Hiring Guidelines; Community Health and Counseling Services of Maine: Human Resources Department

TN Canadian or Mexican Citizen under NAFTA
(For more info: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov)

The TN classification applies to a Canadian or Mexican citizen seeking admission as a professional temporarily under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The following conditions apply in determining eligibility:

You must have a Bachelor’s degree or other appropriate credentials to demonstrate your status as a professional business person.
You must be seeking temporary entry without intent to establish permanent US residence.
You must be pursuing a position in one of several categories that have been identified under the terms of NAFTA.
Within CHCS, the possible positions include:

Social Worker (broadly defined to include several types of counseling positions)
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Registered Nurse
Psychologist
Teacher

If you are offered a position, CHCS will provide you with a letter and job description that you would use to obtain a TN Visa. You will need to take that letter along with proof of citizenship and any licenses, diplomas, degrees, certificates, or memberships that demonstrate your qualifications as a particular professional.

Before you start work, you will need to:

obtain a Social Security number in the United States;
obtain a Maine professional license if one is necessary for the position;
request a criminal background check through your local CMP office

Citizens of Other Countries (not covered by NAFTA)
(For more info: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov)

Specialty Workers (H-1B)

The H-1B category applies to non-US citizens coming temporarily to perform services in a specialty occupation. CHCS occasionally has openings for psychiatrists in designated medically underserved areas. When openings are available, individuals seeking a J-1 waiver to obtain an H-1B visa may apply. Positions are listed on the National Health Service Corps website: www.bphc.hrsa.gov/nhsc/

Students in Academic Programs (F-1)

A student with an F-1 visa may be authorized to work off-campus on a part-time basis after having been in F-1 status for one full academic year provided that the student is in good academic standing and is carrying a full course load. Part-time off-campus employment is limited to no more than twenty hours a week when school is in session, and full-time during holidays or school vacation.

Generally, CHCS would not file labor and wage attestations for positions since they generally are filled in less time than that required for an F-1 student to be eligible for consideration. We will consider applications from an F-1 student who has received authorization to seek off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship.

An F-1 student who has received employment authorization for practical training in a position which is directly related to his or her major area of study may be considered for an unpaid internship arranged through the school that they are attending.

Practical training employment may be considered if the authorized student is able to work part-time while school is in session as well as working when school is not in session; or after completing all course requirements for the degree (excluding thesis or equivalent), if the student is in a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree program; or after completion of the course of study.

Students in vocational or other recognized nonacademic institutions (M-1)

Generally, we would not consider temporary employment for students with M-1 visas due to the short-term nature of the authorization and the likelihood that we would not have qualifying positions.