United States Visitor Visa
Applying for a U.S. Visa
All applicants in Canada between the ages of 16 and 60 intending to apply for a U.S. Visa must be interviewed in person at an American Embassy or Consulate.
Students wishing to apply for a U.S. Visa while in Canada will need to apply in person at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. To apply in person at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, you must first make an appointment by telephone or online. Students are advised to make an appointment and apply for their U.S. Visitor Visa well in advance of their planned trip to the United States as it can sometimes take several weeks or months to get an appointment date.
You will need to do the following before scheduling an appointment:
- Pay the visa application fee before booking your appointment. For additional information on Fee Payments, visit the following website: http://www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_fee_payment_options
- Have your passport information available
- Complete the visa application form online (DS-160) which is available at: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/. You will need to indicate the confirmation number from the DS-160 application form when booking your appointment.
As of September 1, 2010, the U.S. Mission in Canada is using a new system for booking appointments. To apply in person at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, you must first make an appointment by telephone or online.
- Call toll-free at 1-877-341-2441
- Or On-line, go to http://www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/login
For additional information on the application process, please visit: https://www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_before_you_apply
NOTE: Effective January 4, 2010 (and mandatory as of March 1, 2010), all visa applicants in Toronto are now required to complete the new online visa application form (DS-160), which will be replacing the previous electronic forms (DS-156; DS-157 and DS-158). Handwritten forms will no longer be accepted.
Applicants whose visas are not issued will be given back their passports and a letter explaining the reason for the refusal at the end of the visa interview.Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and enables eligible citizens or nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Additional information regarding the VWP is available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/, and http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html
Effective January 12, 2009, Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers are required to obtain a travel authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP. ESTA is now accessible online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov for citizens and eligible nationals of VWP countries.
Effective September 8, 2010, there is a $14 registration fee for the ESTA application.
For a list of the countries who are currently eligible to travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program, please visit: the ESTA website
Travelling to Canada through the United States - Form I-94 and I-94W
If you are travelling to Canada through the United States, it is important that you submit to the airline (if travelling by airplane) or to the Canadian officials at the border (if travelling by land) the I-94/I-94W card stapled to your passport. This is your record that you have departed the United States. For more information please visit: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/
Additional Information
For information regarding additional U.S. immigration services:
Visit the U.S. Department of State for information on application procedures.
Visit the U.S. Consular Services in Canada.
For general information regarding U.S. Consular services in Canada available to both American Citizens and non-Americans in Canada:
Visit http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/toronto.asp
For a list of all Embassies and Consulates in Canada:
Visit Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade - Foreign Representatives in Canada
Last Updated: September 28, 2010
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All information disclosed by students to IESC will be kept confidential. It will not be shared with family, university staff, course instructors, or others without written permission and will not become part of academic records.
The International and Exchange Student Centre is experienced in working with diverse populations.
