens if my profession isn't on the USMCA list?
In that case, the TN is probably not the right path, and it's worth evaluating other categories, such as the H-1B (subject to an annual selection process), the L-1 (if there is a transfer within the same business group), or, for profiles with a stronger track record, the EB-2 NIW or EB-1A.
Can a TN visa be converted into a green card?
The TN, on its own, does not lead directly to permanent residence. In some cases, it is possible to combine TN status with a separate green card petition, but that depends on the chosen category and a case-specific analysis; it is not an automatic TN benefit. Murtaz Law helps plan this transition with attention to timelines and the TN's restrictions.
What is the main difference between the TN and the H-1B for a Mexican professional?
The TN is available exclusively to Mexican and Canadian citizens thanks to the USMCA, has no annual cap like the H-1B, and its process is usually more direct. The H-1B, in turn, is subject to an annual selection process with limited slots, but covers a broader range of specialty occupations, including many that aren't on the USMCA list.
Do the EB-2 NIW and EB-1A require a sponsoring employer?
Not necessarily. Both categories may allow self-petition, meaning the professional files the case themselves, without depending on a job offer, as long as they can demonstrate that their work benefits the United States (EB-2 NIW) or that they have extraordinary recognition in their field (EB-1A).
Do Mexicans need the TN visa before traveling to the United States, unlike Canadians?
Yes. Unlike many Canadian citizens, who can apply for TN status directly at the port of entry, Mexicans generally need to obtain the TN visa in advance, usually at a U.S. consulate, before applying for admission to the country.
Does Murtaz Law work with companies that want to hire Mexican professionals?
Yes. Murtaz Law advises U.S. employers on choosing the right category, whether TN, H-1B, or L-1, and on preparing the documentation needed to hire Mexican talent with confidence.
Sources: Migration Policy Institute (Mexican Immigrants in the United States), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, Lawful Permanent Residents), U.S. Department of State (Report of the Visa Office, Nonimmigrant Visa Statistics).
Murtaz Law: Where each case is treated as unique.
Murtaz Law is an American law firm specialized in immigration to the United States, built with the goal of offering a strategic, human, and highly personalized approach to each case. With nearly two decades of accumulated experience in American immigration law, the firm has helped professionals, families, entrepreneurs, artists, and athletes transform complex processes into concrete approvals, even in seemingly hopeless situations.
Based in Illinois, the firm is led by Murtaz Navsariwala, an attorney and member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Bar Association.
Holding degrees in Economics and History from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor of Laws from Indiana University Bloomington Maurer School of Law, Murtaz built his reputation primarily through success in EB2-NIW cases, becoming a benchmark for qualified professionals seeking to obtain a Green Card and build a solid career in the United States.
At Murtaz Law, no case is treated as just another number. Each case is carefully analyzed, considering the history, objectives, and particularities of each client. The firm operates in various areas of U.S. immigration, including work visas, family law cases, naturalization, regularization of status, and permanent immigration strategies, always seeking the safest and most strategic path for each situation.
Currently, Murtaz Law maintains an approval rate of approximately 99.5% in its cases, a result of a combination of legal experience, detailed preparation, and a deep understanding of the requirements of the U.S. immigration system.
A consultation can be scheduled because the future you envision may be much closer than your lack of knowledge has led you to believe.
Important: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance regarding your specific immigration matter, please consult a licensed U.S. immigration attorney.
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