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This consolidation is for information purposes only, and should not be relied upon as authoritative.  For authoritative texts, please refer to the .

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – Chapter 16 – Temporary entry for business persons

Article 16.1:  Definitions

For the purposes of this Chapter:

business person means a citizen of a Party who is engaged in trade in goods, the supply of services or the conduct of investment activities;

citizen means, with respect to Mexico, a national or a citizen according to the provisions of Articles 30 and 34, respectively, of the Mexico’s Constitution (Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos); and

temporary entry means entry into the territory of a Party by a business person of another Party without the intent to establish permanent residence.

Article 16.2:  Scope 

1. This Chapter applies to measures affecting the temporary entry of business persons of a Party into the territory of another Party. 

2. This Chapter does not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the employment market of another Party, nor does it apply to measures regarding citizenship, nationality, residence or employment on a permanent basis.

3. Nothing in this Agreement prevents a Party from applying measures to regulate the entry of natural persons of another Party into, or their temporary stay in, its territory, including those measures necessary to protect the integrity of, and to ensure the orderly movement of natural persons across, its borders, provided that those measures are not applied in a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to any Party under this Chapter.

Article 16.3:  General Obligations

1. Each Party shall apply its measures relating to this Chapter expeditiously so as to avoid unduly impairing or delaying trade in goods or services or the conduct of investment activities under this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall endeavor to develop and adopt common criteria, definitions and interpretations for the implementation of this Chapter.

Article 16.4:  Grant of Temporary Entry

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry to a business person who is otherwise qualified for entry under its measures relating to public health and safety and national security, in accordance with this Chapter, including Annex 16-A (Temporary Entry for Business Persons).

2. A Party may refuse to grant temporary entry or issue an immigration document authorizing employment to a business person where the temporary entry of that person might adversely affect:

3. If a Party refuses pursuant to paragraph 2 to grant temporary entry or issue an immigration document authorizing employment, it shall:

4. Each Party shall limit any fees for processing applications for temporary entry of business persons to the approximate cost of services rendered.

5. The sole fact that a Party grants temporary entry to a business person of another Party pursuant to this Chapter does not exempt that business person from meeting any applicable licensing or other requirements, including any mandatory codes of conduct, to practice a profession or otherwise engage in business activities.

Article 16.5:  Provision of Information

1. Further to Article 29.2 (Publication), each Party shall publish online or otherwise make publicly available explanatory material regarding the requirements for temporary entry under this Chapter that will enable a business person of another Party to become acquainted with them.

2. Each Party shall collect and maintain, and make available to the other Parties in accordance with its law, data respecting the granting of temporary entry under this Chapter to business persons of the other Parties who have been issued immigration documentation, including, if practicable, data specific to each occupation, profession, or activity.

Article 16.6:  Temporary Entry Working Group 

1. The Parties hereby establish a Temporary Entry Working Group, comprising representatives of each Party, including representatives of immigration authorities. 

2. The Working Group shall meet at least once each year to consider:

Article 16.7:  Dispute Settlement

1. A Party may not initiate proceedings under Article 31.5 (Good Offices, Conciliation, and Mediation) regarding a refusal to grant temporary entry under this Chapter or a particular case arising under Article 16.3(1) unless:

2. The remedies referred to in paragraph (1) (b) will be deemed to be exhausted if a final determination in the matter has not been issued by the competent authority within one year of the institution of an administrative proceeding, and the failure to issue a determination is not attributable to delay caused by the business person.

Article 16.8:  Relation to Other Chapters

Except for this Chapter, Chapter 1 (Initial Provisions and General Definitions), Chapter 30 (Administrative and Institutional Provisions), Chapter 31 (Dispute Settlement), Chapter 34 (Final Provisions), Article 29.2 (Publication), and Article 29.3 (Administrative Proceedings), this Agreement does not impose an obligation on a Party regarding its immigration measures.

ANNEX 16-A 

TEMPORARY ENTRY FOR BUSINESS PERSONS

Section A:  Business Visitors

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry to a business person seeking to engage in a business activity set out in Appendix 1, without requiring that person to obtain an employment authorization, provided that the business person otherwise complies with the Party’s measures applicable to temporary entry, on presentation of:

2. Each Party shall provide that a business person may satisfy the requirements of paragraph 1(c) by demonstrating that:

A Party shall normally accept an oral declaration as to the principal place of business and the actual place of accrual of profits. Where the Party requires further proof, it shall normally consider a letter from the employer attesting to these matters as sufficient proof.

3. Paragraph 1 does not limit the ability of a business person seeking to engage in a business activity other than those set out in Appendix 1 to seek temporary entry under a Party’s measures relating to the entry of business persons.

4. No Party shall:

5. Notwithstanding paragraph 4, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or its equivalent prior to entry. Before imposing a visa requirement, the Party shall consult, on request, with a Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement. With respect to an existing visa requirement, a Party shall consult, on request, with a Party whose business persons are subject to the requirement with a view to its removal.

Section B:  Traders and Investors

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide confirming documentation to a business person seeking to:

in a capacity that is supervisory, executive or involves essential skills, provided that the business person otherwise complies with the Party’s measures applicable to temporary entry.

2. No Party shall:

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or its equivalent prior to entry. Before imposing a visa requirement, the Party shall consult with a Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement. With respect to an existing visa requirement, a Party shall consult, on request, with a Party whose business persons are subject to the requirement with a view to its removal. 

Section C:  Intra-Company Transferees

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide confirming documentation to a business person employed by an enterprise who seeks to render services to that enterprise or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, in a capacity that is managerial, executive or involves specialized knowledge, provided that the business person otherwise complies with the Party’s measures applicable to temporary entry. A Party may require the business person to have been employed continuously by the enterprise for one year within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the application for admission.

2. No Party shall:

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or its equivalent prior to entry.  Before imposing a visa requirement, the Party shall consult with a Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement. With respect to an existing visa requirement, a Party shall consult, on request, with a Party whose business persons are subject to the requirement with a view to its removal.

Section D:  Professionals

1. Each Party shall grant temporary entry and provide confirming documentation to a business person seeking to engage in a business activity at a professional level in a profession set out in Appendix 2, if the business person otherwise complies with the Party’s measures applicable to temporary entry, on presentation of: 

2. No Party shall:

3. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, a Party may require a business person seeking temporary entry under this Section to obtain a visa or its equivalent prior to entry. Before imposing a visa requirement, the Party shall consult with a Party whose business persons would be affected with a view to avoiding the imposition of the requirement. With respect to an existing visa requirement, a Party shall consult, on request, with a Party whose business persons are subject to the requirement with a view to its removal.

APPENDIX 1 

BUSINESS VISITORS

Section A:  Definitions 

For the purposes of this Appendix:

territory of another Party means the territory of a Party other than the territory of the Party into which temporary entry is sought;

tour bus operator means a natural person, including relief personnel accompanying or following to join, necessary for the operation of a tour bus for the duration of a trip; and

transportation operator means a natural person, other than a tour bus operator, including relief personnel accompanying or following to join, necessary for the operation of a vehicle for the duration of a trip.

Section B:  Business Activities

Research and Design

Growth, Manufacture, and Production

Marketing

Sales

Distribution

After Sales Services

General Service

Commercial Transactions

Public Relations and Advertising  

Tourism  

Tour Bus Operation

Translation

APPENDIX 2

PROFESSIONALS

PROFESSION Footnote 1 MINIMUM EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND ALTERNATIVE CREDENTIALS
General
AccountantBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or C.P.A., C.A., C.G.A. or C.M.A.
ArchitectBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or state/provincial license Footnote 2
Computer Systems AnalystBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
Post-Secondary Diploma Footnote 3 or Post-Secondary
Certificate, Footnote 4 and three years experience
Disaster Relief Insurance Claims Adjuster (claims Adjuster employed by an insurance company located in the territory of a Party, or an independent claims adjuster)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree, and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims; or three years experience in claims adjustment and successful completion of training in the appropriate areas of insurance adjustment pertaining to disaster relief claims.
EconomistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
EngineerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
ForesterBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
Graphic DesignerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary
Certificate, and three years experience
Hotel ManagerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree in
hotel/restaurant management; or Post-Secondary Diploma or
Post-Secondary Certificate in hotel/restaurant management, and three years
experience in hotel/restaurant management
Industrial DesignerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary
Certificate, and three years experience
Interior DesignerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary
Certificate, and three years experience
Land SurveyorBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial/federal license
Landscape ArchitectBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Lawyer (including Notary in the Province of Quebec)LL.B., J.D., LL.L., B.C.L. or Licenciatura
Degree (five years); or membership in a
state/provincial bar
LibrarianM.L.S. or B.L.S. (for which another
Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree was a prerequisite)
Management ConsultantBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
equivalent professional experience as
established by statement or professional
credential attesting to five years experience as a
management consultant, or five years experience in a field of specialty related to the consulting agreement
Mathematician (including Statistician) Footnote 5Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Range Manager/Range ConservationalistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Research Assistant (working in a post-secondary
educational institution)
Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Scientific Technician/Technologist Footnote 6Possession of (a) theoretical knowledge of any of
the following disciplines: agricultural
sciences, astronomy, biology, chemistry,
engineering, forestry, geology, geophysics,
meteorology or physics; and (b) the ability to
solve practical problems in any of those
disciplines, or the ability to apply principles of any of those disciplines
to basic or applied research
Social WorkerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Sylviculturist (including Forestry Specialist)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Technical Publications WriterBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
Post Secondary-Diploma or Post-Secondary
Certificate, and three years experience
Urban Planner (including Geographer)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Vocational CounsellorBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Medical/Allied Professional
DentistD.D.S., D.M.D., Doctor en Odontologia or
Doctor en Cirugia Dental; or state/provincial license
DietitianBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
Medical Laboratory Technologist (Canada)/Medical Technologist (Mexico and the United States) Footnote 7Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or Post-Secondary Diploma or Post-Secondary Certificate, and three years experience
NutritionistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Occupational TherapistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
PharmacistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
Physician (teaching or research only)M.D. or Doctor en Medicina; or state/provincial
license
Physiotherapist/Physical TherapistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree; or
state/provincial license
PsychologistState/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
Recreational TherapistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Registered NurseState/provincial license; or Licenciatura Degree
VeterinarianD.V.M., D.M.V. or Doctor en Veterinaria; or
state/provincial license
Scientist
Agriculturist (including Agronomist)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal BreederBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Animal ScientistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
ApiculturistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
AstronomerBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
BiochemistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Biologist Footnote 8Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
ChemistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Dairy ScientistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
EntomologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
EpidemiologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
GeneticistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
GeologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
GeochemistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Geophysicist (including Oceanographer in Mexico and the United States)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
HorticulturistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
MeteorologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
PharmacologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Physicist (including Oceanographer in Canada)Baccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Plant BreederBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Poultry ScientistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Soil ScientistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
ZoologistBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
Teacher
CollegeBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
SeminaryBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
UniversityBaccalaureate or Licenciatura Degree
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